Proverbs 29-30
English Standard Version
29 (A)He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck,
will suddenly be (B)broken (C)beyond healing.
2 When (D)the righteous increase, the people rejoice,
but when (E)the wicked rule, the people groan.
3 He who (F)loves wisdom makes his father glad,
but (G)a companion of prostitutes (H)squanders his wealth.
4 By justice a king (I)builds up the land,
but he who exacts gifts[a] tears it down.
5 (J)A man who flatters his neighbor
spreads (K)a net for his feet.
6 An evil man is (L)ensnared in his transgression,
but a righteous man (M)sings and rejoices.
7 A righteous man (N)knows the rights of the poor;
a wicked man does not (O)understand such knowledge.
8 (P)Scoffers set a city aflame,
but the wise turn away wrath.
9 If a wise man has an argument with a fool,
the fool only rages and laughs, and there is (Q)no quiet.
10 Bloodthirsty men (R)hate one who is blameless
and seek the life of the upright.[b]
11 A fool gives full vent to his spirit,
but a wise man quietly holds it back.
12 If a ruler listens to falsehood,
all his officials will be wicked.
13 The poor man and the oppressor (S)meet together;
the Lord (T)gives light to the eyes of both.
14 If a king (U)faithfully judges the poor,
his throne will (V)be established forever.
15 (W)The rod and reproof give wisdom,
but a child left to himself (X)brings shame to his mother.
16 When the wicked increase, transgression increases,
but (Y)the righteous will look upon their downfall.
17 (Z)Discipline your son, and he will give you rest;
he will give delight to your heart.
18 Where (AA)there is no prophetic vision the people (AB)cast off restraint,[c]
but blessed is he who (AC)keeps the law.
19 By mere words a servant is not disciplined,
for though he understands, he will not respond.
20 Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?
(AD)There is more hope for a fool than for him.
21 Whoever pampers his servant from childhood
will in the end find him his heir.[d]
22 (AE)A man of wrath stirs up strife,
and one given to anger causes much transgression.
23 (AF)One's pride will bring him low,
(AG)but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.
24 The partner of a thief (AH)hates his own life;
(AI)he hears the curse, but discloses nothing.
25 (AJ)The fear of man lays a snare,
but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.
26 Many (AK)seek the face of a ruler,
but it is from the Lord that a man (AL)gets justice.
27 (AM)An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous,
but one whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked.
The Words of Agur
30 The words of Agur son of Jakeh. The oracle.[e]
The man declares, I am weary, O God;
I am weary, O God, and worn out.[f]
2 Surely I am too (AN)stupid to be a man.
I have not the understanding of a man.
3 I have not learned wisdom,
nor have I knowledge of (AO)the Holy One.
4 Who has (AP)ascended to heaven and come down?
Who has (AQ)gathered the wind in his fists?
Who has (AR)wrapped up the waters in a garment?
Who has established all (AS)the ends of the earth?
(AT)What is his name, and what is his son's name?
Surely you know!
5 (AU)Every word of God proves true;
he is (AV)a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6 (AW)Do not add to his words,
lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.
7 Two things I ask of you;
deny them not to me (AX)before I die:
8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying;
give me neither poverty nor riches;
feed me with the food that is (AY)needful for me,
9 lest I be (AZ)full and (BA)deny you
and say, (BB)“Who is the Lord?”
or lest I be poor and steal
(BC)and profane the name of my God.
11 There are those[g] who (BF)curse their fathers
and do not bless their mothers.
12 There are those who are (BG)clean in their own eyes
but are not washed of their filth.
13 There are those—how (BH)lofty are their eyes,
how high their eyelids lift!
14 There are those whose teeth are (BI)swords,
whose (BJ)fangs are knives,
to (BK)devour the poor from off the earth,
the needy from among mankind.
15 The leech has two daughters:
Give and Give.[h]
(BL)Three things are never satisfied;
(BM)four never say, “Enough”:
16 (BN)Sheol, (BO)the barren womb,
the land never satisfied with water,
and the fire that never says, “Enough.”
17 The eye that (BP)mocks a father
and (BQ)scorns to obey a mother
will (BR)be picked out by (BS)the ravens of the valley
and eaten by the vultures.
18 (BT)Three things are (BU)too wonderful for me;
(BV)four I do not understand:
19 the way of an eagle in the sky,
the way of a serpent on a rock,
the way of a ship on the high seas,
and the way of a man with a virgin.
20 This is the way of an adulteress:
she eats and wipes her mouth
and says, “I have done no wrong.”
21 Under (BW)three things (BX)the earth trembles;
under (BY)four it cannot bear up:
22 (BZ)a slave when he becomes king,
and a fool when he is (CA)filled with food;
23 (CB)an unloved woman when she (CC)gets a husband,
and a maidservant when she displaces her mistress.
24 (CD)Four things on earth are small,
but they are exceedingly wise:
25 (CE)the ants are a people not strong,
yet they provide their food in the summer;
26 (CF)the rock badgers are a people not mighty,
yet they make their homes in the cliffs;
27 the locusts have no (CG)king,
yet all of them march in (CH)rank;
28 the lizard you can take in your hands,
yet it is in kings' palaces.
29 (CI)Three things are stately in their tread;
(CJ)four are stately in their stride:
30 the lion, which is mightiest among beasts
and (CK)does not turn back before any;
31 the (CL)strutting rooster,[i] the he-goat,
and a king whose army is with him.[j]
32 If you have been foolish, exalting yourself,
or if you have been devising evil,
(CM)put your hand on your mouth.
33 For pressing milk produces curds,
pressing the nose produces blood,
and pressing anger produces strife.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 29:4 Or who taxes heavily
- Proverbs 29:10 Or but the upright seek his soul
- Proverbs 29:18 Or the people are discouraged
- Proverbs 29:21 The meaning of the Hebrew word rendered his heir is uncertain
- Proverbs 30:1 Or Jakeh, the man of Massa
- Proverbs 30:1 Revocalization; Hebrew The man declares to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal
- Proverbs 30:11 Hebrew There is a generation; also verses 12, 13, 14
- Proverbs 30:15 Or “Give, give,” they cry
- Proverbs 30:31 Or the magpie, or the greyhound; Hebrew girt-of-loins
- Proverbs 30:31 Or against whom there is no rising up
Matthew 27
English Standard Version
Jesus Delivered to Pilate
27 (A)When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people (B)took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. 2 And they bound him and (C)led him away and (D)delivered him over to (E)Pilate the governor.
Judas Hangs Himself
3 Then when (F)Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus[a] was condemned, (G)he changed his mind and brought back (H)the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? (I)See to it yourself.” 5 And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, (J)he departed, and he went and hanged himself. 6 But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into (K)the treasury, since it is blood money.” 7 So they took counsel and bought with them the potter's field as a burial place for strangers. 8 Therefore (L)that field has been called the Field of Blood (M)to this day. 9 (N)Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, (O)“And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, 10 and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me.”
Jesus Before Pilate
11 (P)Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you (Q)the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, (R)“You have said so.” 12 (S)But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, (T)“Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.
The Crowd Chooses Barabbas
15 (U)Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16 And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or (V)Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that it was out (W)of envy that they had delivered him up. 19 Besides, while he was sitting on (X)the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with (Y)that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today (Z)in a dream.” 20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to (AA)ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” (AB)They all said, “Let him be crucified!” 23 And he said, “Why? (AC)What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”
Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified
24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that (AD)a riot was beginning, he took water and (AE)washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of (AF)this man's blood;[b] (AG)see to it yourselves.” 25 And all the people answered, (AH)“His blood be on us and (AI)on our children!” 26 Then he released for them Barabbas, and having (AJ)scourged[c] Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.
Jesus Is Mocked
27 (AK)Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the (AL)governor's headquarters,[d] and they gathered the whole (AM)battalion[e] before him. 28 And they stripped him and put (AN)a scarlet robe on him, 29 and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they (AO)mocked him, saying, “Hail, (AP)King of the Jews!” 30 And (AQ)they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and (AR)led him away to crucify him.
The Crucifixion
32 (AS)(AT)As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to (AU)carry his cross. 33 (AV)And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), 34 (AW)they offered him wine to drink, mixed with (AX)gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. 35 And when they had crucified him, (AY)they divided his garments among them by casting lots. 36 Then they sat down and (AZ)kept watch over him there. 37 And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, (BA)the King of the Jews.” 38 Then two (BB)robbers were crucified with him, (BC)one on the right and one on the left. 39 And (BD)those who passed by (BE)derided him, (BF)wagging their heads 40 and saying, (BG)“You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! (BH)If you are (BI)the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41 So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, 42 (BJ)“He saved others; (BK)he cannot save himself. (BL)He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 (BM)He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 (BN)And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.
The Death of Jesus
45 Now from the sixth hour[f] there was darkness over all the land[g] until the ninth hour.[h] 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus (BO)cried out with a loud voice, saying, (BP)“Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 47 And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” 48 And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with (BQ)sour wine, and put it on a reed and (BR)gave it to him to drink. 49 But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” 50 And Jesus (BS)cried out again with a loud voice and (BT)yielded up his spirit.
51 And behold, (BU)the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And (BV)the earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of (BW)the saints (BX)who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into (BY)the holy city and appeared to many. 54 (BZ)When the centurion and those who were with him, (CA)keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, (CB)“Truly this was the Son[i] of God!”
55 There were also (CC)many women there, looking on (CD)from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, (CE)ministering to him, 56 among whom were (CF)Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and (CG)the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
Jesus Is Buried
57 (CH)When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. 58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59 And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud 60 and (CI)laid it in his own new tomb, (CJ)which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled (CK)a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and (CL)the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.
The Guard at the Tomb
62 The next day, that is, after the day of (CM)Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember how (CN)that impostor said, while he was still alive, (CO)‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, (CP)lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have (CQ)a guard[j] of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by (CR)sealing the stone and setting a guard.
Footnotes
- Matthew 27:3 Greek he
- Matthew 27:24 Some manuscripts this righteous blood, or this righteous man's blood
- Matthew 27:26 A Roman judicial penalty, consisting of a severe beating with a multi-lashed whip containing embedded pieces of bone and metal
- Matthew 27:27 Greek the praetorium
- Matthew 27:27 Greek cohort; a tenth of a Roman legion, usually about 600 men
- Matthew 27:45 That is, noon
- Matthew 27:45 Or earth
- Matthew 27:45 That is, 3 p.m.
- Matthew 27:54 Or a son
- Matthew 27:65 Or Take a guard
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
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