He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck,
        will suddenly be broken beyond healing.
    When the righteous increase, the people rejoice,
        but when the wicked rule, the people groan.
    He who loves wisdom makes his father glad,
        but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
    By justice a king builds up the land,
        but he who exacts gifts tears it down.
    A man who flatters his neighbor
        spreads a net for his feet.
    An evil man is ensnared in his transgression,
        but a righteous man sings and rejoices.
    A righteous man knows the rights of the poor;
        a wicked man does not understand such knowledge.
    Scoffers set a city aflame,
        but the wise turn away wrath.
    If a wise man has an argument with a fool,
        the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.
    Bloodthirsty men hate one who is blameless
        and seek the life of the upright.
    A fool gives full vent to his spirit,
        but a wise man quietly holds it back.
    If a ruler listens to falsehood,
        all his officials will be wicked.
    The poor man and the oppressor meet together;
        the LORD gives light to the eyes of both.
    If a king faithfully judges the poor,
        his throne will be established forever.
    The rod and reproof give wisdom,
        but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.
    When the wicked increase, transgression increases,
        but the righteous will look upon their downfall.
    Discipline your son, and he will give you rest;
        he will give delight to your heart.
    Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint,
        but blessed is he who keeps the law.
    By mere words a servant is not disciplined,
        for though he understands, he will not respond.
    Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?
        There is more hope for a fool than for him.
    Whoever pampers his servant from childhood
        will in the end find him his heir.
    A man of wrath stirs up strife,
        and one given to anger causes much transgression.
    One’s pride will bring him low,
        but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.
    The partner of a thief hates his own life;
        he hears the curse, but discloses nothing.
    The fear of man lays a snare,
        but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.
    Many seek the face of a ruler,
        but it is from the LORD that a man gets justice.
    An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous,
        but one whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked.
    
    
      The words of Agur son of Jakeh. The oracle.

    The man declares, I am weary, O God;
        I am weary, O God, and worn out.
    Surely I am too stupid to be a man.
        I have not the understanding of a man.
    I have not learned wisdom,
        nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.
    Who has ascended to heaven and come down?
        Who has gathered the wind in his fists?
    Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment?
        Who has established all the ends of the earth?
    What is his name, and what is his son’s name?
        Surely you know!
    
    
    Every word of God proves true;
        he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
    Do not add to his words,
        lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.
    
    
    Two things I ask of you;
        deny them not to me before I die:
    Remove far from me falsehood and lying;
        give me neither poverty nor riches;
        feed me with the food that is needful for me,
    lest I be full and deny you
        and say, “Who is the LORD?”
    or lest I be poor and steal
        and profane the name of my God.
    
    
    Do not slander a servant to his master,
        lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.
    
    
    There are those who curse their fathers
        and do not bless their mothers.
    There are those who are clean in their own eyes
        but are not washed of their filth.
    There are those—how lofty are their eyes,
        how high their eyelids lift!
    There are those whose teeth are swords,
        whose fangs are knives,
    to devour the poor from off the earth,
        the needy from among mankind.
    
    
    The leech has two daughters:
        Give and Give.
    Three things are never satisfied;
        four never say, “Enough”:
    Sheol, the barren womb,
        the land never satisfied with water,
        and the fire that never says, “Enough.”
    
    
    The eye that mocks a father
        and scorns to obey a mother
    will be picked out by the ravens of the valley
        and eaten by the vultures.
    
    
    Three things are too wonderful for me;
        four I do not understand:
    the way of an eagle in the sky,
        the way of a serpent on a rock,
    the way of a ship on the high seas,
        and the way of a man with a virgin.
    
    
    This is the way of an adulteress:
        she eats and wipes her mouth
        and says, “I have done no wrong.”
    
    
    Under three things the earth trembles;
        under four it cannot bear up:
    a slave when he becomes king,
        and a fool when he is filled with food;
    an unloved woman when she gets a husband,
        and a maidservant when she displaces her mistress.
    
    
    Four things on earth are small,
        but they are exceedingly wise:
    the ants are a people not strong,
        yet they provide their food in the summer;
    the rock badgers are a people not mighty,
        yet they make their homes in the cliffs;
    the locusts have no king,
        yet all of them march in rank;
    the lizard you can take in your hands,
        yet it is in kings’ palaces.
    
    
    Three things are stately in their tread;
        four are stately in their stride:
    the lion, which is mightiest among beasts
        and does not turn back before any;
    the strutting rooster, the he-goat,
        and a king whose army is with him.
    
    
    If you have been foolish, exalting yourself,
        or if you have been devising evil,
        put your hand on your mouth.
    For pressing milk produces curds,
        pressing the nose produces blood,
        and pressing anger produces strife. (ESV)

About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

  Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

  When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.

  Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.

  Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and having persuaded Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food. On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.

  But the word of God increased and multiplied.

  And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark. (ESV)