71 Bible Verses about Good

I [am] a companion of all [who] fear you and heed your precepts.

So that you will walk on the road of those who are good, and the paths of those who are righteous you shall keep.

Walk with the wise and be wise, but as for the companion of fools, he will suffer harm.

But now I have written to you not to associate with any so-called brother, if he is a sexually immoral person or a greedy person or an idolater or an abusive person or a drunkard or a swindler--with such a person not even to eat.

Therefore do not be sharers with them,

For I have chosen him, that he will command his children and his household after him that they will keep the way of Yahweh, to do righteousness and justice, so that Yahweh may bring upon Abraham that which he said to him."

devout and fearing God together with all his household, doing many charitable deeds for the people and praying to God {continually}.

But if it is bad in your eyes to serve Yahweh, choose for yourselves today whom you want to serve, whether it is the gods that your ancestors served beyond the river, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you [are] living; but as for me and my household, we will serve Yahweh."

Now a certain centurion's slave, who was esteemed by him, {was sick} [and] was about to die.

Then Jacob said to his household and to all who [were] with him, "Get rid of the foreign gods that [are] in your midst and purify yourselves and change your garments.

A {reputation} [is] to be chosen {rather than} great riches; {favor is better than silver and gold}.

A good name [is] better than precious ointment, and the day of death [is better] than the day of one's birth.

Hurry, and go up to my father and say to him, 'Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me and do not delay. You shall settle in the land of Goshen so that you will be near me, you and your children and your grandchildren, and your flocks and your herds and all that you have. And I will provide for you there, because [there are] still five years of famine--lest you and your household and all that you have become destitute.'

And Joseph provided his father and his brothers and all the household of his father with food, according to the number of their children.

But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or his mother, "Whatever {benefit you would have received} from me [is] a gift [to God],"

Discipline your children, and they will give you rest, and they will give delight to your soul.

The proverbs of Solomon: A wise child makes a father glad, but a foolish child grieves his mother.

The father of the righteous will surely rejoice; he who bears a wise person will be happy with him.

My child, do not forget my instruction, and may your heart guard my commands. For length of days, years of life, and peace they shall add to you. May loyal love and truth not forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them upon your heart. read more.
And you shall find favor and good sense in the eyes of God and humankind.

"Honor your father and mother" (which is the first commandment with a promise), "in order that it may be well with you, and you may {live a long time} on the earth."

but let me lie with my ancestors. Carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial site." And he said, "I will do according to your word."

and [that] Jacob listened to his father and to his mother and went to Paddan-Aram.

Then Elihu the son of Barakel the Buzite {spoke up} and said, "{I am young}, but you are old; therefore I feared and became afraid of explaining my knowledge to you. I thought, 'Let days speak, and let many years teach wisdom.'

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing in the Lord.

Then Joseph harnessed his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen. He presented himself to him and fell upon his neck and wept upon his neck a long time.

and that from childhood you have known the holy writings that are able [to make] you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

And Samuel grew up, and Yahweh was with him. {He did not allow any of his prophecies to go unfulfilled}.

and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you turn around and become like young children, you will never enter into the kingdom of heaven!

Therefore whoever humbles himself like this child, this person is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven,

For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all those [who are] far away, as many as the Lord our God calls to himself."

A wise child [hears] the discipline of a father, but a scoffer does not listen to a rebuke.

And behold, someone came up to him [and] said, "Teacher, what good [thing] must I do so that I will have eternal life?"

Walk with the wise and be wise, but as for the companion of fools, he will suffer harm.

May my teaching trickle like the dew, my words like rain showers on tender grass, and like spring showers on new growth.

For I have given you good instruction; do not forsake my teaching.

[By] teaching these [things] to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, trained in the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed faithfully.

holding fast to the faithful message according to the teaching, in order that he may be able both to exhort with sound instruction and to reprove those who speak against [it].

But you, speak [the things] which are fitting for sound instruction.

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you; {considering the outcome of their way of life}, imitate their faith.

Let no one look down on your youth, but be an example for the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

and not as lording it over {those under your care}, but being examples for the flock.

concerning everything showing yourself [to be] an example of good deeds, in your teaching [demonstrating] soundness, dignity, sound message beyond reproach, in order that {an opponent} may be put to shame, [because he] has nothing bad to say concerning us.

and I said to them: "We ourselves have bought back our brothers the Jews who were sold to the nations as we were able. But now you yourselves have sold your brothers so they may be sold to us!" They were silent and could not find a word [to say]. So I said, "The thing that you are doing is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God [to prevent] the disgrace from the nations, our enemies? Also, I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Please stop [taking] this interest. read more.
Please restore to them this day their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, their houses, and the interest on the money, the grain, the grape juice, and the olive oil that you have been taking from them." So they said, "We will restore it and will not request [anything more]. So we will do as you say." Then I called the priests and made them take an oath to do this promise. I also shook out my garment and said, "This is how God will shake out everyone from his house who will not keep this promise. So this is how his possessions will be shaken out and emptied." And all the assembly said, "Amen!" And they praised Yahweh, and the people kept this promise. Moreover, from the appointed day I was made their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year until the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes--twelve years. My brothers and I did not eat the food [allowance] of the governor. The former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people, and they took food and wine from them, besides forty shekels. Also, their servants controlled the people, but I did not do so because of the fear of God. I also devoted myself to the work of this wall, and we did not buy land. All of my servants were gathered for the work. One hundred and fifty men, prefects and Jews, and those who came to us from the nations around us, [were] at my table. Now what was prepared each day for me was one ox, six choice sheep, and birds. And every ten days all [kinds of] wine were made. But for this I did not demand the food [allowance] of the governor because the slavery was too heavy on this people. Remember me for good, my God, all that I have done for this people.

Good and right [is] Yahweh; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.

You [are] good and do good; teach me your statutes.

But [do so] with courtesy and respect, having a good conscience, so that in [the things] in which you are slandered, the ones who malign your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame.

having faith and a good conscience, which some, [because they] have rejected [these], have suffered shipwreck concerning their faith,

For our reason for boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, in holiness and purity of motive from God, not in merely human wisdom, but by the grace of God.

The saying [is] trustworthy and worthy of all acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

{For this reason} also myself {always} do my best to have a clear conscience toward God and people.

And a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who live [there],

And they said, "Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man--and well spoken of by the whole nation of the Jews--was directed by a holy angel to summon you to his house and to hear words from you."

A {reputation} [is] to be chosen {rather than} great riches; {favor is better than silver and gold}.

A good name [is] better than precious ointment, and the day of death [is better] than the day of one's birth.

So, brothers, select from among you seven men {of good reputation}, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we will put in charge of this need.

For by grace you are saved through faith, and this [is] not from yourselves, [it is] the gift of God; [it is] not from works, so that no one can boast.

who saved us and called [us] with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace that was given to us in Christ Jesus {before time began},

Why that? Because [they did] not [pursue it] by faith, but as [if] by works. They stumbled over the {stone that causes people to stumble},

but knowing that a person is not justified by the works of the law, if not by faith in Jesus Christ, and we have believed in Christ Jesus so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law {no human being will be justified}.

On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many miracles in your name?' And then {I will say to them plainly}, 'I never knew you. Depart from me, you who practice lawlessness!'

'I know your works, and your labor and patient endurance, and that you are not able to tolerate evil, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you found them [to be] false.

Now in Joppa there was a certain female disciple {named} Tabitha (which translated means "Dorcas"). She was full of good deeds and charitable giving which she was constantly doing.

For I was hungry and you gave me [something] to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me [something] to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me as a guest, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you cared for me, I was in prison and you came to me.'

[because we] remember your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father,

Remember me, my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my loyal acts which I have done in the house of my God and in his service.

I [am] a companion of all [who] fear you and heed your precepts.

So that you will walk on the road of those who are good, and the paths of those who are righteous you shall keep.

Walk with the wise and be wise, but as for the companion of fools, he will suffer harm.

But now I have written to you not to associate with any so-called brother, if he is a sexually immoral person or a greedy person or an idolater or an abusive person or a drunkard or a swindler--with such a person not even to eat.

Therefore do not be sharers with them,

By faith Abel offered to God a greater sacrifice than Cain, by which he was approved that he was righteous, [because] God approved [him] for his gifts, and through it he still speaks, [although he] is dead.

Brothers, take [as an] example of perseverance and endurance the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

For I have given you an example, that just as I have done for you, you also do.

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his footsteps,

not that we do not have the right, but so that we may give ourselves [as] an example to you, so that [you] may imitate us.

[The] Spirit of the Lord Yahweh [is] upon me, because Yahweh has anointed me, he has sent me to bring good news [to the] oppressed, to bind up {the brokenhearted}, to {proclaim} release to [the] captives and liberation to those who are bound,

How delightful on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns as a king."

And the angel answered [and] said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news.

{Get yourself} up to a high mountain, Zion, bringer of good news! Lift up your voice with strength, Jerusalem, bringer of good news! Lift [it] up; you must not fear! Say to the cities of Judah, "Here [is] your God!"

Look! On the mountains! The feet of the one who brings good tidings, the one who proclaims peace! "Celebrate [a festival], O Judah, Fulfill your vows! For he will not invade you again; the wicked one is cut off completely!"

May my teaching trickle like the dew, my words like rain showers on tender grass, and like spring showers on new growth.

For I have given you good instruction; do not forsake my teaching.

[By] teaching these [things] to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, trained in the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed faithfully.

holding fast to the faithful message according to the teaching, in order that he may be able both to exhort with sound instruction and to reprove those who speak against [it].

But you, speak [the things] which are fitting for sound instruction.

Then they said {to one another}, "We [are] not doing right. This day is a day of good news! If we [are] silent and wait until the light of morning, they will find us and {we will be punished}. So then, come, let us go and tell the house of the king."

The sentinel said, "I [am] seeing [that] the running of the first [is] like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zakok." The king said, "He [is] a good man; he will come, for good news."

[Like] cold water upon a weary soul, [so too is] good news from a distant place.

who gave himself for us, in order that he might redeem us from all lawlessness and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good deeds.

The saying [is] trustworthy, and I want you to insist concerning these [things], so that those who have believed in God may be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and beneficial for people.

concerning everything showing yourself [to be] an example of good deeds, in your teaching [demonstrating] soundness, dignity,

In the [same] way let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

so that you may live in a manner worthy of the Lord, {to please [him] in all respects}, bearing fruit in every good deed and increasing in the knowledge of God,

maintaining your good conduct among the Gentiles, so that in [the things] in which they slander you as evildoers, by seeing your good deeds they may glorify God on the day of visitation.

Thus also faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself. But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

"You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes tasteless, by what will it be made salty? It is good for nothing any longer except to be thrown outside [and] trampled under foot by people.

Salt [is] good, but if the salt becomes deprived of its salt content, by what can you make it salty? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with one another."

for from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith toward God has gone out, so that we have no need to say anything.

For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

because I know your readiness [to help], [concerning] which I keep on boasting to the Macedonians about you, that Achaia has been ready [to help] since last year, and your zeal has stirred up the majority [of them].

to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, sharing freely,

And let us think about {how to stir one another up to love} and good works,

By faith Abel offered to God a greater sacrifice than Cain, by which he was approved that he was righteous, [because] God approved [him] for his gifts, and through it he still speaks, [although he] is dead.

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given [us] eternal encouragement and good hope by grace,

He did evil in the eyes of Yahweh, and he went in the way of his father and his mother and in the way of Jeroboam son of Nebat who caused Israel to sin.

And coached by her mother, she said, "Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter!"

"And I said to their children in the desert, 'You must not go in the statutes of your parents; you must not keep their regulations, and you must not make yourself unclean with their idols.

He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor for doing wickedness.

but they went after the stubbornness of their heart, and after the Baals, which their ancestors taught them."

By faith Abel offered to God a greater sacrifice than Cain, by which he was approved that he was righteous, [because] God approved [him] for his gifts, and through it he still speaks, [although he] is dead.

And it happened that they [were] burying a man; suddenly they saw the marauding band, so they threw the man in the grave of Elisha. [As he] went [in], the man touched the bones of Elisha, and became alive and got up on his feet!

Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her."

And I will also make every effort [that] you are able at any time, after my departure, {to recall these things to mind}.

"You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes tasteless, by what will it be made salty? It is good for nothing any longer except to be thrown outside [and] trampled under foot by people.

Salt [is] good, but if the salt becomes deprived of its salt content, by what can you make it salty? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with one another."

for from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith toward God has gone out, so that we have no need to say anything.

For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

because I know your readiness [to help], [concerning] which I keep on boasting to the Macedonians about you, that Achaia has been ready [to help] since last year, and your zeal has stirred up the majority [of them].

While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children from Israel gathered to him. And the people wept bitterly.

And when he was in distress he entreated Yahweh his God and greatly humbled himself before the God of his ancestors and prayed to him. And God responded to him and heard his plea and let him return to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that Yahweh was God. Then afterward he built an outer wall for the city of David west of the Gihon in the valley, and for the entrance into the Gate of the Fishes. And it encircled the Ophel and raised it very high. Then he placed strong commanders in all the fortified cities of Judah. read more.
And he removed the foreign gods and the carved image from the house of Yahweh and all the altars which he built on the mountain of the house of Yahweh and in Jerusalem, and he threw them outside the city. And he restored the altar of Yahweh and offered sacrifices of peace offerings and thank offerings upon it. And he commanded Judah to serve Yahweh, the God of Israel. Nevertheless, the people offered at the high places, but only to Yahweh their God. Now the remainder of the words of Manasseh and his prayer to his God and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel, behold, they [are] in the words of the kings of Israel. And his prayer, and [how] he responded to him, all his sin and his unfaithful acts, and the places where he built the high places and set up Asherahs and idols before he humbled himself, behold, they are written in the words of the seers.

In the twentieth year of Jeroboam the king of Israel, Asa became the king of Judah. He reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem, and the name of his mother [was] Maacah the daughter of Abishalom. Asa did right in the eyes of Yahweh, like David his ancestor. read more.
He put away the male shrine prostitutes from the land, and he removed all of the idols that his ancestors made. Also, he had Maacah his mother removed from the office of queen mother, [as] she had made a repulsive image for the Asherah. Asa also cut down her repulsive image and burned it in the Wadi Kidron. But the high places he did not remove. Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was completely with Yahweh all of his days. He brought the holy objects of his father and his [own] holy objects to the house of Yahweh, silver and gold and utensils. There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all of their days. Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and he built Ramah {to hinder the coming and going of anyone to Asa} king of Judah. Asa took all of the silver and gold remaining in the storerooms of the house of Yahweh and in the treasury rooms of the house of the king, and he gave them into the hand of his servants; so King Asa sent them to Ben-Hadad the son of Tabrimmon the son of Hezion, the king of Aram, who lived in Damascus, saying, "[Let there be] a covenant between me and you, between my father and your father. Look, I have sent you a gift of silver and gold. Go, break your covenant with Baasha king of Israel that he may go up [away] from me." Ben-Hadad listened to King Asa, and he sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel and he attacked Ijon, Dan, Abel-Beth-Maacah, and all of Kinnereth, in addition to all the land of Naphtali. When Baasha heard, he stopped building Ramah, and he lived in Tirzah. Then King Asa proclaimed among all of Israel that there was no one free from obligation, so they carried the stones of Ramah and its wood with which Baasha had built, and King Asa rebuilt Geba in Benjamin with them, and the Mizpah. The remainder of the acts of Asa, all of his achievements, all that he did, and the cities which he built, are they not written in the scroll of the events of the days of the kings of Judah? But at the time of his old age, {he developed a foot disease}. Asa slept with his ancestors and was buried with his ancestors in the city of David his ancestor; Jehoshaphat his son became king in his place.

It happened in the third year of Hoshea the son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah became king. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. The name of his mother was Abi, the daughter of Zechariah. He did right in the eyes of Yahweh according to all that David his ancestor had done. read more.
He removed the high places, and he smashed the stone pillars; he cut down the poles of Asherah worship and demolished the bronze serpent which Moses had made, for up to those days the {Israelites} were offering incense to it and called it Nehushtan. He trusted in Yahweh the God of Israel; there was no one like him, before or after, among all the kings of Judah. He held on to Yahweh; he did not depart from following him, and he kept his commands that Yahweh had commanded Moses. Yahweh was with him; everywhere he went, he succeeded. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. He attacked [the] Philistines up to Gaza and its territory from the watchtower up to the fortified city.

Answer me, O Yahweh, because your loyal love [is] good; according to your abundant mercies, turn to me,

[By] teaching these [things] to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, trained in the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed faithfully.

The former proclaim Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, thinking to raise up affliction in my imprisonment.

And a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who live [there],

And they said, "Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man--and well spoken of by the whole nation of the Jews--was directed by a holy angel to summon you to his house and to hear words from you."

A {reputation} [is] to be chosen {rather than} great riches; {favor is better than silver and gold}.

A good name [is] better than precious ointment, and the day of death [is better] than the day of one's birth.

So, brothers, select from among you seven men {of good reputation}, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we will put in charge of this need.

"Blessed be Yahweh who gave a resting place to his people Israel. According to all that he promised, not one word has fallen from all of his promises [concerning] the good which he spoke through the hand of Moses his servant.

A {reputation} [is] to be chosen {rather than} great riches; {favor is better than silver and gold}.

A good name [is] better than precious ointment, and the day of death [is better] than the day of one's birth.

In the same way, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some are disobedient to the word, they may be won over without a word by the conduct of their wives, [when they] see your respectful, pure conduct.

For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

And if any wife has an unbelieving husband and he consents to live with her, she must not divorce her husband. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the brother, since otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.

A woman of strength [is] the crown of her master, but like rot in his bones is she who brings shame.

A woman of excellence, who will find? For her worth [is] far more than precious jewels.

She does him good, but not harm all the days of her life.

the women must be silent in the churches, for it is not permitted for them to speak, but they must be in submission, just as the law also says.

She seeks wool and flax, and she works with the diligence of {her hands}. She is like the ships of a merchant; from far off she brings her food; And she arises while [it is] still night, and gives food to her household, and tasks to her servant girls. read more.
She considers a field and buys it, from the fruit of {her hand} she plants a vineyard. She girds her waist in strength, and makes her arms strong. She perceives that her merchandise [is] good; her lamp does not go out in the night. Her hands she puts onto the distaff, and her palms hold a spindle. Her palm she opens to the poor, and her hand she reaches [out] to the needy. She does not fear for her house [when] it snows, for {her entire household} is clothed [in] crimson. She makes for herself coverings; her clothing [is] fine linen and purple. Her husband is known at the gates, in his seat among the elders of the land. Linen garments she makes and sells, and she supplies sashes for the merchants. Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs {at the future}. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and instruction of kindness [is] upon her tongue. She looks after the ways of her household, and the bread of idleness she will not eat.

He who finds a wife finds good, and he will obtain favor from Yahweh.

The heart of her husband trusts in her, and gain he will not lack.

Her palm she opens to the poor, and her hand she reaches [out] to the needy.

Her husband is known at the gates, in his seat among the elders of the land.

Her children rise and consider her happy, her husband [also], and he praises her;

A house and wealth [are] an inheritance [from] fathers, but from Yahweh [comes] a woman who is prudent.

And [when] the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the [mother] of James, and Salome purchased fragrant spices so that they could go [and] anoint him.

and some women who had been healed of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (who was called Magdalene), from whom seven demons had gone out,

Now on the first [day] of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, [while it] was still dark, and saw the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved and said to them, "They have taken away the Lord from the tomb and we do not know where they have put him!"

But Mary stood outside at the tomb, weeping. Then, while she was weeping, she bent over to look into the tomb, and she saw two angels in white, seated one at the head and one at the feet where the body of Jesus had been lying. And they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have put him!" read more.
[When she] had said these [things], she turned {around} and saw Jesus standing there, and she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?" She thought that it was the gardener, [and] said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will take him." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned around [and] said to him in Aramaic, "Rabboni" (which means "Teacher").

But few [things] are necessary, or [only] one [thing], for Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."

(Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.)

And [while] he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, [as] he was reclining for a meal, a woman came holding an alabaster flask of very costly perfumed oil of genuine nard. [After] breaking the alabaster flask, she poured [it] out on his head. But some were expressing indignation to one another: "Why has there been this waste of perfumed oil? For this perfumed oil could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor!" And they began to scold her. read more.
But Jesus said, "Leave her alone. Why do you cause trouble for her? She has done a good deed to me. For the poor you always have with you, and you can do good for them whenever you want, but you do not always have me. She has done what she could; {she has anointed my body beforehand} for burial. And truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.

and he saw a certain poor widow putting in there two small copper coins. And he said, "Truly I say to you that this poor widow put in more than all [of them]. For these all put [gifts] into the offering out of their abundance, but this [woman] out of her poverty put in all the means of subsistence that she had."

And he sat down opposite the contribution box [and] was observing how the crowd was putting coins into the contribution box. And many rich people were putting in many [coins]. And one poor widow came [and] put in two small copper coins (that is, a penny). And summoning his disciples, he said to them, "Truly I say to you that this poor widow put in more than all those who put [offerings] into the contribution box. read more.
For they all {contributed} out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in everything she had, her whole means of subsistence."

Then she brought him up with her when she had weaned him, [along] with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. She brought him to the house of Yahweh at Shiloh while the boy [was still] young. They slaughtered the bull, and they brought the boy to Eli. She said, "Excuse me, my lord. As {you live}, my lord, I [am] the woman who stood with you in this [place] to pray to Yahweh. read more.
I prayed for this boy, and Yahweh has given me my request that I asked from him. I in turn have lent him to Yahweh. {As long as he lives} he [is] lent to Yahweh." Then they worshiped Yahweh there.

Then Hannah got up after eating and drinking at Shiloh. (Now Eli the priest [was] sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the temple of Yahweh.) She [was] {deeply troubled}, so she prayed to Yahweh and wept bitterly. She {made a vow} and said: "O Yahweh of hosts, if you will look with compassion on the misery of your female servant, and will remember me, and not forget your female servant, and will give to your female servant {a male child} then I will give him to Yahweh all the days of his life, and a razor will never pass over his head." read more.
{While} she continued to pray before Yahweh, Eli was observing her mouth. Now Hannah had been speaking in her heart; her lips [were] moving, but her voice could not be heard, so Eli considered her [to be] drunk. Then Eli said to her, "How long will you behave like someone [who is] drunk? Put away your wine!" But Hannah answered and said, "No, my lord. I am a woman {deeply distressed}, but I have not drunk wine [or] strong drink. [Rather], I have poured out my soul before Yahweh. Do not regard your female servant as {worthless}, but because of the extent of my worries and my provocation I have spoken all of this." Then Eli answered and said, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant your request that you have asked of him." And she said, "May your female slave find favor in your sight." Then the woman went on her way and ate [something], and {her face did not look sad any longer}.

And they were both righteous in the sight of God, living blamelessly in all the commandments and regulations of the Lord.

And it happened that when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby in her womb leaped and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. And she cried out with a loud shout and said, "Blessed [are] you among women, and blessed [is] the fruit of your womb! And why [is] this [granted] to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? read more.
For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy! And blessed [is] she who believed that [there] will be a fulfillment to what was spoken to her from the Lord!"

Now Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, should I not seek for you security that [things] may be good for you?

And {they took} for themselves Moabite wives. The name of the one [was] Orpah and the name of the other [was] Ruth. And they lived there about ten years.

And they lifted up their voices and cried again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law [goodbye], but Ruth clung to her. And she said, "Look, your sister-in-law has returned to her people and to her gods. Return after your sister-in-law [too]." But Ruth said, "{Do not urge} me to leave you [or] to return from {following you}! For where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people [will be] my people and your God [will be] my God. read more.
Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. So may Yahweh do to me, {and even more, unless} death {separates you and me}!" [When Naomi] saw that she was determined to go with her, {she said no more}. [So] the two of them went until they came to Bethlehem. {And when they came} to Bethlehem, all of the town was stirred because of them. And they said, "[Is] this Naomi?" And she said to them, "You should not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for Shaddai has {caused me to be very bitter}. I went [away] full, but Yahweh brought me back empty-handed! Why call me Naomi {when Yahweh has testified against me} and Shaddai has brought calamity upon me?" So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite her daughter-in-law with her, returning from the countryside of Moab. And they came [to] Bethlehem at [the] beginning of [the] harvest of barley.

Then the word of Yahweh came to him, saying, "Get up and go to Zarephath which belongs to Sidon and stay there. Look, I have commanded a woman there, a widow, to sustain you." So he arose and went to Zarephath and came to the gate of the city. There [was] a widow woman gathering wood, so he called to her, and he said, "Please bring a little water for me in a vessel so that I can drink." read more.
She went to fetch [it], and he called to her and said, "Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand." She said, "{As Yahweh your God lives}, surely I do not have a cake, {but only a handful of flour} in the jar and a little olive oil in the jug. Here I [am] gathering a few pieces of wood, and I will go and prepare it for me and my son, that we might eat it and die." Elijah said to her, "Don't be afraid. Go and do according to your word; only make for me a small bread cake from it first, and bring it out to me. Make it for yourself and for your son afterward. For thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel: 'The jar of flour will not be emptied and the jug of olive oil will not run out until the day Yahweh gives rain on the surface of the earth.'" So she went and did according to the word of Elijah; then [both] she and he ate with her household for many days. The jar of flour was not emptied and the jug of olive oil did not run out, according to the word of Yahweh which he spoke by the hand of Elijah. It happened after these things that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill; and his illness was very severe until there was no breath left in him. She said to Elijah, "{What do you have against me}, O man of God, [that] you have come to me to make known my guilt and to cause my son to die?" Then he said to her, "Give me your son." He took him from her lap and carried him up to the upper room where he was staying, and he laid him on his bed. Then he called to Yahweh and said, "O Yahweh my God, are you also causing evil to come upon the widow with whom I [am] dwelling as an alien by causing her son to die?" He stretched himself out on the child three times and called to Yahweh and said, "O Yahweh my God, please let the life of this child return within him." Yahweh listened to the voice of Elijah, and the life of the child returned within him, and he lived. Elijah then took the child and brought him down from the upper room to the house and gave him to his mother. Elijah said, "Look, your son [is] alive." Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now this I know, that you [are] a man of God and the word of Yahweh in your mouth [is] truth."

It happened one day that Elisha passed through to Shunem where there [was] a wealthy woman, and she urged him to eat bread; so it happened each time he passed through, he would stop there to eat. She said to her husband, "Please now, I know that he [is] a holy man of God who is passing {our way} regularly; let us make a small enclosed room [upstairs] and put a bed, table, chair, and lampstand there for him, so that when he comes to us, he can turn and stay there. read more.
One day it happened that he came there and went to the upper room and lay down there. He said to Gehazi his servant, "Call to this Shunammite," so he called to her, and she stood before him. He said to him, "Please say to her, 'Look, you took all this trouble, showing care for us; what is there [for me] to do for you? To speak for you to the king or to the commander of the army?'" She said, "I [am] living among my people." Then he said, "What may be done for her?" Gehazi said, "Well, she has no son, and her husband is old." And he said, "Call for her," so he called for her and she stood in the doorway. And he said, "At this time {next spring}, you [will be] embracing a son." She said, "No, my lord, man of God! You must not tell a lie to your servant!" But the woman conceived, and she bore a son {in the spring}, which Elisha had promised to her. The child grew older, and it happened one day that he went out to his father [and] to the reapers. Then he said to his father, "My head, my head!" So he said to the servant, "Carry him to his mother." So they carried him and brought him to his mother; he sat on her lap until noon and then died. She went up, laid him on the bed of the man of God, closed [the door], and went out behind it. She called to her husband and said, "Please send one of the servants and one of the female donkeys for me, so that I can go quickly up to the man of God and return." And he said, "Why are you going to him today? [It is] neither the new moon nor the Sabbath!" And she said, "Peace." She saddled the female donkey, and she said to her servant, "Drive along and go; you must not hold me back from riding, unless I tell you." So she went and came to the man of God by Mount Carmel. It happened when the man of God saw her {at a distance}, he said to Gehazi his servant, "There is this Shunammite. Now, please run to meet her and ask her, 'Is it peace for you? Is it peace for your husband? Is it peace for the boy?'" She said, "Peace." So she came to the man of God at the mountain, and she caught hold of his feet. Then Gehazi came near to push her away, but the man of God said, "Let her alone, for her soul is bitter, and Yahweh has hidden it from me and has not told me." Then she said, "Did I ask for a son from my lord? Did I not say that you must not mislead me?" Then he said to Gehazi, "Gird up your loins and take my staff in your hand and go. If you meet anyone, you must not greet them; if anyone greets you, you must not answer them. You must put my staff on the face of the boy." Then the mother of the boy said, "{As Yahweh lives} and {as your soul lives}, I will surely not leave you." So he got up and went after her. Gehazi crossed over before them, and he put the staff on the face of the boy; but there was no sound, and there was no sign of life, so he returned to meet him. He told him, saying, "The boy did not wake up." When Elisha came to the house, here [was] the boy dead, lying on his bed. He went and closed the door behind the two of them and prayed to Yahweh. Then he went up and lay upon the child and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his palms on his palms. As he bent down over him, the flesh of the boy became warm. He returned and went {to and fro} in the house one time, then he went up and bent over him. Then the boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes. [Elisha] called to Gehazi and said, "Call this Shunammite." So he called her and she came to him; then he said, "Pick up your son." She came and fell at his feet and bowed down to the ground; then she picked up her son and went out. So Elisha returned to Gilgal. Now the famine [was] in the land, and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him. He said to his servant, put on the large pot and cook a stew for the sons of the prophets.

to bring Queen Vashti before the king {with her royal crown} to show the people and the officials her beauty, {for she was very attractive}. But Queen Vashti refused to come at the word of the king that [was] {conveyed by} the eunuchs. And the king became very angry, and his anger burned in him.

Esther replied to Mordecai: "Go, gather all the Jews that are found in Susa and fast for me; do not eat or drink [for] three days, both night and day. I and my young girls will fast likewise, and then I will go to the king, which [is] not according to the law; if I perish, I perish. And Mordecai went away and he did everything that Esther commanded him.

Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee {named} Nazareth, to a virgin legally promised in marriage to a man {named} Joseph of the house of David. And the name of the virgin [was] Mary. And he came to her [and] said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord [is] with you." read more.
But she was greatly perplexed at the statement, and was pondering what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in the womb and will give birth to a son, and you will call his name Jesus. This one will be great, and he will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. And he will reign over the house of Jacob {forever}, and of his kingdom there will be no end. And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?" And the angel answered [and] said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the one to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth--she also has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren. For {nothing will be impossible with God}." So Mary said, "Behold, the Lord's female slave! May it happen to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

Greet Mary, who {has worked hard} for you.

Now I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is also a servant of the church in Cenchrea, in order that you may welcome her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever task she may have need from you, for she herself also has been a helper of many, even me myself.

And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but [when] Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the way of God to him more accurately.

But his wife said to him, "If Yahweh wanted to kill us he would not have taken from our hand the burnt offering and the grain offering, or shown us all these things, or now announced to us things such as these."

And [while] he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent [a message] to him, saying, "{Have nothing to do with that righteous man}, for I have suffered much as a result of a dream today because of him.")

And a certain woman {named} Lydia from the city of Thyatira, a merchant dealing in purple cloth who showed reverence for God, was listening. The Lord opened {her} heart to pay attention to what was being said by Paul.

Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints [who are] with them.

Yes, I ask also you, true yokefellow, help them, who struggled along with me in the gospel with both Clement and the rest of my fellow workers whose names [are] in the book of life.

Now in Joppa there was a certain female disciple {named} Tabitha (which translated means "Dorcas"). She was full of good deeds and charitable giving which she was constantly doing.

{remembering the} sincere faith in you, which lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am convinced that [is] in you also,

and herself [as] a widow up to eighty-four years) who did not depart from the temple with fastings and prayers, serving night and day.

Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, [you] who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world! For I was hungry and you gave me [something] to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me [something] to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me as a guest, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you cared for me, I was in prison and you came to me.' read more.
Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed [you], or thirsty and give [you something] to drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome [you] as a guest, or naked and clothe [you]? And when did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?' And the king will answer [and] say to them, 'Truly I say to you, in as much as you did [it] to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did [it] to me.'

What [is] the benefit, my brothers, if someone says [that he] has faith but does not have works? That faith [is] not able to save him, [is it]? If a brother or a sister is poorly clothed and lacking food for the day, and one of you should say to them, "Go in peace, keep warm and {eat well}," but does not give them what is necessary for the body, what [is] the benefit? read more.
Thus also faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself. But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe, and shudder! But do you want to know, O foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?

The saying [is] trustworthy, and I want you to insist concerning these [things], so that those who have believed in God may be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and beneficial for people.

Remind them to be subject to the rulers [and] to the authorities, to obey, to be prepared for every good work,

Command those [who are] rich in this present age not to be proud and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of riches, but in God, who provides us all [things] richly for enjoyment, to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, sharing freely,

But also our [people] must learn to engage in good deeds for necessary needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.

Remember me, my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my loyal acts which I have done in the house of my God and in his service.

But even if we are speaking in this way, dear friends, we are convinced of better [things] concerning you, and belonging to salvation. For God [is] not unjust, [so as] to forget your work and the love which you demonstrated for his name [by] having served the saints, and continuing to serve [them].

For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, in order that each one may receive back the [things] through the body according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Jesus of Nazareth--how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with him.

Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good deeds from the Father. For which one of them are you going to stone me?"

In the [same] way let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

maintaining your good conduct among the Gentiles, so that in [the things] in which they slander you as evildoers, by seeing your good deeds they may glorify God on the day of visitation.

being well-attested by good works, if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality, if she has washed the feet of the saints, if she has helped those who are oppressed, if she has devoted herself to every good work.

but with good deeds which are fitting for women who profess godliness.

Therefore he said, "A certain nobleman traveled to a distant country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. And summoning ten of his own slaves, he gave them ten minas and said to them, 'Do business {until I come back}.' But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We do not want this man to be king over us!' read more.
And it happened that when he returned [after] receiving the kingdom, he ordered these slaves to whom he had given the money to be summoned to him, so that he could know what they had gained by trading. So the first arrived, saying, 'Sir, your mina has made ten minas more!' And he said to him, 'Well done, good slave! Because you have been faithful in a very small thing, {have authority} over ten cities.' And the second came, saying, 'Sir, your mina has made five minas.' So he said to this one also, 'And you be over five cities.' And another came, saying, 'Sir, behold your mina, which I had put away for safekeeping in a piece of cloth. For I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man--you withdraw what you did not deposit, and you reap what you did not sow!' He said to him, '{By your own words} I will judge you, wicked slave! You knew that I am a severe man, withdrawing what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. And why did you not give my money to the bank, and I, [when I] returned, would have collected it with interest?' And to the bystanders he said, 'Take away from him the mina and give [it] to the one who has the ten minas!' And they said to him, 'Sir, he has ten minas.' 'I tell you that to everyone who has, [more] will be given. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. But these enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them--bring [them] here and slaughter them [in] my presence!'"

And [when they] received [it], they began to complain against the master of the house, saying, 'These last [people] worked one hour and you made them equal to us who have endured the burden of the day and the burning heat!' But he answered one of them [and] said, 'Friend, I am not doing you wrong. Did you not come to an agreement with me for a denarius? read more.
Take [what is] yours and go! But I want to give to this last [person] [the same] as [I gave] to you also. Is it not permitted for me to do whatever I want with [what is] mine? Or is your eye evil because I am generous?'

"Now what do you think? A man had two sons. [He] approached the first [and] said, 'Son, go work in the vineyard today.' And he answered [and] said, 'I do not want to!' But later [he] changed his mind [and] went. And [he] approached the second [and] said the same [thing]. So he answered [and] said, 'I [will], sir,' and he did not go. read more.
Which of the two did the will of [his] father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going ahead of you into the kingdom of God!

For [it is] like a man going on a journey. He summoned his own slaves and handed over his property to them. And to one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one, to each one according to his own ability, and he went on a journey immediately. The one who had received the five talents went out [and] traded with them and gained five more. read more.
In the same way the one [who had] the two gained two more. But the one who had received the one went away [and] dug up the ground and hid his master's money. Now after a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. And the one who had received the five talents came up [and] brought five more talents, saying, 'Master, you handed over to me five talents. See, I have gained five more talents!' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few [things]; I will put you [in charge] over many [things]. Enter into the joy of your master!' And the one [who had] the two talents also came up [and] said, 'Master, you handed over to me two talents. See, I have gained two talents more!' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few [things]; I will put you [in charge] over many [things]. Enter into the joy of your master!' And the one who had received the one talent came up also [and] said, 'Master, [because I] knew you, that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering from where you did not scatter [seed]. And [because I] was afraid, I went away [and] hid your talent in the ground. See, you have [what is] yours!' But his master answered [and] said to him, 'Evil and lazy slave! You knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather from where I did not scatter [seed]. Then you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and [when I] returned I would have gotten back [what was] mine with interest! Therefore take the talent from him and give [it] to the one who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has, [more] will be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

And he told this parable: "A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find [any]. So he said to the gardener, 'Behold, {for three years} I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and did not find [any]. Cut it down! Why should it even exhaust the soil?' But he answered [and] said to him, 'Sir, leave it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put manure on [it]. read more.
And if indeed it produces fruit in the coming [year], [so much the better], but if not, you can cut it down.'"

Likewise also good works [are] evident, and those considered otherwise are not able to be hidden.

My Father is glorified by this: that you bear much fruit, and prove to be my disciples.

But the one who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues [to do it], not being a forgetful hearer but a doer who acts, this one will be blessed {in what he does}.

concerning everything showing yourself [to be] an example of good deeds, in your teaching [demonstrating] soundness, dignity,