5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God — who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly — and it will be given to him.  *

14 This is the confidence we have before him: If we ask  * anything according to his will, he hears us.  *

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive  * us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,  *

and do not rely on your own understanding;  *

6 in all your ways know him,

and he will make your paths straight.  *

6 in all your ways know him,

and he will make your paths straight.  *

11 For I know the plans I have for you"  *  — this is the Lord’s declaration — "plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

14 Without guidance, a people will fall,

but with many counselors there is deliverance.  *

33 The lot is cast into the lap,

but its every decision is from the  Lord.  *

1 One who isolates himself pursues selfish desires;

he rebels against all sound wisdom.

2 A fool does not delight in understanding,

but only wants to show off his opinions.  *,*

3 When a wicked person comes, contempt also comes,

and along with dishonor, derision.

4 The words of a person’s mouth are deep waters,  *

a flowing river, a fountain of wisdom.  *

5 It is not good to show partiality to the guilty,  *

denying an innocent person justice.  *

6 A fool’s lips lead to strife,

and his mouth provokes a beating.  *

7 A fool’s mouth is his devastation,

and his lips are a trap for his life.  *

8 A gossip’s words are like choice food

that goes down to one’s innermost being.  *,*

9 The one who is lazy in his work

is brother to a vandal.  *,*

10 The name of the  Lord is a strong tower;  *

the righteous run to it and are protected.  *,*

11 The wealth of the rich is his fortified city;

in his imagination it is like a high wall.  *

12 Before his downfall a person’s heart is proud,  *

but humility comes before honor.  *

13 The one who gives an answer before he listens —

this is foolishness and disgrace for him.  *

14 A person’s spirit can endure sickness,

but who can survive a broken spirit?  *

16 All Scripture is inspired by God  *,* and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,

17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.  *

7 When they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus  * did not allow them.

1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, a close friend of Herod the tetrarch,  * and Saul.

2 As they were worshiping  * the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."  *3 Then after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off.  *

31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.  *

1 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses  * surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance  * the race that lies before us,

5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon  * in a dream at night.  * God said, "Ask.  * What should I give you? "

6 And Solomon replied, "You have shown great and faithful love to your servant, my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, righteousness, and integrity.  * You have continued this great and faithful love for him by giving him a son to sit on his throne,  * as it is today.  *

7 "Lord my God, you have now made your servant king in my father David’s place.  * Yet I am just a youth with no experience in leadership.  *,*8 Your servant is among your people you have chosen,  * a people too many to be numbered or counted.  *9 So give your servant a receptive heart to judge  * your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of yours? "  *

10 Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had requested this. 11 So God said to him, "Because you have requested this and did not ask for long life  * or riches for yourself,  * or the death  * of your enemies, but you asked discernment for yourself to administer justice,  *12 I will therefore do what you have asked.  * I will give you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has never been anyone like you before and never will be again.  *

9 His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die! "

10 "You speak as a foolish woman speaks," he told her. "Should we accept only good from God and not adversity? " Throughout all this Job did not sin in what he said.  *