Counsel

And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.

And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire.

Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king's pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass.

Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley, and so returned.

And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.

For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.

Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.

To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.

A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.

A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,

Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.

I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.

Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure.

He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.

A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.

A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.

Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.

The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.

The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.

A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.

The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.

Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.

He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.

The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.

A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.

Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.

Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.

The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.

There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.

Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.

If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:

And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.

Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.

Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.

Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:

Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.

Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.

Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.

A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.

Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?

I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God.

Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him.

Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.

If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.

Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.

Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.

Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.

Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.

Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.

But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;

And charged them that they should not make him known:

Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea,

And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.

And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.

And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;

And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.

For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,

Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?

Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.

And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:

Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.

And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him,

Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.

Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:

For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.

If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.

But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:

Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?

For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.