The Bible in a Nutshell - (Old Testament)

Bible Teachings in a Nutshell

Yes, here it is, the entire Bible in a nutshell!

THE OLD TESTAMENT:-

Exodus:

• "Honor thy father and thy mother."   20:12
• "Thou shalt not kill."   20:13
• "Thou shalt not commit adultery."   20:14
• "Thou shalt not steal."   20:15
• "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour."   20:16
• Be kind to strangers, widows, and fatherless children.   22:21-22
• Value the truth; don't lie.   23:1
• Don't do what everyone else does, if what they do is wrong.  23:2
• Be kind to your enemies.  Do good to those who hate you.   23:4-5
• Treat the poor fairly.   23:6
• Be honest.  Don't kill the innocent.   23:7
• Don't mistreat strangers.   23:9
• Every seventh year the Israeites were to leave their fields unharvested, so that the poor would have something to eat.   23:11

Leviticus:

• What is stolen or wrongfully acquired should be returned to the owner.   6:2-5
• Leave some grapes on the vine for travelers and the poor.   19:10
• Don't steal or lie.   19:11, 13
• "Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind."   19:14
• Don't gossip.   19:16
• Don't hate people.   19:17
• "Love thy neighbour as thyself."   19:18
• Respect your elders.   19:32
• Be kind to strangers.   19:33-34
• Treat others fairly.  Don't cheat.   19:35-36
• To help feed the poor and strangers, farmers hould not harvest the corners of their fields.   23:22
• "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof."   25:10
• Do not oppress one another.   25:17

Deuteronomy:

• "Honor thy father and thy mother."   5:16
• "Thou shalt not kill."   5:17
• Don't commit adutery.   5:18
• Don't steal.   5:19
• Don't lie.   5:20
• "Love ye therefore the stranger:  for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt."   10:19
• Help the poor.   15:7-8
• "Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy."   15:11
• Judges and officers should strive to be impartial and should never take a bribe.   16:18-19
• Look out for your neighbour's animals and protect them from harm.   22:1-4
• Be careful when making a roof to ensure that no one falls off the edge.   22:18
• Don't return runaway slaves to their masters.  Let them live with you in peace and freedom.   23:15-16
• "It shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow."  Be kind to widows, orphans, fatherless children and strangers.  Share whatever you have with them.  24:17-21
• "Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn."  Let the animal eat while it works.   25:4
• "Thou shalt have a perfect and just weight."  Be honest when you deal with others.  Don't cheat.   25:13-15
• Take care of those who need help.   26:12-13
  

Job:

• "He that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more."   7:7-9
• "Will ye speak wickedly for God?  and talk deceitfuly for him?"  This is a god question for apologists to ask themselves.   13:7
• Job says that humans perish at death like their own dung.  Well, one might fault him for his choice of words, but the idea seems sound enough.   20:7
  

Psalms:

• "Blessed is he that considereth the poor."   41:1
• "Defend the poor and fatherless:  do justice to the afflicted and needy.  Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked."  Though this seems to be directed at other gods, it is good advice for humans a well.  82:3-4       
• "The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence."   115:17

Proverbs:

• "My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother."  1:8
• A beautiful proverb about mercy and truth.   3:3
• Wisdom and understanding lead to happiness.   3:13
• Withold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it."   3:27
• Help your neighbour, if you can.   3:28
• Don't devise plots against your neighbour, fight without cause, or imitate and oppressor.   3:29-31
• Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom and with all thy getting get understanding."   4:7
• Speak plainy and honestly to others.   4:24
• "Rejoice with the wife of thy youth....Let her breasts satisfy thee at all times, and be thou ravished always with her love."  5:18-19
• Wisdom is better than wealth.  Nothing else compares with it.   8:11
• "A wise son maketh a glad father."   10:1, 23:24, 29:3
• "Hatred stirreth up strifes:  but love covereth all sins."  10:12
• "When pride cometh, then cometh shame."   11:2
• "The merciful man doeth good to his own soul:  but he that is cruel troubled his own flesh."  Okay, I don't know about th soul stuff, but I like the general idea.   11:17
• "He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind."  A nice thought and a great movie.   11:29
• "Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge."   12:1
• Be kind to animals.  (Don't eat them.)   12:10
• "The way of a fool isright in his own eyes:  but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise."  12:15
• "The lip of truth shal be established for ever:  but a lying tongue is but for a moment."   12:19
• "A wise son heareth his father's instructions."   13:1
• "A righteous man hateth lying."   13:5
• "Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge:  but a fool layeth open his folly."   13:16
• Some nice proverbs about wisdom, anger, mercy and folly.   14:7-8, 14:16-18, 14:21-22,29, 16:21-22
• "The simple believeth every word."  I wonder if this would apply to the fundamentalists who believe every word of the Bible.   14:15
• "The poor is hated even of his own neihbour: but the rich hath many friends."  Can't argue with this one.   14:20
• "A soft answer turneth away wrath."   15:1
• Some good remarks about wisdom.   15:2,7
• "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."   16:18
• Don't gossip about others.  Avoid saying hurtful things.   16:28
• "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city."   16:32
• "A merry heart doeth good lik a medicine."   17:22
• "Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise:  and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding."   17:28
• "A fool hath no delight in understanding"  and his "mouth is his destruction."   18:2, 7
• "He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him."   18:13
• Be careful how you speak; words can do great damage.   21:23
• "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches."   22:1
• "Train up a child in the way he should go:  and when he is old, he will not depart from it."   22:6
• "He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor."   22:9
• Don't rob the poor or oppress the afflicted.   22:22
• "Speak not in the ears of a fool:  for he will despise the wisdom of thy words."   23:9
• "Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge."    23:12
• "Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old."   23:22
• Find the truth and hang on to it;  Value wisdom, instruction, and understanding   23:23
• "Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth."   24:17
• "Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips."   24:28
• "Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me:  I wil render to the man according to his work."   24:29
• "If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink."  25:21
• Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him."   26:12
• "If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he b thristy, give him water to drink."   25:21
• "Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him."   26:12
• "As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the sothful upon his bed."   26:14
• "Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth."  27:1
• Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips."   27:2
• "Be thou dilgent to know the stat of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds."  Take care of your animals.   27:23
• "A man has flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet."   29:5
• "The righteous considereth the cause of the poor:  but the wicked regardeth not to know it."   29:7
• “A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.”29:23
• As a sailor and birdwatcher, I agree with this proverb that says that the way a ship sails and an eagle flies are two of the most wonderful things. 30:18-19
• “Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.” 31:6-7
• “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” (NIV) 31:8-9

Ecclesiastes:

• "The place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again."  Good description of the water cycle.   1:7
• Wisdom is better than folly, but the same fate awaits us all. 2:13-14
• “There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour.” 2:24
• “To everything there is a season….” Some nice poetry and a great Byrds song. (“Turn, Turn, Turn” — written by Pete Seeger) 3:1-8
• Strive to do good in this life. You only get one chance. 3:12
• Eat, drink, and enjoy the good of your labour. 3:13
• Men and animals both die and their spirits don’t survive death. “A man hath no pre-eminence above a beast … All goeth unto one place … Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?” 3:19-21“
• Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works.” 3:22“
• Two are better than one” — the value of friendship. 4:9-12
• “Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king.” 4:13
• “A fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.” 5:3
• Greedy folks are never satisfied. 5:10
• “As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.” 5:15
• “It is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life.” 5:18
• No one knows what happens after we die and no one can tell another how to live. 6:12
• "A good name is better than precious ointment.” 7:1
• “It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.” 7:5
• “The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.” 7:8
• “Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.”7:9
• Don’t waste time thinking about “the good old days.” 7:10
• Don’t pay attention to everything people say. 7:21
• Always strive “to know, and to search; and to seek out wisdom, and the reasonableness of things.” 7:25
• There is nothing better for us to do than “to eat, to drink, and to be merry.”8:15
• The same death comes to us all, the good and the bad alike. 9:2-3
• As long as we are alive there is hope. After that there is nothing. “A live dog is better than a dead lion.” 9:4
• Dead people know nothing and receive no reward. 9:5
• “Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart.” 9:7
• “Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest.” 9:9
• “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might,” because dead people don’t work and they know nothing 9:10
• Human life is subject to indifferent laws and random events — just like the lives of other animals. 9:11-12
• Wisdom, though often ignored and despised, is better than strength. 9:16-17
• “Wisdom is profitable to direct.” 10:10
• “The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.” 10:12
• “A fool also is full of words.” 10:14
• "Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.” I don’t know what this means, but it sure sounds cool. 11:1
• However long you may live, enjoy your life to the fullest. But do not forget the dark days and know that the end is both certain and final. 11:8
• “Walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes.” 11:9
• “Much study is a weariness of the flesh.” 12:12

Isaiah:

• "Cease to do evel; learn to do well ... relieve the oppressed ... plead for the widow."  1:16-17
• “Come now, let us reason together.” 1:18
• “And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” Well, it’s a nice thought, but Joel 3:10 says just the opposite. But what do you expect from a “God of Peace” (Rom.15:33, Heb.13:20) who calls himself a “man of war”? (Ex.15:3) 2:4
• “The liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand.” — A Bible verse for Howard Dean and the US Democratic Party! 32:8
• “All flesh is grass.”
  

  Since all animals, including humans, survive by eating plants or other animals that have eaten plants, it is true that “all flesh is grass.” 40:6
• This verse appear to condemn slavery. However the bible is far from clear on this issue. 58:6
• Feed the hungry, house the homeless, clothe the naked. 58:7, 10
• “He that killed an ox is as if he slew a man.” 66:3

Jeremiah:

• Defend the helpless and oppressed; don't harm strangers, widows, orphans, or other innocent people.  22:3
• Pay a fair wage to your employees. 22:13

Hosea:

• "For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice."  6:6

Micah:

• "They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” Well, it’s a nice thought, but Joel 3:10 says just the opposite. But what do you expect from a “God of Peace” (Rom.15:33, Heb.13:20) who calls himself a “man of war”? (Ex.15:3) 4:3
• “O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” 6:8  Well, it’s a nice thought, but there are a few things more that Micah forgot to mention. Like you must believe certain unlikely things or you will be tormented forever in hell (Mk.16:16, Jn.3:18, 36); you must kill witches Ex.22:18, homosexuals Lev.20:13, those who believe differently than you Dt.13:6-10, disobedient children Dt.21:18-21, etc.6:8

Zechariah:

• "Execute true judgement, and show mercy and compassions every man to his brother: And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.” 7:9-10
• “These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates: And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath.” 8:16-17

Malachi:

• "Let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.” 2:15
• God disapproves of adultery, lying, oppressing workers, and mistreating widows, orphans, and strangers. 3:5

New Testament to follow...

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