'Good' in the Bible

Should good be repaid with evil?Yet they have dug a pit for me.Remember how I stood before Youto speak good on their behalf,to turn Your anger from them.

For I have turned against this city to bring disaster and not good’”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “‘It will be handed over to the king of Babylon, who will burn it down.’

One basket contained very good figs, like early figs, but the other basket contained very bad figs, so bad they were inedible.

The Lord said to me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I said, “Figs! The good figs are very good, but the bad figs are extremely bad, so bad they are inedible.”

“This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Like these good figs, so I regard as good the exiles from Judah I sent away from this place to the land of the Chaldeans.

I will keep My eyes on them for their good and will return them to this land. I will build them up and not demolish them; I will plant them and not uproot them.

As for me, here I am in your hands; do to me what you think is good and right.

this is what the Lord says: I am about to punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants. There will not be even one of his descendants living among these people, nor will any ever see the good that I will bring to My people”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“for he has preached rebellion against the Lord.”

I will give them one heart and one way so that for their good and for the good of their descendants after them, they will fear Me always.

“I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never turn away from doing good to them, and I will put fear of Me in their hearts so they will never again turn away from Me.

I will take delight in them to do what is good for them, and with all My heart and mind I will faithfully plant them in this land.

“For this is what the Lord says: Just as I have brought all this great disaster on these people, so am I about to bring on them all the good I am promising them.

This city will bear on My behalf a name of joy, praise, and glory before all the nations of the earth, who will hear of all the good I will do for them. They will tremble with awe because of all the good and all the peace I will bring about for them.

a sound of joy and gladness, the voice of the groom and the bride, and the voice of those saying,Praise the Lord of Hosts,for the Lord is good;His faithful love endures foreveras they bring thank offerings to the temple of the Lord. For I will restore the fortunes of the land as in former times, says the Lord.

“Look, the days are coming”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“when I will fulfill the good promisesthat I have spokenconcerning the house of Israeland the house of Judah.

This is what the Lord says: Don’t deceive yourselves by saying, ‘The Chaldeans will leave us for good,’ for they will not leave.

“Go tell Ebed-melech the Cushite: This is what the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: I am about to fulfill My words for harm and not for good against this city. They will take place before your eyes on that day.

Now pay attention: Today I am setting you free from the chains that were on your hands. If it pleases you to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will take care of you. But if it seems wrong to you to come with me to Babylon, go no farther. Look—the whole land is in front of you. Wherever it seems good and right for you to go, go there.”

Instead, we will do everything we said we would: burn incense to the queen of heaven and offer drink offerings to her just as we, our fathers, our kings, and our officials did in Judah’s cities and in Jerusalem’s streets. Then we had enough food and good things and saw no disaster,

I am watching over them for disaster and not for good, and every man of Judah who is in the land of Egypt will meet his end by sword or famine until they are finished off.

ט TetThe Lord is good to those who wait for Him,to the person who seeks Him.

It is good to wait quietlyfor deliverance from the Lord.

It is good for a man to bear the yokewhile he is still young.

Do not both adversity and goodcome from the mouth of the Most High?

It had been plantedin a good field by abundant watersin order to produce branches,bear fruit, and become a splendid vine.

I also gave them statutes that were not good and ordinances they could not live by.

Place the pieces of meat in it,every good piece—thigh and shoulder.Fill it with choice bones.

Say to the Ammonites: Hear the word of the Lord God: This is what the Lord God says: Because you said, ‘Good!’ about My sanctuary when it was desecrated, about the land of Israel when it was laid waste, and about the house of Judah when they went into exile,

“Son of man, because Tyre said about Jerusalem, ‘Good! The gateway to the peoples is shattered. She has been turned over to me. I will be filled now that she lies in ruins,’

I will tend them with good pasture, and their grazing place will be on Israel’s lofty mountains. There they will lie down in a good grazing place; they will feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.

Isn’t it enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of the pasture with your feet? Or isn’t it enough that you drink the clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet?

This is what the Lord God says: Because the enemy has said about you, ‘Good! The ancient heights have become our possession,’

“Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and detestable practices.

young men without any physical defect, good-looking, suitable for instruction in all wisdom, knowledgeable, perceptive, and capable of serving in the king’s palace—and to teach them the Chaldean language and literature.

Therefore, may my advice seem good to you my king. Separate yourself from your sins by doing what is right, and from your injustices by showing mercy to the needy. Perhaps there will be an extension of your prosperity.”

Israel has rejected what is good;an enemy will pursue him.

Take words of repentance with youand return to the Lord.Say to Him: “Forgive all our sinand accept what is good,so that we may repay Youwith praise from our lips.

Seek good and not evilso that you may live,and the Lord, the God of Hosts,will be with you,as you have claimed.

Hate evil and love good;establish justice in the gate.Perhaps the Lord, the God of Hosts, will be graciousto the remnant of Joseph.

And if they are drivenby their enemies into captivity,from there I will commandthe sword to kill them.I will fix My eyes on themfor harm and not for good.

Though the residents of Marothanxiously wait for something good,disaster has come from the Lordto the gate of Jerusalem.

House of Jacob, should it be asked,“Is the Spirit of the Lord impatient?Are these the things He does?”Don’t My words bring goodto the one who walks uprightly?

You hate good and love evil.You tear off people’s skinand strip their flesh from their bones.

Mankind, He has told you what is goodand what it is the Lord requires of you:to act justly,to love faithfulness,and to walk humbly with your God.

Both hands are good at accomplishing evil:the official and the judge demand a bribe;when the powerful man communicates his evil desire,they plot it together.

The Lord is good,a stronghold in a day of distress;He cares for those who take refuge in Him.

Look to the mountains—the feet of one bringing good newsand proclaiming peace!Celebrate your festivals, Judah;fulfill your vows.For the wicked one will never againmarch through you;he will be entirely wiped out.

And at that time I will search Jerusalem with lampsand punish the men who settle down comfortably,who say to themselves:The Lord will not do good or evil.

“so I have resolved again in these days to do what is good to Jerusalem and the house of Judah. Don’t be afraid.

You have wearied the Lord with your words.Yet you ask, “How have we wearied Him?”When you say, “Everyone who does what is evil is good in the Lord’s sight, and He is pleased with them,” or “Where is the God of justice?”

Even now the ax is ready to strike the root of the trees! Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

Jesus was going all over Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled on by men.

In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit.

A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit.

Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Then Jesus went to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness.

the blind see, the lame walk, those with skin diseases are healed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news.

Yes, Father, because this was Your good pleasure.

A man is worth far more than a sheep, so it is lawful to do what is good on the Sabbath.”

Then He told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored, as good as the other.

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.

Brood of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.

A good man produces good things from his storeroom of good, and an evil man produces evil things from his storeroom of evil.

Still others fell on good ground and produced a crop: some 100, some 60, and some 30 times what was sown.

But the one sown on the good ground—this is one who hears and understands the word, who does bear fruit and yields: some 100, some 60, some 30 times what was sown.”

He presented another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.

The landowner’s slaves came to him and said, ‘Master, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Then where did the weeds come from?’

He replied: “The One who sows the good seed is the Son of Man;

the field is the world; and the good seed—these are the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,

and when it was full, they dragged it ashore, sat down, and gathered the good fish into containers, but threw out the worthless ones.

He answered them: “When evening comes you say, ‘It will be good weather because the sky is red.’

Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it’s good for us to be here! If You want, I will make three tabernacles here: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

Just then someone came up and asked Him, “Teacher, what good must I do to have eternal life?”

“Why do you ask Me about what is good?” He said to him. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

So those slaves went out on the roads and gathered everyone they found, both evil and good. The wedding banquet was filled with guests.

This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations. And then the end will come.

“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy!’

“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy!’

And throw this good-for-nothing slave into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

And from that time he started looking for a good opportunity to betray Him.

Just then Jesus met them and said, “Good morning!” They came up, took hold of His feet, and worshiped Him.

After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee, preaching the good news of God:

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe in the good news!”

Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do what is good or to do what is evil, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent.

Still others fell on good ground and produced a crop that increased 30, 60, and 100 times what was sown.”

But the ones sown on good ground are those who hear the word, welcome it, and produce a crop: 30, 60, and 100 times what was sown.”

Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it’s good for us to be here! Let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—

Salt is good, but if the salt should lose its flavor, how can you make it salty? Have salt among yourselves and be at peace with one another.”

As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

“Why do you call Me good?” Jesus asked him. “No one is good but One—God.

And the good news must first be proclaimed to all nations.

You always have the poor with you, and you can do what is good for them whenever you want, but you do not always have Me.

And when they heard this, they were glad and promised to give him silver. So he started looking for a good opportunity to betray Him.

It also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable Theophilus,

The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news.