Chapter 28

1 The wicked flee though no one pursues,

but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

2 When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers,

but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.

3 A ruler who oppresses the poor

is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.

4 Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked,

but those who heed it resist them.

5 Evildoers do not understand what is right,

but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.

6 Better the poor whose walk is blameless

than the rich whose ways are perverse.

7 A discerning son heeds instruction,

but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.

8 Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor

amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.

9 If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction,

even their prayers are detestable.

10 Whoever leads the upright along an evil path

will fall into their own trap,

but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.

11 The rich are wise in their own eyes;

one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are.

12 When the righteous triumph, there is great elation;

but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.

13 Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper,

but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

14 Blessed is the one who always trembles before God,

but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.

15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear

is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.

16 A tyrannical ruler practices extortion,

but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.

17 Anyone tormented by the guilt of murder

will seek refuge in the grave;

let no one hold them back.

18 The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe,

but the one whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit.

19 Those who work their land will have abundant food,

but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.

20 A faithful person will be richly blessed,

but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.

21 To show partiality is not good—

yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread.

22 The stingy are eager to get rich

and are unaware that poverty awaits them.

23 Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor

rather than one who has a flattering tongue.

24 Whoever robs their father or mother

and says, “It’s not wrong,”

is partner to one who destroys.

25 The greedy stir up conflict,

but those who trust in the Lord will prosper.

26 Those who trust in themselves are fools,

but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.

27 Those who give to the poor will lack nothing,

but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.

28 When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding;

but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.

Chapter 29

1 Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes

will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.

2 When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice;

when the wicked rule, the people groan.

3 A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,

but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.

4 By justice a king gives a country stability,

but those who are greedy for bribes tear it down.

5 Those who flatter their neighbors

are spreading nets for their feet.

6 Evildoers are snared by their own sin,

but the righteous shout for joy and are glad.

7 The righteous care about justice for the poor,

but the wicked have no such concern.

8 Mockers stir up a city,

but the wise turn away anger.

9 If a wise person goes to court with a fool,

the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.

10 The bloodthirsty hate a person of integrity

and seek to kill the upright.

11 Fools give full vent to their rage,

but the wise bring calm in the end.

12 If a ruler listens to lies,

all his officials become wicked.

13 The poor and the oppressor have this in common:

The Lord gives sight to the eyes of both.

14 If a king judges the poor with fairness,

his throne will be established forever.

15 A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom,

but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.

16 When the wicked thrive, so does sin,

but the righteous will see their downfall.

17 Discipline your children, and they will give you peace;

they will bring you the delights you desire.

18 Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;

but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.

19 Servants cannot be corrected by mere words;

though they understand, they will not respond.

20 Do you see someone who speaks in haste?

There is more hope for a fool than for them.

21 A servant pampered from youth

will turn out to be insolent.

22 An angry person stirs up conflict,

and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.

23 Pride brings a person low,

but the lowly in spirit gain honor.

24 The accomplices of thieves are their own enemies;

they are put under oath and dare not testify.

25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare,

but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.

26 Many seek an audience with a ruler,

but it is from the Lord that one gets justice.

27 The righteous detest the dishonest;

the wicked detest the upright.

Psalm 60

For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.” A miktam of David. For teaching. When he fought Aram Naharaim and Aram Zobah, and when Joab returned and struck down twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

1 You have rejected us, God, and burst upon us;

you have been angry—now restore us!

2 You have shaken the land and torn it open;

mend its fractures, for it is quaking.

3 You have shown your people desperate times;

you have given us wine that makes us stagger.

4 But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner

to be unfurled against the bow.

5 Save us and help us with your right hand,

that those you love may be delivered.

6 God has spoken from his sanctuary:

“In triumph I will parcel out Shechem

and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth.

7 Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine;

Ephraim is my helmet,

Judah is my scepter.

8 Moab is my washbasin,

on Edom I toss my sandal;

over Philistia I shout in triumph.”

9 Who will bring me to the fortified city?

Who will lead me to Edom?

10 Is it not you, God, you who have now rejected us

and no longer go out with our armies?

11 Give us aid against the enemy,

for human help is worthless.

12 With God we will gain the victory,

and he will trample down our enemies.

Chapter 16

Personal Greetings

1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae.  2 I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me.

3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. 4 They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.

5 Greet also the church that meets at their house.

Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.

6 Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you.

7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.

8 Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord.

9 Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.

10 Greet Apelles, whose fidelity to Christ has stood the test.

Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.

11 Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew.

Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.

12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord.

Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.

13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.

14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the other brothers and sisters with them.

15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the Lord’s people who are with them.

16 Greet one another with a holy kiss.

All the churches of Christ send greetings.

17 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. 19 Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.

20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.

The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

21 Timothy, my co-worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my fellow Jews.

22 I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.

23 Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings.

Erastus, who is the city’s director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings.  [24]

25 Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.