- A perverse man sows strife,
and a tale-bearer destroys close friendships. - The fear of the Lord implies hatred of evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil ways and perverse speech. - The lips of the righteous utter words of kindness,
but the mouth of the wicked knows only how to pervert. - Turn away from the mouth that deceives
and keep your distance from lips that mislead. - Do not envy a violent man
or choose to emulate any of his ways.
For the perverse man is an abomination to the Lord
whose friendship is bestowed only upon the upright. - A wholesome tongue is a tree of life,
but an undisciplined tongue crushes the spirit. - Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may show yourselves blameless and beyond reproach, children of God without spot in the midst of an evil and depraved generation, among which you shine like lights in the world as you hold fast tenaciously to the word of life.
- The heart is more deceitful than any other thing,
and it is also perverse.
Who can uncover its secrets?
I, the Lord, search the heart
and probe the mind
to reward all according to their conduct
and as their deeds deserve. - Anyone who leads an honorable life walks in safety,
but whoever pursues wicked ways will be found out. - The upright are guarded by their integrity;
the treacherous are destroyed by their own duplicity. - We have sinned and done what is wrong, we have acted wickedly and rebelled, we have rejected your commandments and your laws.
So today acknowledge it and take it to heart that the Lord is God in the heavens above and on the earth below. There is no other.