mistreating others

¹²An apostate man, a harmful man, walks with a perverse mouth; ¹³he winks with the eyes, touches with the foot, speaks with the finger. ¹⁴With a depraved heart he devises evil, and at all times he sows conflict. ¹⁵To this one, his perdition will arrive promptly, and he shall be crushed suddenly: he will no longer have any remedy.

¹⁹Do not defend yourselves, dearest ones. Instead, step aside from wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is mine. I shall give retribution, says the Lord.”

¹⁴Do not delight in the paths of the impious, nor permit the way of evil-doers to please you. ¹⁵Take flight from it. Do not pass close to it. Turn away and abandon it. ¹⁶For they do not sleep, unless they have done evil. And their sleep is quickly taken away from them, unless they have overthrown. ¹⁷They eat the bread of impiety, and they drink the wine of iniquity. ¹⁸But the path of the just is like a shining light: it advances and increases, even to the day of completion. ¹⁹The way of the impious is darkened. They do not know where they may fall.

²⁷Do not prevent him who is able from doing good. When you are able, do good yourself too. ²⁸Do not say to your friend: “Go away, and then return. Tomorrow I will give to you.” When you are able to do so, give in the present. ²⁹Do not undertake evil against your friend, even though he has trust in you. ³⁰Do not contend against a man without cause, even though he has done no evil to you. ³¹Do not rival an unjust man, and do not imitate his ways. ³²For everyone who ridicules is an abomination to the Lord, and his communication is for the simple.

¹“Pay attention, lest you perform your justice before men, in order to be seen by them; otherwise you shall not have a reward with your Father, who is in heaven.

¹⁰For it is necessary for us to be manifested before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive the proper things of the body, according to his behavior, whether it was good or evil.

⁵Have confidence in the Lord with all your heart, and do not depend upon your own prudence. ⁶In all your ways, consider him, and he himself will direct your steps.

¹⁶Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be saved. For the unremitting prayer of a just person prevails over many things.

⁶For the Lord bestows wisdom, and out of his mouth, prudence and knowledge. ⁷He will preserve the salvation of the righteous, and he will protect those who walk in simplicity: ⁸serving the paths of justice, and guarding the ways of sanctity. ⁹Then you shall understand justice and judgment, and equity, and every good path. ¹⁰If wisdom is to enter into your heart, and if knowledge is to become pleasing to your soul, ¹¹then counsel must guard you, and prudence must serve you,

³“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ⁴Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth. ⁵Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be consoled. ⁶Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied. ⁷Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. ⁸Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

³³Destitution in the house of the impious is from the Lord. But the habitations of the just shall be blessed. ³⁴He will ridicule those who ridicule, but he will bestow grace upon the mild. ³⁵The wise will possess glory. The exaltation of the foolish is disgraceful.

¹³Blessed is the man who finds wisdom and who advances to prudence. ¹⁴Her acquisition is better than trading in silver, and her fruit is better than the first and purest gold. ¹⁵She is more precious than all riches, and all that can be desired cannot prevail in comparison to her.

¹⁵Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

³¹And exactly as you would want people to treat you, treat them also the same.

¹⁸Yet truly, increase in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory, both now and in the day of eternity. Amen.