He who tendsthe figtreewill eatits fruit,And he who caresfor his masterwill be honored.
Do not listento Hezekiah,for thussaysthe kingof Assyria,"Makeyour peacewith me and comeout to me, and eateachof his vineand eachof his figtreeand drinkeachof the watersof his own cistern,
But Jehoshaphatsaid,"Is therenot a prophetof the LORDhere,that we may inquireof the LORDby him?" And oneof the kingof Israel'sservantsansweredand said,"Elishathe sonof Shaphatis here,whoused to pourwateron the handsof Elijah."
But he wentin and stoodbeforehis master.And Elishasaidto him, "Wherehave you been, Gehazi?"And he said,"Your servantwentnowhere."
"Therefore, the leprosyof Naamanshall clingto you and to your descendantsforever."So he wentout from his presencea leper[as white] as snow.
So Hamantookthe robeand the horse,and arrayedMordecai,and ledhim [on horseback] through the citysquare,and proclaimedbeforehim, "Thusit shall be doneto the manwhomthe kingdesiresto honor."
Behold,as the eyesof servants[look] to the handof their master,As the eyesof a maidto the handof her mistress,Soour eyes[look] to the LORDour God,UntilHe is graciousto us.
So Mosesarosewith Joshuahis servant,and Moseswentup to the mountainof God.
A servantwho actswiselywill ruleover a sonwho actsshamefully,And will sharein the inheritanceamongbrothers.
Do you seea manskilledin his work?He will standbeforekings;He will not standbeforeobscuremen.
Ironsharpensiron,So one mansharpensanother.
As in waterface[reflects] face,Sothe heartof man[reflects] man.
"My veryown vineyardis at my disposal;The thousand[shekels] are for you, Solomon,And two hundredare for those who takecareof its fruit."
Do not listento Hezekiah,'for thussaysthe kingof Assyria,Makeyour peacewith me and comeout to me, and eateachof his vineand eachof his figtreeand drinkeachof the watersof his own cistern,
"Behold,I have told you in advance.
"Blessedis that slavewhomhis masterfindssodoingwhen he comes.
"But it is not this wayamongyou, but whoeverwishesto becomegreatamongyou shall be your servant;
"Blessedare thoseslaveswhomthe masterwill findon the alertwhen he comes;trulyI sayto you, that he will girdhimself [to serve], and have them recline[at the table], and will comeup and waiton them.
And the Lordsaid,"Whothenis the faithfuland sensiblesteward,whomhis masterwill put in chargeof his servants,to givethem their rationsat the proper time?
"And he saidto him, 'Welldone,goodslave,becauseyou have beenfaithfulin a very little thing,you are to be in authorityovertencities.'
"IfanyoneservesMe, he must followMe; and whereI am,thereMy servantwill be also;ifanyoneservesMe, the Fatherwill honorhim.
Whenthe angelwho was speakingto him had left,he summonedtwoof his servantsand a devoutsoldierof thosewho were his personal attendants,
Nowhe who plantsand he who watersare one;but eachwill receivehis ownrewardaccordingto his ownlabor.
Do you not knowthat thosewho performsacred serviceseatthe [food] of the temple,[and] thosewho attend regularlyto the altarhave their sharefrom the altar?
Whoat any timeserves as a soldierat his ownexpense?Whoplantsa vineyardand does not eatthe fruitof it? Orwhotendsa flockand does not usethe milkof the flock?
Slaves,in all thingsobeythosewho are your masterson earth,not with external service,as those who [merely] please men,but with sincerityof heart,fearingthe Lord.
The hard-workingfarmeroughtto be the firstto receive his shareof the crops.
Servants,be submissiveto your masterswith allrespect,not onlyto thosewho are goodand gentle,but alsoto thosewho are unreasonable.
For you have been calledfor thispurpose, sinceChristalsosufferedfor you, leavingyou an examplefor you to followin His steps,
"Thereforethe LORDGodof Israeldeclares,I did indeedsaythat your houseand the houseof your fathershould walkbeforeMe forever;but nowthe LORDdeclares,'Farbe it from Me-- for those who honorMe I will honor,and those who despiseMe will be lightlyesteemed.
