The wicked are proud and persecute the poor; catch them in the traps they have made.

They are making secret plans against your people; they are plotting against those you protect.

"Come," they say, "let us destroy their nation, so that Israel will be forgotten forever."

Suppose they say, "Come on; let's find someone to kill! Let's attack some innocent people for the fun of it!

They outnumber us, so please come and put a curse on them for me. Then perhaps we will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. I know that when you pronounce a blessing, people are blessed, and when you pronounce a curse, they are placed under a curse."

(SEE 5:12)

He made the Egyptians hate his people and treat his servants with deceit.

What you think is the right road may lead to death.

Human wisdom, brilliance, insight---they are of no help if the LORD is against you.

He tricked our ancestors and was cruel to them, forcing them to put their babies out of their homes, so that they would die.

The next morning some Jews met together and made a plan. They took a vow that they would not eat or drink anything until they had killed Paul.

You should not fool yourself. If any of you think that you are wise by this world's standards, you should become a fool, in order to be really wise.

and another scripture says, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are worthless."

Such wisdom does not come down from heaven; it belongs to the world, it is unspiritual and demonic.

But the wisdom from above is pure first of all; it is also peaceful, gentle, and friendly; it is full of compassion and produces a harvest of good deeds; it is free from prejudice and hypocrisy.