Ecclesiastes 4:1-12

New International Version

Oppression, Toil, Friendlessness

4 Again I looked and saw all the oppression^(A) that was taking place under the sun:

I saw the tears of the oppressed—
    and they have no comforter;
power was on the side of their oppressors—
    and they have no comforter.^(B)
²And I declared that the dead,^(C)
    who had already died,
are happier than the living,
    who are still alive.^(D)
³But better than both
    is the one who has never been born,^(E)
who has not seen the evil
    that is done under the sun.^(F)

⁴And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.^(G)

⁵Fools fold their hands^(H)
    and ruin themselves.
⁶Better one handful with tranquillity
    than two handfuls with toil^(I)
    and chasing after the wind.

⁷Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:

⁸There was a man all alone;
    he had neither son nor brother.
There was no end to his toil,
    yet his eyes were not content^(J) with his wealth.
“For whom am I toiling,” he asked,
    “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?”
This too is meaningless—
    a miserable business!

⁹Two are better than one,
    because they have a good return for their labor:
¹⁰If either of them falls down,
    one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
    and has no one to help them up.
¹¹Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
    But how can one keep warm alone?
¹²Though one may be overpowered,
    two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

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1 Corinthians 3:10-23

New International Version

¹⁰By the grace God has given me,^(A) I laid a foundation^(B) as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. ¹¹For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.^(C) ¹²If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³their work will be shown for what it is,^(D) because the Day^(E) will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.^(F) ¹⁴If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.^(G) ¹⁵If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.^(H)

¹⁶Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple^(I) and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?^(J) ¹⁷If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

¹⁸Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise^(K) by the standards of this age,^(L) you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. ¹⁹For the wisdom of this world is foolishness^(M) in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”^[a];^(N) ²⁰and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”^[b]^(O) ²¹So then, no more boasting about human leaders!^(P) All things are yours,^(Q) ²²whether Paul or Apollos^(R) or Cephas^[c]^(S) or the world or life or death or the present or the future^(T)—all are yours, ²³and you are of Christ,^(U) and Christ is of God.

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Footnotes

1 Corinthians 3:19 Job 5:13
1 Corinthians 3:20 Psalm 94:11
1 Corinthians 3:22 That is, Peter

Matthew 5:38-48

New International Version

Eye for Eye

³⁸“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’^[a]^(A) ³⁹But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.^(B) ⁴⁰And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. ⁴¹If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. ⁴²Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.^(C)

Love for Enemies

⁴³“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^[b]^(D) and hate your enemy.’^(E) ⁴⁴But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,^(F) ⁴⁵that you may be children^(G) of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.^(H) ⁴⁶If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?^(I) Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.^(J)