843 verses about Honesty

But it was so, that in the twenty-third year of king Jehoash the priests had not repaired the damage to the house.

Then king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and for the other priests, and said to them, “Why don’t you repair the damage to the house? Now therefore take no more money from your treasurers, but deliver it for repair of the damage to the house.”

The priests consented that they should take no more money from the people, and not repair the damage to the house.

But Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in its lid, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one comes into Yahweh’s house; and the priests who kept the threshold put all the money that was brought into Yahweh’s house into it.

When they saw that there was much money in the chest, the king’s scribe and the high priest came up, and they put it in bags and counted the money that was found in Yahweh’s house.

They gave the money that was weighed out into the hands of those who did the work, who had the oversight of Yahweh’s house; and they paid it out to the carpenters and the builders, who worked on Yahweh’s house,

Moreover they didn’t demand an accounting from the men into whose hand they delivered the money to give to those who did the work; for they dealt faithfully.

“Remember now, Yahweh, I beg you, how I have walked before you in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

Then Isaiah the prophet came to king Hezekiah, and said to him, “What did these men say? From where did they come to you?” Hezekiah said, “They have come from a far country, even from Babylon.”

He said, “What have they seen in your house?” Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house. There is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them.”

Let them deliver it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of Yahweh’s house; and let them give it to the workmen who are in Yahweh’s house, to repair the damage to the house,

However there was no accounting made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand; for they dealt faithfully.”

Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the book of the law in Yahweh’s house.” Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan, and he read it.

Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought the king word again, and said, “Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hands of the workmen who have the oversight of Yahweh’s house.”

Certain of them were in charge of the vessels of service; for these were brought in by count, and these were taken out by count.

David went out to meet them, and answered them, “If you have come peaceably to me to help me, my heart will be united with you; but if you have come to betray me to my adversaries, since there is no wrong in my hands, may the God of our fathers see this and rebuke it.”

But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, “Do you think that David honors your father, in that he has sent comforters to you? Haven’t his servants come to you to search, to overthrow, and to spy out the land?”

King David said to Ornan, “No; but I will most certainly buy it for the full price. For I will not take that which is yours for Yahweh, nor offer a burnt offering that costs me nothing.”

The sons of Jehieli: Zetham, and Joel his brother, over the treasures of Yahweh’s house.

Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all! In your hand is power and might! It is in your hand to make great, and to give strength to all!

I know also, my God, that you try the heart, and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things. Now I have seen with joy your people, who are present here, offer willingly to you.

“If a man sins against his neighbor, and an oath is laid on him to cause him to swear, and he comes and swears before your altar in this house;

Solomon answered all her questions. There wasn’t anything hidden from Solomon which he didn’t tell her.

She said to the king, “It was a true report that I heard in my own land of your acts and of your wisdom.

The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of Yahweh; but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil. He is Micaiah the son of Imla.” Jehoshaphat said, “Don’t let the king say so.”

The messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, “Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one mouth. Let your word therefore, please be like one of theirs, and speak good.”

Micaiah said, “As Yahweh lives, what my God says, that will I speak.”

When he had come to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?” He said, “Go up, and prosper. They shall be delivered into your hand.”

The king said to him, “How many times shall I adjure you that you speak to me nothing but the truth in Yahweh’s name?”

Micaiah said, “If you return at all in peace, Yahweh has not spoken by me.” He said, “Listen, you people, all of you!”

and said to the judges, “Consider what you do, for you don’t judge for man, but for Yahweh; and he is with you in the judgment.

Now therefore let the fear of Yahweh be on you. Take heed and do it; for there is no iniquity with Yahweh our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of bribes.”

Whenever the chest was brought to the king’s officers by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, the king’s scribe and the chief priest’s officer came and emptied the chest, and took it, and carried it to its place again. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance.

Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites about the heaps.

They delivered it into the hands of the workmen who had the oversight of Yahweh’s house; and the workmen who labored in Yahweh’s house gave it to mend and repair the house.

They gave it to the carpenters and to the builders, to buy cut stone and timber for couplings, and to make beams for the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed.

They have emptied out the money that was found in Yahweh’s house, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers, and into the hand of the workmen.”

Now because we eat the salt of the palace, and it is not appropriate for us to see the king’s dishonor, therefore we have sent and informed the king,

They also asked for the names of the men were who were making this building.

We asked them their names also, to inform you that we might write the names of the men who were at their head.

Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it is so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.”

For I was ashamed to ask of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the way, because we had spoken to the king, saying, “The hand of our God is on all those who seek him, for good; but his power and his wrath is against all those who forsake him.”

Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said to them, “You exact usury, everyone of his brother.” I held a great assembly against them.

Then they said, “We will restore them, and will require nothing of them. We will do so, even as you say.” Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they would do according to this promise.

Also I shook out my lap, and said, “So may God shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, that doesn’t perform this promise; even be he shaken out, and emptied like this.” All the assembly said, “Amen,” and praised Yahweh. The people did according to this promise.

Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brothers have not eaten the bread of the governor.

Then I sent to him, saying, “There are no such things done as you say, but you imagine them out of your own heart.”

These searched for their genealogical records, but couldn’t find them. Therefore were they deemed disqualified and removed from the priesthood.

I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were counted faithful, and their business was to distribute to their brothers.

This thing became known to Mordecai, who informed Esther the queen; and Esther informed the king in Mordecai’s name.

When this matter was investigated, and it was found to be so, they were both hanged on a tree; and it was written in the book of the chronicles in the king’s presence.

Mordecai told him of all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews.

It was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, who were doorkeepers, who had tried to lay hands on the King Ahasuerus.

The king said, “What honor and dignity has been given to Mordecai for this?” Then the king’s servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”

My brothers have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that pass away;

How forcible are words of uprightness! But your reproof, what does it reprove?

Now therefore be pleased to look at me, for surely I shall not lie to your face.

Is there injustice on my tongue? Can’t my taste discern mischievous things?

But you are forgers of lies. You are all physicians of no value.

Will you speak unrighteously for God, and talk deceitfully for him?

Is it good that he should search you out? Or as one deceives a man, will you deceive him?

He will surely reprove you, if you secretly show partiality.

Your own mouth condemns you, and not I. Yes, your own lips testify against you.

If it is true that I have erred, my error remains with myself.

The eye also of the adulterer waits for the twilight, saying, ‘No eye shall see me.’ He disguises his face.

If it isn’t so now, who will prove me a liar, and make my speech worth nothing?”

surely my lips shall not speak unrighteousness, neither shall my tongue utter deceit.

Far be it from me that I should justify you. Until I die I will not put away my integrity from me.

Doesn’t he see my ways, and count all my steps?

“If I have walked with falsehood, and my foot has hurried to deceit

(let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know my integrity);

if my step has turned out of the way, if my heart walked after my eyes, if any defilement has stuck to my hands,

if like Adam I have covered my transgressions, by hiding my iniquity in my heart,

oh that I had one to hear me! Behold, here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me! Let the accuser write my indictment!

I would declare to him the number of my steps. as a prince would I go near to him.

Please don’t let me respect any man’s person, neither will I give flattering titles to any man.

For I don’t know how to give flattering titles; or else my Maker would soon take me away.

My words shall utter the uprightness of my heart. That which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.

If you can, answer me. Set your words in order before me, and stand up.

Notwithstanding my right I am considered a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without disobedience.’

You will destroy those who speak lies. Yahweh abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

Yahweh, my God, if I have done this, if there is iniquity in my hands,

Help, Yahweh; for the godly man ceases. For the faithful fail from among the children of men.

Everyone lies to his neighbor. They speak with flattering lips, and with a double heart.

May Yahweh cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that boasts,

He who walks blamelessly does what is right, and speaks truth in his heart;

He who doesn’t slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his friend, nor casts slurs against his fellow man;

In whose eyes a vile man is despised, but who honors those who fear Yahweh; he who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and doesn’t change;

he who doesn’t lend out his money for usury, nor take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be shaken.

Hear, Yahweh, my righteous plea; Give ear to my prayer, that doesn’t go out of deceitful lips.

Let my sentence come out of your presence. Let your eyes look on equity.

He who has clean hands and a pure heart; who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood, and has not sworn deceitfully.

Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.

I have not sat with deceitful men, neither will I go in with hypocrites.

Don’t draw me away with the wicked, with the workers of iniquity who speak peace with their neighbors, but mischief is in their hearts.

Blessed is the man to whom Yahweh doesn’t impute iniquity, in whose spirit there is no deceit.

Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking lies.

Unrighteous witnesses rise up. They ask me about things that I don’t know about.

For he flatters himself in his own eyes, too much to detect and hate his sin.

I said, “I will watch my ways, so that I don’t sin with my tongue. I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me.”