Thorns and snares ¹  are in the path of the perverse, but the one who guards himself keeps far from them.

Like cloudy skies and wind that produce no rain, ¹  so is the one who boasts ²  of a gift not given. ³ 

The one who keeps the law ¹  is a discerning child, ²  but a companion of gluttons brings shame ³  to his parents. ⁴ 

Blessed is the one who is always cautious, ¹  but whoever hardens his heart ²  will fall into evil.

The one who works his land will be satisfied with food, ¹  but whoever chases daydreams ²  will have his fill ³  of poverty.

The one who reproves ¹  another ²  will in the end ³  find more favor than the one who flatters ⁴  with the tongue.

The one who trusts in his own heart ¹  is a fool, but the one who walks in wisdom ²  will escape. ³ 

The one who slaughters a bull also strikes down a man; ¹  the one who sacrifices a lamb also breaks a dog’s neck; ²  the one who presents an offering includes pig’s blood with it; ³  the one who offers incense also praises an idol. ⁴  They have decided to behave this way; ⁵  they enjoy these disgusting practices. ⁶ 

“‘When the people of the land come before the Lord at the appointed feasts, whoever enters by way of the north gate to worship will go out by way of the south gate; whoever enters by way of the south gate will go out by way of the north gate. No one will return by way of the gate they entered but will go out straight ahead.

In the same way therefore not one of you can be my disciple if he does not renounce all his own possessions. ¹ 

The one who eats ¹  my flesh and drinks my blood resides in me, and I in him. ² 

Jesus answered them, “I tell you the solemn truth, ¹  everyone who practices ²  sin is a slave ³  of sin.

So whoever knows what is good to do ¹  and does not do it is guilty of sin. ² 

And the commandment we have from him is this: that ¹  the one who loves God should love his fellow Christian ²  too.

For seven days ¹  you must eat ²  bread made without yeast. ³  Surely ⁴  on the first day you must put away yeast from your houses because anyone who eats bread made with yeast ⁵  from the first day to the seventh day will be cut off ⁶  from Israel.

for the life of all flesh is its blood. ¹  So I have said to the Israelites: You must not eat the blood of any living thing ²  because the life of every living thing is its blood – all who eat it will be cut off. ³ 

But Joash said to all those who confronted him, ¹  “Must you fight Baal’s battles? ²  Must you rescue him? Whoever takes up his cause ³  will die by morning! ⁴  If he really is a god, let him fight his own battles! ⁵  After all, it was his altar that was pulled down.” ⁶ 

He took a pair ¹  of oxen and cut them up. Then he sent the pieces throughout the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, who said, “Whoever does not go out after Saul and after Samuel should expect this to be done to his oxen!” Then the terror of the Lord fell on the people, and they went out as one army. ² 

So now, bring to me all the prophets of Baal, as well as all his servants and priests. ¹  None of them must be absent, for I am offering a great sacrifice to Baal. Any of them who fail to appear will lose their lives.” But Jehu was tricking them ²  so he could destroy the servants of Baal.

It read: “This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: ‘The Lord God of the heavens has given to me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build for him a temple in Jerusalem ¹  in Judah. May the Lord your God energize you who belong to his people, so you may be able to go back there!” ²