Wisdom of Sirach 33
1 Evil will not befall the man who fears the Lord, But in trial He will deliver him again and again.
2 A wise man will not hate the law, But he who pretends to keep it is like a ship in a storm.†
3 A man of understanding will trust in the law, And to him the law is trustworthy because it is a divine revelation.
4 Prepare what to say and thus you will be heard. Draw on your training and make your reply.
5 The heart of a fool resembles a wagon wheel, And his reasoning is like a turning axle.†
6 A lusty stallion is like a mocking friend; He impregnates everyone who sits under him.
Reflecting on Creation
7 Why is one day better than another, When all the light of a day in the year is from the sun?†
8 They were separated by the knowledge of the Lord, And He changed the seasons and feasts.
9 Some days He exalted and sanctified, And some days He made ordinary.
10 All men are from the ground, For Adam was created from the earth.
11 In the fullness of knowledge the Lord separated them And changed their paths.
12 Some days He blessed and exalted, And some days He sanctified and drew near to Himself. Some days He has cursed and humbled And removed from their place.
13 All His ways are according to His good pleasure. Like clay in a potter’s hand, Thus men are in the hand of Him who made them, To render to them according to His judgment.†
Opposites
14 Good is the opposite of evil, and life is the opposite of death. In the same way, a sinner is the opposite of a godly man.†
15 Look, therefore, upon all the works of the Most High: They also come in pairs, one the opposite of the other.
16 I kept the last watch like one gleaning after the harvest.†
17 By the blessing of the Lord I arrived in time, And like a grape-picker I filled my winepress.
18 Observe well that I did not labor for myself alone, But for all who seek instruction.
Careful Leadership
19 Hear me, you leaders of the people, And you rulers of the assembly, listen to me.
20 Do not give authority over yourself while you are still living To your son or your wife, nor to your brother or a friend; And do not give your property to another, Lest you change your mind and need to beg for it.
21 While you are still alive and there is breath in you, Do not change places with anyone.
22 For it is better that your children should ask from you Than that you should look to the hands of your sons.
23 Be outstanding in all your works; Do not put a blemish on your reputation.
24 On the day when the days of your life are fulfilled, At the time of your death, distribute the inheritance.
Relating to Servants
25 Fodder, the rod, and a burden are for a donkey, And bread, instruction, and work are for a servant.
26 Make a servant work, and you will find rest; Leave his hands idle and he will seek freedom.
27 Yoke and strap will bend the neck, And racks and tortures are for an evil servant.
28 Put him to work that he may not be idle, For idleness teaches much evil.
29 Set him to the work appropriate for him; And if he is not obedient, put heavy chains on his feet.
30 And do not act superior toward any flesh, And do nothing without judgment.†
31 If you own a servant, let him be as yourself, For with your blood you bought him.
32 If you own a servant, treat him as a brother. For you will need him as your own soul.
33 If you treat him badly and he runs away, Which way will you go look for him?
Psalms 35
1 For the End; by David, the servant of the Lord. †
2 The transgressor, so as to sin, says within himself, “There is no fear of God before his eyes”;
3 For he acts deceitfully before Him, Lest He discover his lawlessness and hate it.
4 The words of his mouth are lawlessness and deceit; He is unwilling to understand how to do good;
5 He devises lawlessness on his bed; He sets himself in every way not good, And he does not abhor evil.
6 O Lord, Your mercy is in heaven, And Your truth reaches to the clouds;
7 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; Your judgments are a great deep; Men and cattle You will save, O Lord.
8 How You multiply Your mercy, O God! The sons of men shall hope under the shelter of Your wings.
9 They shall be intoxicated with the fatness of Your house, And You will give them drink from the abundant water of Your delight.
10 For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we shall see light.
11 Extend Your mercy to those who know You, And Your righteousness to the upright in heart.
12 Let not the foot of arrogance come against me, And may the hand of sinners not shake me.
13 Those who work lawlessness fall there; They are cast out, and unable to stand.
Proverbs of Solomon 7
13 Then laying hold of him, she kisses him, And with a shameless face she says to him,
14 “I have a peace offering; Today I pay my vows;
15 For this reason I came out to meet you; Longing for your face, I found you;
16 I spread my bed with sheets And covered it with tapestry from Egypt.
17 I sprinkled my bed with saffron And my house with cinnamon;
18 Come, and let us enjoy love until morning; Come, and let us embrace in love;
19 For my husband is not at home, But is gone on a long journey
20 Taking a bag of money in his hand; He will return to his house after many days.”
Romans 9
Unbelief of the Jews Despite God’s Blessings
1 I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,†
2 that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart.
3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh,
4 who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises;
5 of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.
God Is Sovereign, Faithful to Israel
6 But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel,†
7 nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.”
8 That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.
9 For this is the word of promise: “At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son.”
10 And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac†
11 (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls),
12 it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.”
13 As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”