13 Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

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Advancement Is Meaningless

13 Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning.

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16 And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said unto him, Art thou made of the king's counsel? forbear; why shouldest thou be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel.

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16 While he was still speaking, the king said to him, “Have we appointed you an adviser to the king? Stop! Why be struck down?”

So the prophet stopped but said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.”

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15 As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.

16 The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.

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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.

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19 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

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19 Better the poor whose walk is blameless
    than a fool whose lips are perverse.(A)

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For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

10 Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.

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For the eyes(A) of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish(B) thing, and from now on you will be at war.(C)

10 Asa was angry with the seer because of this; he was so enraged that he put him in prison.(D) At the same time Asa brutally oppressed some of the people.

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15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.

16 Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

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15 Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man.(A) 16 So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.(B)

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Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

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Better the poor whose walk is blameless
    than the rich whose ways are perverse.(A)

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And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the Lord: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.

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The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is still one prophet through whom we can inquire of the Lord, but I hate(A) him because he never prophesies anything good(B) about me, but always bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.”

“The king should not say such a thing,” Jehoshaphat replied.

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These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.

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This is the account(A) of Jacob’s family line.

Joseph,(B) a young man of seventeen,(C) was tending the flocks(D) with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah(E) and the sons of Zilpah,(F) his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report(G) about them.

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20 And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the Lord, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the Lord, he hath also forsaken you.

21 And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the Lord.

22 Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, The Lord look upon it, and require it.

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20 Then the Spirit(A) of God came on Zechariah(B) son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, “This is what God says: ‘Why do you disobey the Lord’s commands? You will not prosper.(C) Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has forsaken(D) you.’”

21 But they plotted against him, and by order of the king they stoned(E) him to death(F) in the courtyard of the Lord’s temple.(G) 22 King Joash did not remember the kindness Zechariah’s father Jehoiada had shown him but killed his son, who said as he lay dying, “May the Lord see this and call you to account.”(H)

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