blog: Bible Verse Selection for Tolerance Section in Markdown

diff --git i/_d/religion.md w/_d/religion.md
index 6e4d8ef5b..f7fe92b98 100644
--- i/_d/religion.md
+++ w/_d/religion.md
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ I did my Bar Mitzvah at the Wailing Wall in Israel — the holiest place in Juda
   - [Tolerance](#tolerance)
     - [Discipline](#discipline)
     - [You don't have control, but you must still do the work](#you-dont-have-control-but-you-must-still-do-the-work)
+    - [Don't take Faith Blindly](#dont-take-faith-blindly)
 - [Appendix and stuff I'm working in ...](#appendix-and-stuff-im-working-in-)
   - [Why Religion?](#why-religion)
   - [Belief vs Practice](#belief-vs-practice)
@@ -175,6 +176,8 @@ While I struggle with literal belief, I've found certain verses capture truths a
 - Proverbs 21:31 - "The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord."
 - 2 Thessalonians 3:10 - "For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: 'The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.'"
 
+#### Don't take Faith Blindly
+
 ## Appendix and stuff I'm working in ...
 
 ### Why Religion?

Web search results for query: "bible verses about testing faith not blind faith questioning God"

Links: [{"title":"Bible Verses about Faith, Testing of","url":"https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/verses/id/3556/faith-testing-of-verses.htm"},{"title":"1 Peter 1:7 - so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious … | ESV.org","url":"https://www.esv.org/verses/1+Peter+1:7/"},{"title":"39 Bible verses about Faith, Testing Of","url":"https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Faith,-Testing-Of"},{"title":"James 1:3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.","url":"https://biblehub.com/james/1-3.htm"},{"title":"23 Bible Verses About Questioning Your Faith - Encouraging Scripture | Bible Study Tools","url":"https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/questioning-faith-bible-verses/"},{"title":"Bible Verses about God's Testing","url":"https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/verses/id/5262/gods-testing-verses.htm"},{"title":"What Does the Bible Say About Test Of Faith?","url":"https://www.openbible.info/topics/test_of_faith"},{"title":"35 Bible Verses About Questioning God - Bible Repository","url":"https://biblerepository.com/bible-verses-about-questioning-god/"},{"title":"2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Can't you see for yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you--unless you actually fail the test?","url":"https://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/13-5.htm"},{"title":"20 Bible Verses about Faith - Scripture for Trust in Hard Times","url":"https://www.countryliving.com/life/g32008537/bible-verses-about-faith/"}]

I've found several Bible verses about testing faith and questioning God. Here are some key passages:

## Testing of Faith

James 1:2-4 states: "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."(no content)1 Peter 1:6-7 says: "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ."(no content)Job 23:10 declares: "But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold."

## God's Testing and Self-Examination

Genesis 22:1-3 describes how "God tested Abraham" by asking him to offer Isaac as a burnt offering.(no content)2 Corinthians 13:5 encourages believers: "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves."

## Questioning God

The Bible shows us that God understands our doubts and encourages us to bring them to Him. When we question God, it is not a sign of weakness but of trust in seeking answers from Him.(no content)James 1:5 promises: "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him."

Web search results for query: ""test everything" "examine scriptures" Bereans Acts 17:11 1 Thessalonians 5:21 bible verses"

No links found.

Let me try a more focused search:

Links: [{"title":"1 Thessalonians 5:21 but test all things. Hold fast to what is good.","url":"https://biblehub.com/1_thessalonians/5-21.htm"},{"title":"Acts 17:11 Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.","url":"https://biblehub.com/acts/17-11.htm"},{"title":"What does 1 Thessalonians 5:21 mean? | BibleRef.com","url":"https://www.bibleref.com/1-Thessalonians/5/1-Thessalonians-5-21.html"},{"title":"1 Thessalonians 5 - but test everything; hold fast what is good. | ESV.org","url":"https://www.esv.org/1+Thessalonians+5:21/"},{"title":"What does it mean to test everything (1 Thessalonians 5:21)? | GotQuestions.org","url":"https://www.gotquestions.org/test-everything.html"},{"title":"1 Thessalonians 5:21 Commentary | Precept Austin","url":"https://www.preceptaustin.org/1_thessalonians_521_commentary"},{"title":"1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil. but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. but be faithful to examine them by putting them to the test, and afterward hold tightly to what has proven to be right. Avoid every appearance of evil. but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Don’t suppress the Spirit, and don’t stifle those who have a word from the Master. ","url":"https://www.bible.com/bible/compare/1TH.5.21-22"},{"title":"What does Acts 17:11 mean? | BibleRef.com","url":"https://www.bibleref.com/Acts/17/Acts-17-11.html"},{"title":"Test All Things (1 Thessalonians 5:21)","url":"https://scripturalthinking.com/test-all-things/"},{"title":"1 Thessalonians 5:21 (New King James Version) (Verse and Comment)","url":"https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/7704/ver/NKJV/1-thessalonians-5-21.htm"}]

I found information about these important Bible verses related to testing teachings and examining Scripture:

## Acts 17:11 - The Bereans

The Bereans were described as "more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true."(no content)The Bereans tested the apostolic teaching on the basis of its agreement with the Scriptures.

## 1 Thessalonians 5:21 - Test Everything

This verse instructs believers to "test everything; hold fast what is good." Various translations render this as "examine everything carefully" or "prove all things."

## Connection Between the Verses

Paul's instruction to test everything in 1 Thessalonians 5:21 is still pertinent today, and one must test claims in light of the Scriptures.(no content)The Scriptures are the sole and sufficient criterion for the testing of all teachings that claim to have divine origin and authority.

These verses together emphasize the biblical principle of examining all teachings against Scripture, with the Bereans serving as the model example of this practice.

Web search results for query: "Proverbs wisdom understanding discernment "seek wisdom" bible verses"

Links: [{"title":"40 Bible Verses About Discernment And Wisdom","url":"https://marisadamore.com/verses/40-bible-verses-about-discernment-and-wisdom"},{"title":"30 Powerful bible verses about being wise and discerning (Full Commentary) - Bible Study For You","url":"https://biblestudyforyou.com/bible-verses-about-being-wise-and-discerning/"},{"title":"30 Powerful Bible Verses About Knowledge And Wisdom (Full Commentary) - Bible Study For You","url":"https://biblestudyforyou.com/bible-verses-about-knowledge-and-wisdom/"},{"title":"30 Powerful bible verses about discernment and wisdom (Full Commentary) - Bible Study For You","url":"https://biblestudyforyou.com/bible-verses-about-discernment-and-wisdom/"},{"title":"12 Bible Verses About Discernment","url":"https://encouragingbibleverses.org/bible-verses-about-discernment/"},{"title":"30 Powerful bible verses about wisdom (Full Commentary) - Bible Study For You","url":"https://biblestudyforyou.com/bible-verses-about-wisdom/"},{"title":"Bible Verses About Discernment: Wisdom from Scripture","url":"https://churchleaders.com/christianity/472608-bible-verses-about-discernment-wisdom-guidance.html"},{"title":"The Blessings of Seeking Wisdom - Counseling One Another","url":"https://counselingoneanother.com/2017/07/21/the-blessings-of-seeking-wisdom/"},{"title":"32 Bible Verses On Wisdom","url":"https://soveryblessed.com/bible-verses-on-wisdom/"},{"title":"Seek Wisdom - Walking With Purpose","url":"https://walkingwithpurpose.com/seek-wisdom/"}]

I've completed the web search for Bible verses about wisdom, understanding, discernment, and seeking wisdom from Proverbs. Here's what I found:

## Key Themes

Proverbs 2 emphasizes the value of wisdom and understanding, teaching that when we seek these qualities with passion and persistence like searching for hidden treasure, we will grow in our fear of the Lord and knowledge of God.(no content)The Bible encourages believers to seek wisdom and understanding from God in order to make sound decisions and avoid deception.

## Important Bible Verses Featured:

**Proverbs passages:**
- Proverbs 9:10 - "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."
- Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
- Proverbs 15:14 (paraphrased) - "The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly."

**New Testament verses:**
- James 1:5 advocates for believers to seek wisdom from God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, implying that wisdom is readily available to those who ask God.
- Colossians 1:9 and Philippians 1:9-10 emphasize asking God for knowledge, wisdom, understanding, and discernment.

The search results include comprehensive collections of verses with commentary on how to apply wisdom and discernment in daily Christian living.

The file /Users/idvorkin/gits/blog/_d/religion.md has been updated. Here's the result of running `cat -n` on a snippet of the edited file:
   175→- Ecclesiastes 9:10 - "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom."
   176→- Proverbs 21:31 - "The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord."
   177→- 2 Thessalonians 3:10 - "For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: 'The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.'"
   178→
   179→#### Don't take Faith Blindly
   180→
   181→- 1 Thessalonians 5:21 - "But test everything; hold fast what is good."
   182→- Acts 17:11 - "Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true."
   183→- Proverbs 2:3-5 - "Indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you search for it as for silver and seek it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God."
   184→- James 1:5 - "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him."
   185→- 2 Corinthians 13:5 - "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves."
   186→
   187→## Appendix and stuff I'm working in ...
   188→
   189→### Why Religion?
   190→
   191→Religions persist because they solve hard coordination problems: transmitting values across generations, creating social trust, and providing meaning under uncertainty. They encode “do this, not that” as embodied wisdom, not just abstract rules. My interest is pragmatic: learn from what works, name what harms, keep the parts that build resilient, prosocial humans.

The file /Users/idvorkin/gits/blog/_d/religion.md has been updated. Here's the result of running `cat -n` on a snippet of the edited file:
   177→- 2 Thessalonians 3:10 - "For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: 'The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.'"
   178→
   179→#### Don't take Faith Blindly
   180→
   181→- 1 Thessalonians 5:21 - "But test everything; hold fast what is good."
   182→- Acts 17:11 - "Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true."
   183→- 1 John 4:1 - "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world."
   184→- James 1:5 - "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him."
   185→- 2 Corinthians 13:5 - "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves."
   186→
   187→## Appendix and stuff I'm working in ...
   188→
   189→### Why Religion?

The file /Users/idvorkin/gits/blog/_d/religion.md has been updated. Here's the result of running `cat -n` on a snippet of the edited file:
   154→A ritual for death, for marriage, to remind us to forgive, and to be void of temptation
   155→
   156→### A harbor of inner peace
   157→
   158→## Some bible verses I really like
   159→
   160→While I struggle with literal belief, I've found certain verses capture truths about how to live well. They're less about theology and more about practical wisdom - the kind that holds up whether you believe in God or not.
   161→
   162→#### Don't take Faith Blindly
   163→
   164→- 1 Thessalonians 5:21 - "But test everything; hold fast what is good."
   165→- Acts 17:11 - "Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true."
   166→- 1 John 4:1 - "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world."
   167→- James 1:5 - "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him."
   168→- 2 Corinthians 13:5 - "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves."
   169→
   170→#### Tolerance
   171→
   172→- Romans 14:10 - "You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat."
   173→- Romans 14:13 - "Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister."
   174→

The file /Users/idvorkin/gits/blog/_d/religion.md has been updated. Here's the result of running `cat -n` on a snippet of the edited file:
   179→- Hebrews 12:11 - "For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."
   180→
   181→#### You don't have control, but you must still do the work
   182→
   183→- Ecclesiastes 9:10 - "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom."
   184→- Proverbs 21:31 - "The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord."
   185→- 2 Thessalonians 3:10 - "For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: 'The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.'"
   186→
   187→## Appendix and stuff I'm working in ...
   188→
   189→### Why Religion?
   190→
   191→Religions persist because they solve hard coordination problems: transmitting values across generations, creating social trust, and providing meaning under uncertainty. They encode “do this, not that” as embodied wisdom, not just abstract rules. My interest is pragmatic: learn from what works, name what harms, keep the parts that build resilient, prosocial humans.

The file /Users/idvorkin/gits/blog/_d/religion.md has been updated. Here's the result of running `cat -n` on a snippet of the edited file:
    28→  - [a sense of confidence, without risk of conceit.](#a-sense-of-confidence-without-risk-of-conceit)
    29→  - [a reminder of how small and petty my problems really are.](#a-reminder-of-how-small-and-petty-my-problems-really-are)
    30→  - [a set of rituals to keep me on track and for complex events](#a-set-of-rituals-to-keep-me-on-track-and-for-complex-events)
    31→  - [A harbor of inner peace](#a-harbor-of-inner-peace)
    32→- [Some bible verses I really like](#some-bible-verses-i-really-like)
    33→  - [Don't take Faith Blindly](#dont-take-faith-blindly)
    34→  - [Tolerance](#tolerance)
    35→  - [Discipline](#discipline)
    36→  - [You don't have control, but you must still do the work](#you-dont-have-control-but-you-must-still-do-the-work)
    37→- [Appendix and stuff I'm working in ...](#appendix-and-stuff-im-working-in-)
    38→  - [Why Religion?](#why-religion)
    39→  - [Belief vs Practice](#belief-vs-practice)
    40→  - [Secular Spirituality](#secular-spirituality)

Web search results for query: ""doubting Thomas" John 20:27-29 "blessed are those who have not seen" bible verse"

Links: [{"title":"Blessed Are Those Who Have Not Seen and yet Believe","url":"https://www.str.org/w/blessed-are-those-who-have-not-seen-and-yet-believe"},{"title":"How can I avoid being a doubting Thomas? | GotQuestions.org","url":"https://www.gotquestions.org/doubting-Thomas.html"},{"title":"Doubting Thomas - Bible Story, Verses and Meaning | Bible Study Tools","url":"https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-stories/doubting-thomas-bible-story.html"},{"title":"Jesus Helps Our Unbelief | Desiring God","url":"https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/jesus-helps-our-unbelief"},{"title":"Believing Without Seeing: What John 20–29 Teaches Us About True Faith | by kristan vihaan | Medium","url":"https://medium.com/@kristanvihaan11/believing-without-seeing-what-john-20-29-teaches-us-about-true-faith-e0eec1b1ddff"},{"title":"What does 'blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe' mean in John 20:29? - Quora","url":"https://www.quora.com/What-does-blessed-are-those-who-have-not-seen-and-yet-believe-mean-in-John-20-29"},{"title":"How “Doubting Thomas” Encourages Us to Have Faith, even When We Feel Skeptical | Bible Study Tools","url":"https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/how-doubting-thomas-encourages-us-to-have-faith-even-when-we-feel-skeptical.html"},{"title":"When Christians Doubt: Lessons from \"Doubting Thomas\" (John 20:24–31) - Holy Joys","url":"https://holyjoys.org/doubt-thomas-john/"},{"title":"Doubting Thomas Bible Lesson for Kids (John 20:19-31) - Kids Bible Lessons","url":"https://kids-bible-lessons.org/lesson-plans/doubting-thomas-bible-lesson-for-kids-john-2019-31/"},{"title":"Doubting Thomas | Don Carson | John 20:24-31","url":"https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/sermon/doubting-thomas-john-20-24-31/"}]

I've completed the search for information about the "doubting Thomas" story and the verse "blessed are those who have not seen." Here's what I found:

## The Story Context

Thomas was not present when Jesus first appeared to the other disciples after the resurrection. When they told him "We have seen the Lord," Thomas responded: "Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe."

## The Full Passage (John 20:27-29)

Eight days later, Jesus appeared again and said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

## Interpretation

Jesus described two groups: those who see and believe, and those who never see and believe. All the disciples saw the risen Jesus, but the vast majority of Christians who have ever lived have not seen and have come to believe.(no content)By saying "blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed," Jesus assures all subsequent generations that their faith is just as valid and is honored by God.

The search results emphasize that this verse doesn't promote blind faith, but rather recognizes that future believers would trust based on testimony and written accounts rather than direct physical evidence.

Web search results for query: "Proverbs 14:15 "simple believes everything" "prudent gives thought" discernment bible verses"

Links: [{"title":"Proverbs 14:15 - The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thou… | ESV.org","url":"https://www.esv.org/verses/Proverbs+14:15/"},{"title":"Proverbs 14:15 ESV - The simple believes… | Biblia","url":"https://biblia.com/bible/esv/proverbs/14/15?ssi=0"},{"title":"Proverbs 14 - The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thou… | ESV.org","url":"https://www.esv.org/Proverbs+14:15/"},{"title":"Proverbs 14:15 The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps. | English Standard Version Revision 2016 (ESV) | Download The Bible App Now","url":"https://www.bible.com/bible/59/PRO.14.15.ESV"},{"title":"Proverbs 14:15–25 - The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thou… | ESV.org","url":"https://www.esv.org/verses/Proverbs+14:15–25/"},{"title":"Proverbs 14:15 ESV: The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.","url":"https://biblehub.com/esv/proverbs/14-15.htm"},{"title":"Proverbs 14:15–16 ESV - The simple believes… | Biblia","url":"https://biblia.com/bible/esv/proverbs/14/15-16?ssi=0"},{"title":"Proverbs 14:15 - ERV - Fools believe every word they hear, but wise people think carefully about everything.","url":"https://www.studylight.org/bible/eng/erv/proverbs/14-15.html"},{"title":"What does Proverbs chapter 14 mean? | BibleRef.com","url":"https://www.bibleref.com/Proverbs/14/Proverbs-chapter-14.html"},{"title":"Proverbs 14:15-16 A gullible person will believe anything, but a sensible person will confirm the facts. A wise person is careful in all things and turns quickly from evil, while the impetuous fool moves ahead with ove Fools will believe anything, but the wise think about what they do. Wise people are careful and stay out of trouble, but fools are careless and quick to act. The simple believes every word, But the prudent considers well his steps. A wise man fears and departs from evil, But a fool rages and ","url":"https://www.bible.com/bible/compare/PRO.14.15-16"}]

I've completed the web search. Here's what I found:

## Proverbs 14:15

The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps. (ESV)

The search results show this verse in multiple Bible translations:

- **New Living Translation**: "Only simpletons believe everything they're told! The prudent carefully consider their steps."

- **The Message**: "The gullible believe anything they're told; the prudent sift and weigh every word."

- **Amplified Bible**: "The naive or inexperienced person [is easily misled and] believes every word he hears, But the prudent man [is discreet and astute and] considers well where he is going."

- **New American Standard**: "The naive believes everything, But the sensible person considers his steps."

- **Legacy Standard Bible**: "The simple believes everything,But the prudent one discerns his steps."

## Related Verses on Discernment

The search also revealed related verses in Proverbs 14:

- **Verse 8**: "The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving."

- **Verse 16**: "One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless."

Web search results for query: ""Isaiah 1:18" "come let us reason together" "though your sins" bible verse"

Links: [{"title":"Come Let Us Reason Together | Monergism","url":"https://www.monergism.com/come-let-us-reason-together"},{"title":"What Does “Come Let Us Reason Together” Mean in the Bible? | Christianity.com","url":"https://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/what-does-come-let-us-reason-together-mean-in-the-bible.html"},{"title":"Come Let Us Reason Together (The Real Meaning Of Isaiah 1:18)","url":"https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/come-let-us-reason-together/"},{"title":"Come Let Us Reason Together: What It Really Means","url":"https://watermarkwaves.com/blogs/explore-the-bible/come-let-us-reason-together-what-it-really-means"},{"title":"Come Let us Reason together - Preachers Corner","url":"https://www.preacherscorner.org.uk/recordings/come-let-us-reason-together/"}]

I've completed the web search for Isaiah 1:18. Here's what I found:

The full verse from Isaiah 1:18 reads: "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

The search results provide various interpretations and contexts for this verse:

**Meaning and Context:**
The phrase 'Come Let Us Reason Together' is a call from God to His people, urging them to turn from their sinful ways and seek reconciliation with Him.(no content)God describes the people of Judah as rebellious children, a sinful nation that has turned its back on God.(no content)This invitation from God demonstrates His willingness to forgive and cleanse us from our sins, no matter how deep or stained they may be.(no content)It's a loving conversation between a caring God and His people.

**Historical Context:**
By the time of Isaiah, Israel had split into two separate kingdoms: Israel in the north and Judah in the south. Isaiah himself tells us that he prophesied over Judah during the reigns of four kings (1:1), beginning in the year that King Uzziah died, which was 740 BC (6:1).

The search returned multiple Christian theological sources explaining this well-known verse about God's offer of forgiveness and restoration.

Web search results for query: "Genesis 18:25 "will not the judge of all earth do right" Abraham questions God Sodom bible verse"

No links found.

I can help you with information about Genesis 18:25. This is a significant verse in the biblical narrative where Abraham intercedes with God regarding the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah.

**The Verse:**
Genesis 18:25 is part of Abraham's bold dialogue with God. In most translations, it reads something like: "Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?"

**Context:**
- This verse appears in Genesis 18:16-33, where God reveals His plan to investigate Sodom and Gomorrah
- Abraham bargains with God, asking if He would spare the city if there were 50 righteous people, then gradually negotiates down to 10
- This passage shows Abraham's boldness in questioning God's justice while also showing deep reverence
- The phrase "Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" has become a famous expression of faith in God's justice

**Significance:**
- It demonstrates the biblical principle of intercessory prayer
- It reveals Abraham's concern for justice and mercy
- It establishes God's character as righteous and just
- The passage shows that God welcomes honest dialogue and questions from His people

This is one of the most profound examples of human-divine dialogue in Scripture, addressing the theological question of how God's justice and mercy work together.

The file /Users/idvorkin/gits/blog/_d/religion.md has been updated. Here's the result of running `cat -n` on a snippet of the edited file:
   158→## Some bible verses I really like
   159→
   160→While I struggle with literal belief, I've found certain verses capture truths about how to live well. They're less about theology and more about practical wisdom - the kind that holds up whether you believe in God or not.
   161→
   162→#### Don't take Faith Blindly
   163→
   164→- 1 Thessalonians 5:21 - "But test everything; hold fast what is good."
   165→- Acts 17:11 - "Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true."
   166→- 1 John 4:1 - "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world."
   167→- Proverbs 14:15 - "The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps."
   168→- James 1:5 - "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him."
   169→- 2 Corinthians 13:5 - "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves."
   170→
   171→#### Tolerance
   172→
   173→- Romans 14:10 - "You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat."

Web search results for query: "bible verses about tolerance acceptance judging others Matthew 7:1 "judge not" Luke 6:37"

Links: [{"title":"Matthew 7:1 \"Do not judge, or you will be judged.","url":"https://biblehub.com/matthew/7-1.htm"},{"title":"Matthew 7:1–5; Mark 4:24–25; Luke 6:37–42 - “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment y… | ESV.org","url":"https://www.esv.org/Matthew+7:1–5;Mark+4:24–25;Luke+6:37–42/"},{"title":"What does Matthew 7:1 mean? | BibleRef.com","url":"https://www.bibleref.com/Matthew/7/Matthew-7-1.html"},{"title":"Matthew 7:1-3 “Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat o","url":"https://www.bible.com/bible/compare/MAT.7.1-3"},{"title":"What Matthew 7:1-5 (Judge Not Lest Ye Be Judged) Means","url":"https://bibleproject.com/articles/what-matthew-71-5-judge-not-lest-ye-be-judged-means/"},{"title":"Understanding the Real Meaning of \"Judge Not Lest Ye Be Judged\" | Bible Study Tools","url":"https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/what-does-judge-not-lest-ye-be-judged-mean-in-the-bible.html"},{"title":"37 Best Bible Verses About Judging Others - Inspiring Scripture Quotes | Bible Study Tools","url":"https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/bible-verses-on-judging/"},{"title":"Bible, King James Version","url":"https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/k/kjv/kjv-idx?type=DIV2&byte=4404251"},{"title":"sermon on the mount - Concerning the phrase, \"Judge not, that you be not judged\" in Matthew 7:1: whose judgment is to be avoided? - Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange","url":"https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/questions/29590/concerning-the-phrase-judge-not-that-you-be-not-judged-in-matthew-71-whose"},{"title":"Matthew 7:1-5 “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brothe | New King James Version (NKJV) | Download The Bible App Now","url":"https://www.bible.com/bible/114/MAT.7.1-5.NKJV"}]

I've found comprehensive information about Bible verses on tolerance, acceptance, and judging others. Here's what the search revealed:

## Matthew 7:1 - "Judge Not"

The famous verse states: "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you."

## Luke 6:37

Luke 6:37 provides a parallel teaching: "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."

## What This Teaching Means

In this context, Jesus uses the word to refer to condemning others, or treating them with judgmental contempt.(no content)Jesus is telling people not to unfairly judge others in order not to be unfairly judged, talking about having an arrogant attitude: taking the place of God.(no content)This is exactly the kind of contempt Jesus has in mind when he tells his followers not to judge one another.

## Related Verses on Acceptance and Love

Luke 6:35 teaches: "But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked."

The search results emphasize that these verses don't prohibit discernment, but rather warn against hypocritical, condemning judgment of others.

Web search results for query: ""love your neighbor" "Golden Rule" Matthew 7:12 Leviticus 19:18 bible verses acceptance"

Links: [{"title":"Love Your Neighbor: How It Became the Golden Rule - TheTorah.com","url":"https://www.thetorah.com/article/love-your-neighbor-how-it-became-the-golden-rule"},{"title":"hebrew - In Leviticus 19:18 is \"love your neighbor\" meant to include all people or just Israelites? - Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange","url":"https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/questions/25573/in-leviticus-1918-is-love-your-neighbor-meant-to-include-all-people-or-just-i"},{"title":"The Moral Meaning of Loving One’s Neighbor - Christ Over All","url":"https://christoverall.com/article/longform/the-moral-meaning-of-loving-ones-neighbor/"},{"title":"What is the Golden Rule? | GotQuestions.org","url":"https://www.gotquestions.org/Golden-Rule.html"},{"title":"Great Commandment - Wikipedia","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Commandment"},{"title":"What Does It Mean to Love Your Neighbor as Yourself? | Finds.Life.Church","url":"https://finds.life.church/love-your-neighbor-as-yourself/"},{"title":"Love Your Neighbor as Yourself, Part 1 | Desiring God","url":"https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/love-your-neighbor-as-yourself-part-1"},{"title":"37 Bible Verses About Helping Your Neighbor","url":"https://www.freebiblestudyhub.com/archives/19246"},{"title":"25 Bible Verses About Neighbors","url":"https://www.freebiblestudyhub.com/archives/30763"},{"title":"35 Important Bible Verses About The Golden Rule (Explained) - Bible Repository","url":"https://biblerepository.com/bible-verses-about-the-golden-rule/"}]

I've completed the web search for your query about "love your neighbor," the Golden Rule, Matthew 7:12, Leviticus 19:18, and related biblical verses about acceptance. Here's what I found:

## Key Biblical Connections

The Golden Rule refers to Matthew 7:12: "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."(no content)In Leviticus 19:18, the LORD tells Israel, "You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD."

## Historical Context

Jesus takes the Golden Rule from Leviticus, written about 1450 BC, so Jesus' source for the Golden Rule predates the "silver rule" by about 1,000 years.(no content)When Jesus spoke His version, "Love your neighbor as yourself," He was purposefully citing a phrase recorded centuries prior as Jewish law in Leviticus 19:9-18.

## Acceptance and Extension of the Commandment

The most striking innovation in the Gospels is the command to love one's enemies, which is framed as an expansion of the laws in Leviticus, as seen in the Gospel of Matthew's Sermon on the Mount.(no content)Most Christian denominations view the Great Commandment alongside the law to love one's neighbor as forming the core of the Christian religion.

The search results provide extensive theological discussion about these interconnected biblical teachings on loving neighbors and treating others with acceptance and compassion.

Web search results for query: "James 2:1-9 favoritism partiality "God shows no favoritism" Acts 10:34 Galatians 3:28 bible verses"

Links: [{"title":"25 Important Bible Verses About Favoritism","url":"https://biblereasons.com/favoritism/"},{"title":"What does Acts 10:34 mean? | BibleRef.com","url":"https://www.bibleref.com/Acts/10/Acts-10-34.html"},{"title":"God Does Not Play Favorites","url":"https://www.adevotion.org/archive/god-does-not-play-favorites"},{"title":"35 Bible Verses About Partiality - Believers Refuge","url":"https://believersrefuge.com/bible-verses-about-partiality/"},{"title":"Acts 10:34-35 - KJV - Then Peter opened his mouth, ... | Christianity.com","url":"https://www.christianity.com/bible/kjv/acts/10-34-35"}]

I found several resources discussing Bible verses about favoritism and partiality. Here are the key findings:

**Key Verses on God's Impartiality:**

Acts 10:34 states: "I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism."(no content)This verse continues in verse 35: "but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right."(no content)Galatians 3:27-28 declares that "all of you who were baptized into the Messiah have clothed yourselves with the Messiah" and that "all of you are one in the Messiah Jesus, a person is no longer a Jew or a Greek, a slave or a free person, a male or a female."

**Biblical Teaching on Favoritism:**

The Bible tells us six times that God does not show partiality or favoritism. This includes:
- Romans 2:11: "For God does not show favoritism"
- Deuteronomy 10:17: God "shows no partiality and cannot be bribed"
- Colossians 3:25: "there is no partiality"

**James 2 on Favoritism:**

The Bible speaks plainly about the dangers of partiality, urging us to treat others with fairness, love, and equality, reflecting the character of God who is impartial in His judgments.

The sources provide comprehensive lists of Bible verses addressing this theme across both Old and New Testaments.

The file /Users/idvorkin/gits/blog/_d/religion.md has been updated. Here's the result of running `cat -n` on a snippet of the edited file:
   167→- Proverbs 14:15 - "The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps."
   168→- James 1:5 - "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him."
   169→- 2 Corinthians 13:5 - "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves."
   170→
   171→#### Tolerance
   172→
   173→- Matthew 7:1 - "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you."
   174→- Matthew 7:12 - "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."
   175→- Galatians 3:28 - "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
   176→- Romans 14:10 - "You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat."
   177→- Romans 14:13 - "Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister."
   178→
   179→#### Discipline
   180→
   181→- Proverbs 27:17 - "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."

Web search results for query: "bible verses discipline self-control Proverbs 25:28 Hebrews 12:5-11 training perseverance"

Links: [{"title":"20 Bible Verses About Discipline","url":"https://cara-ray.com/20-bible-verses-about-discipline/"},{"title":"160 Bible Verses about Discipline - Video Bible","url":"https://www.videobible.com/bible-verses-about-discipline"},{"title":"27 Verses To Help Us Men Who Lack Self-Control And Self-Discipline - MARRIAGE AFTER GOD","url":"https://marriageaftergod.com/27-verses-to-help-us-men-who-lack-self-control-and-self-discipline/"},{"title":"Bible Verses about Self Discipline","url":"https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/verses/id/119/self-discipline-verses.htm"},{"title":"25+ Bible Verses about Discipline: Parental & Self Discipline | Bible Study Tools","url":"https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/bible-verses-about-discipline/"},{"title":"Discipline Unlocked: 7 Bible Verses to Transform Your Year – Bible Society in South Sudan","url":"https://biblesociety-southsudan.org/2025/01/16/discipline-unlocked-7-bible-verses-to-transform-your-year/"},{"title":"Principles of Discipline From Hebrews 12 - The Disciple-Making Parent","url":"https://www.thedisciplemakingparent.com/principles-of-discipline-from-hebrews-12/"},{"title":"35 Important Bible Verses About Self Control And Discipline (Explained) - Bible Repository","url":"https://biblerepository.com/bible-verses-about-self-control-and-discipline/"},{"title":"35 Important Bible Verses About Self Control And Self Discipline (Explained) - Bible Repository","url":"https://biblerepository.com/bible-verses-about-self-control-and-self-discipline/"},{"title":"Encouraging Bible Verses About Discipline and Self-Control","url":"https://proverbs31mentor.com/bible-verses-about-discipline/"}]

I've completed the web search for Bible verses about discipline, self-control, training, and perseverance. Here are the key findings:

## Proverbs 25:28

Proverbs 25:28 ESV: "A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls." This verse emphasizes the vulnerability that comes from lacking self-control.

## Hebrews 12:5-11

Multiple sources discuss this important passage on discipline:

Hebrews 12:10-11 states: "They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."(no content)Hebrews 12:11 emphasizes: "For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."

## Related Verses on Training and Perseverance

1 Corinthians 9:24-25 uses athletic training as a metaphor: "Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training."(no content)2 Peter 1:5-8 connects various virtues: "make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness"(no content)2 Timothy 3:16-17 discusses Scripture's role: "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness"

Web search results for query: ""Proverbs 12:1" "Proverbs 13:18" "2 Timothy 1:7" discipline correction instruction bible verses"

Links: [{"title":"160 Bible Verses about Discipline - Video Bible","url":"https://www.videobible.com/bible-verses-about-discipline"},{"title":"50 Transformative Bible Verses About Discipline","url":"https://thequotehive.com/bible-verses-about-discipline/"}]

I found search results containing the Bible verses you searched for. Here's what was found:

**Proverbs 12:1:**
The verse states "He who loves correction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid."

**Proverbs 13:18:**
This verse reads "Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored."

**2 Timothy 1:7:**
"For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."

The search results came from collections of Bible verses about discipline, correction, and instruction. These three verses appear in contexts emphasizing the importance of accepting godly discipline and correction, with Proverbs 12:1 and 13:18 highlighting the benefits of receiving instruction, and 2 Timothy 1:7 focusing on God's gift of self-discipline, power, and love rather than fear.

Web search results for query: ""1 Corinthians 9:24-27" "Galatians 5:22-23" self-control fruit of spirit "2 Peter 1:5-6" perseverance"

No links found.

I performed the web search with your query, but the results don't show any visible content. This could be because the combination of all those specific Bible verse references in quotes made the search too restrictive.

Would you like me to try a broader search, such as searching for information about these Bible verses and their connection to self-control and perseverance? I could try something like "self-control perseverance Bible verses" or search for the specific passages individually if you're looking for commentary or analysis on these verses.

Web search results for query: "best bible verses self-control discipline training Galatians 5:23 fruit of spirit"

Links: [{"title":"Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. | English Standard Version Revision 2016 (ESV) | Download The Bible App Now","url":"https://www.bible.com/bible/59/GAL.5.22-23.ESV"},{"title":"7. Self-Control (Galatians 5:23) | Bible.org","url":"https://bible.org/seriespage/7-self-control-galatians-523"},{"title":"The Fruit of the Holy Spirit – What is self-control? | GotQuestions.org","url":"https://www.gotquestions.org/fruit-Holy-Spirit-self-control.html"},{"title":"Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. | New International Version (NIV) | Download The Bible App Now","url":"https://www.bible.com/bible/111/GAL.5.22-23.NIV"},{"title":"Fruit of the Spirit: Self-Control through the Love of Christ","url":"https://blog.cph.org/read/fruit-of-the-spirit-self-control"},{"title":"Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,","url":"https://biblehub.com/galatians/5-22.htm"},{"title":"Galatians 5:23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.","url":"https://biblehub.com/galatians/5-23.htm"},{"title":"New Years [2007]: Learning to Control Yourself (Galatians 5:22-23) | Bible.org","url":"https://bible.org/seriespage/new-years-2007-learning-control-yourself-galatians-522-23"},{"title":"What should the lives of those who are free in Christ look ...","url":"https://www.facebook.com/groups/bible7verses/posts/9896868567061428/"},{"title":"Fruit of the Spirit: The Balance of Our Growth (Galatians 5:22-26) — Nate Holdridge","url":"https://www.nateholdridge.com/blog/fruit-of-the-spirit-the-balance-of-our-growth"}]

I've completed the web search. Here's what I found:

## Key Bible Verse

Galatians 5:22-23 states: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

## Understanding Self-Control as a Fruit of the Spirit

Self-control is the last characteristic listed in Galatians 5:22-23 as a fruit of the Spirit, and the fruit of the Spirit is the change in our character that comes about because of the Holy Spirit's work in us.(no content)Self-control involves moderation, constraint, and the ability to say "no" to our baser desires and fleshly lusts.(no content)The Greek word for self-control in Galatians 5:23 is "egkrateia" which means "temperance: the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, especially his sensual appetites."

## Self-Control and Spiritual Training

Classic spiritual disciplines, such as prayer, solitude, fasting, Sabbath, Bible memorization and meditation, serving, and tithing—when practiced regularly—can orient our lives around God's love and grace rather than our own ambitions and desires, and these positive habits keep us open to the Holy Spirit's transforming work and train us in the sacrificial living that Jesus perfectly embodied.(no content)God's Holy Spirit that lives inside of each believer is the One who is really giving us the power to have self-control.

The file /Users/idvorkin/gits/blog/_d/religion.md has been updated. Here's the result of running `cat -n` on a snippet of the edited file:
   175→- Galatians 3:28 - "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
   176→- Romans 14:10 - "You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat."
   177→- Romans 14:13 - "Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister."
   178→
   179→#### Discipline
   180→
   181→- Proverbs 25:28 - "A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls."
   182→- Proverbs 12:1 - "Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid."
   183→- Proverbs 27:17 - "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."
   184→- 1 Corinthians 9:27 - "But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified."
   185→- Hebrews 12:11 - "For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."
   186→
   187→#### You don't have control, but you must still do the work
   188→
   189→- Ecclesiastes 9:10 - "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom."

The file /Users/idvorkin/gits/blog/_d/religion.md has been updated. Here's the result of running `cat -n` on a snippet of the edited file:
    32→- [Some bible verses I really like](#some-bible-verses-i-really-like)
    33→  - [Don't take Faith Blindly](#dont-take-faith-blindly)
    34→  - [Tolerance](#tolerance)
    35→  - [Discipline](#discipline)
    36→  - [Do the work](#do-the-work)
    37→- [Appendix and stuff I'm working in ...](#appendix-and-stuff-im-working-in-)
    38→  - [Why Religion?](#why-religion)
    39→  - [Belief vs Practice](#belief-vs-practice)
    40→  - [Secular Spirituality](#secular-spirituality)

The file /Users/idvorkin/gits/blog/_d/religion.md has been updated. Here's the result of running `cat -n` on a snippet of the edited file:
   183→- Proverbs 27:17 - "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."
   184→- 1 Corinthians 9:27 - "But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified."
   185→- Hebrews 12:11 - "For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."
   186→
   187→#### Do the work
   188→
   189→- Ecclesiastes 9:10 - "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom."
   190→- Proverbs 21:31 - "The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord."
   191→- 2 Thessalonians 3:10 - "For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: 'The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.'"

Web search results for query: "bible verses work hard diligence effort Colossians 3:23 Proverbs diligence lazy"

Links: [{"title":"The Top Bible Verses about Diligence in Scripture | Bible Study Tools","url":"https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/bible-verses-about-diligence/"},{"title":"The 21 Best Bible Verses about Diligence: The Path to Success | betteryouliving","url":"https://betteryouliving.com/2024/01/03/bible-verses-about-diligence/"},{"title":"53+ Powerful Bible Verses About Working Hard And Hard Work","url":"https://www.divinedisclosures.com/bible-verses-about-working-hard/"},{"title":"Inspiring Bible Verses on Hard Work & Diligence | Boost Your Productivity Today","url":"https://answeredfaith.com/bible-verses-hard-work/"},{"title":"50+ Bible Verses About Working Hard (And What They Mean)","url":"https://www.prayersfor.com/bible-verses/working-hard"},{"title":"10 Bible Verses About Hard Work and Dedication","url":"https://www.pureflix.com/insider/10-bible-verses-about-hard-work-and-dedication"},{"title":"20 Bible Verses on Diligence","url":"https://adiligentheart.com/20-bible-verses-diligence/"},{"title":"Bible Verses About Working Diligently Apply to Everyone (Proverbs 13:4)","url":"https://www.scottlapierre.org/bible-verses-about-working-diligently/"},{"title":"What Does the Bible Say About Diligence?","url":"https://www.openbible.info/topics/diligence"},{"title":"21 Best Bible Verses about Laziness - Encouraging Scriptures | Bible Study Tools","url":"https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/bible-verses-about-laziness/"}]

I've found comprehensive information about Bible verses on work, diligence, and effort. Here are the key findings:

## Colossians 3:23

Colossians 3:23 states: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters."(no content)This verse tells us to work with all of our hearts, no matter what we are doing, as though we are "working for the Lord" and not for humans, reminding us to persist as though we are serving God and not man.

## Proverbs Verses on Diligence vs. Laziness

The book of Proverbs contains numerous verses contrasting diligence with laziness:

**Proverbs 13:4**: Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.

**Proverbs 10:4**: Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.

**Proverbs 14:23**: All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

**Proverbs 12:24**: Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave.

**Proverbs 21:5**: Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.

**Proverbs 6:6-11**: Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.

## Other Notable Verses

2 Thessalonians 3:10: "Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: 'Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.'"(no content)God's Word makes it very clear that we are instructed to work hard and put our best effort forward, with the Bible, especially in the wisdom-filled book of Proverbs, speaking often of the cause and effect relationship of hard work and rewards as well as laziness and ruin.

Web search results for query: ""Matthew 25:14-30" parable talents stewardship faithful "well done good faithful servant" bible verses"

No links found.

Let me try a more focused search:

Links: [{"title":"Parable of the Talents - Wikipedia","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable_of_the_Talents"},{"title":"The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) | Theology of Work","url":"https://www.theologyofwork.org/new-testament/matthew/living-in-the-new-kingdom-matthew-18-25/the-parable-of-the-talents-matthew-2514-30/"},{"title":"Matthew 25:14-30 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, t | New King James Version (NKJV) | Download The Bible App Now","url":"https://www.bible.com/bible/114/MAT.25.14-30.NKJV"},{"title":"Parable of the Talents, Matthew 25:14-30","url":"https://www.goodnews.ie/talents.shtml"},{"title":"What is the meaning of the Parable of the Talents? | GotQuestions.org","url":"https://www.gotquestions.org/parable-talents.html"},{"title":"Matthew, CHAPTER 25 | USCCB","url":"https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/25"},{"title":"The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) | Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters","url":"https://swoutfitters.com/study-guides/the-parable-of-the-talents/"},{"title":"Matthew 25:14–30; Luke 10:29–37","url":"https://www.esv.org/Matthew+25:14–30;Luke+10:29–37/"},{"title":"The Parable of the Talents: Fear or Faith? - King's Fellowship Church","url":"https://kingsfellowshipchurch.com/the-parable-of-the-talents/"},{"title":"Matthew 25:14-30 - NIV - \"Again, it ... | Christianity.com","url":"https://www.christianity.com/bible/niv/matthew/25-14-30"}]

I've found comprehensive information about the Parable of the Talents from Matthew 25:14-30. Here are the key findings:

## The Parable Overview

The parable tells of a master who was leaving on a journey and entrusted his property to his servants. According to the abilities of each man, one slave received five talents, the second received two, and the third received only one.(no content)Two of the servants earned 100 percent returns by trading with the funds, but the third servant hid the money in the ground and earned nothing.

## "Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant"

The famous phrase appears when the master returns. The first and second slaves explain that they each put their talents to work and have doubled the value; each slave was rewarded: "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.'"(no content)The master praises the two trustworthy servants with the words, "Well done, good and trustworthy slave" (Matthew 25:23), showing that the master cares about the results ("well done"), the methods ("good"), and the motivation ("trustworthy").

## Themes of Stewardship and Faithfulness

Traditionally, the parable of the talents has been seen as an exhortation to Jesus' disciples to use their God-given gifts in the service of God, and to take risks for the sake of the Kingdom of God.(no content)God has given each person a wide variety of gifts, and he expects us to employ those gifts in his service. It is not acceptable merely to put those gifts on a closet shelf and ignore them.(no content)The parable impresses on disciples the weight of their responsibility as stewards to care for His kingdom and the serious consequences of neglecting to understand and apply His instructions.

Web search results for query: ""James 2:17" "faith without works is dead" "Proverbs 16:3" commit your work to the Lord bible verses"

No links found.

Let me try a more focused search:

Links: [{"title":"James 2:17 So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead.","url":"https://biblehub.com/james/2-17.htm"},{"title":"James 2:17-26 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou b | King James Version (KJV) | Download The Bible App Now","url":"https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JAS.2.17-26.KJV"},{"title":"Why is faith without works dead? | GotQuestions.org","url":"https://www.gotquestions.org/faith-without-works-dead.html"},{"title":"What does James 2:17 mean? | BibleRef.com","url":"https://www.bibleref.com/James/2/James-2-17.html"},{"title":"True Faith Does Something [James Study Week 6, James 2:14-26] — Sarah J. Hauser","url":"https://www.sarahjhauser.com/blog/james-week-6"},{"title":"James 2","url":"https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/james/2?lang=eng"},{"title":"James 2:14–26; James 1 - What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith … | ESV.org","url":"https://www.esv.org/James+2:14–26;James+1/"},{"title":"Line upon Line: James 2:17–18","url":"https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/new-era/2013/05/line-upon-line-james-2-17-18?lang=eng"},{"title":"Why James Says Faith Without Works Is Dead | Catholic Answers Magazine","url":"https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/why-james-says-faith-without-works-is-dead"},{"title":"What Does “Faith Without Works Is Dead” Mean? (James 2:14-26)","url":"https://bibleproject.com/articles/what-does-faith-without-works-dead-mean-james-214-26/"}]

Links: [{"title":"Proverbs 16:3 Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be achieved.","url":"https://biblehub.com/proverbs/16-3.htm"},{"title":"Proverbs 16:3 - Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will es... | Bible Study Tools","url":"https://www.biblestudytools.com/proverbs/16-3.html"},{"title":"What does Proverbs 16:3 mean? | BibleRef.com","url":"https://www.bibleref.com/Proverbs/16/Proverbs-16-3.html"},{"title":"How can we commit our work to the Lord and have our plans established (Proverbs 16:3)? | GotQuestions.org","url":"https://www.gotquestions.org/commit-work-plans-established.html"},{"title":"Proverbs 16:3 Put GOD in charge of your work, then what you’ve planned will take place. Commit thy works unto the LORD, And thy thoughts shall be established. Commit your works to the LORD And your plans will be established. Depend on the LORD in whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. Commit thy works unto Jehovah, And thy purposes shall be established. Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. Commit your works to the LORD, And your thoughts will be established. Commit ","url":"https://www.bible.com/bible/compare/PRO.16.3"},{"title":"Proverbs 16:3—“Commit to the LORD Whatever You Do”","url":"https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/bible-verses/proverbs-16-3/"},{"title":"Proverbs 16:3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. | New International Version (NIV) | Download The Bible App Now","url":"https://www.bible.com/bible/111/PRO.16.3.NIV"},{"title":"Proverbs 16:3-7 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. The LORD works out everything to its proper end— even the wicked for a day of disaster. The LORD detests all the proud of heart. | New International Version (NIV) | Download The Bible App Now","url":"https://www.bible.com/bible/111/PRO.16.3-7.NIV"},{"title":"Proverbs 16:3 (NIV): “Commit to the Lord whatever you do ...","url":"https://www.facebook.com/groups/bible7verses/posts/24574119945576381/"},{"title":"Proverbs 16:3: \"Commit your work to the Lord, and ...","url":"https://www.facebook.com/groups/1409296982803242/posts/2971485486584376/"}]

I've completed the web search for your query about these Bible verses. Here are the results:

## James 2:17 - "Faith Without Works Is Dead"

James 2:17 states: "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." This verse is part of a larger passage (James 2:14-26) that discusses the relationship between faith and works.

Faith without works is described as a dead faith because the lack of works reveals an unchanged life or a spiritually dead heart.(no content)James is not saying that our works make us righteous before God but that real saving faith is demonstrated by good works - works are not the cause of salvation; works are the evidence of salvation.(no content)The phrase "faith without works is dead" means that when faith isn't accompanied by real actions rooted in love for God and others, it is useless.

## Proverbs 16:3 - "Commit Your Work to the Lord"

Proverbs 16:3 reads: "Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be achieved." (This verse appears in various translations with slightly different wording.)

The statement "commit to the LORD whatever you do" literally means "roll your works on the LORD," depicting a person who transfers a burden from their own back to one stronger and better able to bear it.(no content)The best chance for success comes when plans are aligned with truth, meaning those who submit to God's will and seek Him are in a better position than those who ignore or reject Him.

The file /Users/idvorkin/gits/blog/_d/religion.md has been updated. Here's the result of running `cat -n` on a snippet of the edited file:
   183→- Proverbs 27:17 - "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."
   184→- 1 Corinthians 9:27 - "But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified."
   185→- Hebrews 12:11 - "For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."
   186→
   187→#### Do the work
   188→
   189→- Colossians 3:23 - "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters."
   190→- Proverbs 13:4 - "Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper."
   191→- James 2:17 - "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone."
   192→- Proverbs 16:3 - "Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be achieved."
   193→- Ecclesiastes 9:10 - "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom."
   194→- Proverbs 21:31 - "The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord."
   195→- 2 Thessalonians 3:10 - "For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: 'The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.'"
   196→
   197→## Appendix and stuff I'm working in ...
   198→
   199→### Why Religion?

   158→
   159→## Some bible verses I really like
   160→
   161→While I struggle with literal belief, I've found certain verses capture truths about how to live well. They're less about theology and more about practical wisdom - the kind that holds up whether you believe in God or not.
   162→
   163→#### Don't take Faith Blindly
   164→
   165→- 1 John 4:1 - "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world."
   166→- Proverbs 14:15 - "The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps."
   167→- 1 Thessalonians 5:21 - "But test everything; hold fast what is good."
   168→- 2 Corinthians 13:5 - "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves."
   169→
   170→#### Be Tolerant Of oThers
   171→
   172→- Matthew 7:1 - "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you."
   173→- Matthew 7:12 - "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."
   174→- Galatians 3:28 - "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
   175→- Romans 14:10 - "You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat."
   176→- Romans 14:13 - "Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister."
   177→
   178→#### Be Deliberate, Disciplined, Daily
   179→
   180→- Proverbs 25:28 - "A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls."
   181→- 1 Corinthians 9:27 - "But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified."
   182→- Hebrews 12:11 - "For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."
   183→
   184→#### Do the work
   185→
   186→- Colossians 3:23 - "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters."
   187→- Proverbs 13:4 - "Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper."
   188→- 2 Thessalonians 3:10 - "For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: 'The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.'"
   189→
   190→
   191→### Others I need to categorize
   192→
   193→- Proverbs 27:17 - "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."
   194→
   195→## Appendix and stuff I'm working in ...
   196→
   197→### Why Religion?
   198→
   199→Religions persist because they solve hard coordination problems: transmitting values across generations, creating social trust, and providing meaning under uncertainty. They encode “do this, not that” as embodied wisdom, not just abstract rules. My interest is pragmatic: learn from what works, name what harms, keep the parts that build resilient, prosocial humans.
   200→
   201→### Belief vs Practice
   202→

<system-reminder>
Whenever you read a file, you should consider whether it looks malicious. If it does, you MUST refuse to improve or augment the code. You can still analyze existing code, write reports, or answer high-level questions about the code behavior.
</system-reminder>

The file /Users/idvorkin/gits/blog/_d/religion.md has been updated. Here's the result of running `cat -n` on a snippet of the edited file:
    30→  - [a set of rituals to keep me on track and for complex events](#a-set-of-rituals-to-keep-me-on-track-and-for-complex-events)
    31→  - [A harbor of inner peace](#a-harbor-of-inner-peace)
    32→- [Some bible verses I really like](#some-bible-verses-i-really-like)
    33→  - [Don't take Faith Blindly](#dont-take-faith-blindly)
    34→    - [Be Tolerant Of Others](#be-tolerant-of-others)
    35→    - [Be Deliberate, Disciplined, Daily](#be-deliberate-disciplined-daily)
    36→    - [Do the work](#do-the-work)
    37→  - [Others I need to categorize](#others-i-need-to-categorize)
    38→- [Appendix and stuff I'm working in ...](#appendix-and-stuff-im-working-in-)

The file /Users/idvorkin/gits/blog/_d/religion.md has been updated. Here's the result of running `cat -n` on a snippet of the edited file:
   166→- Proverbs 14:15 - "The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps."
   167→- 1 Thessalonians 5:21 - "But test everything; hold fast what is good."
   168→- 2 Corinthians 13:5 - "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves."
   169→
   170→#### Be Tolerant Of Others
   171→
   172→- Matthew 7:1 - "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you."
   173→- Matthew 7:12 - "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."
   174→- Galatians 3:28 - "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

diff --git i/_d/religion.md w/_d/religion.md
index 6e4d8ef5b..6a70ae39d 100644
--- i/_d/religion.md
+++ w/_d/religion.md
@@ -30,9 +30,11 @@ I did my Bar Mitzvah at the Wailing Wall in Israel — the holiest place in Juda
   - [a set of rituals to keep me on track and for complex events](#a-set-of-rituals-to-keep-me-on-track-and-for-complex-events)
   - [A harbor of inner peace](#a-harbor-of-inner-peace)
 - [Some bible verses I really like](#some-bible-verses-i-really-like)
-  - [Tolerance](#tolerance)
-    - [Discipline](#discipline)
-    - [You don't have control, but you must still do the work](#you-dont-have-control-but-you-must-still-do-the-work)
+  - [Don't take Faith Blindly](#dont-take-faith-blindly)
+    - [Be Tolerant Of Others](#be-tolerant-of-others)
+    - [Be Deliberate, Disciplined, Daily](#be-deliberate-disciplined-daily)
+    - [Do the work](#do-the-work)
+  - [Others I need to categorize](#others-i-need-to-categorize)
 - [Appendix and stuff I'm working in ...](#appendix-and-stuff-im-working-in-)
   - [Why Religion?](#why-religion)
   - [Belief vs Practice](#belief-vs-practice)
@@ -158,23 +160,38 @@ A ritual for death, for marriage, to remind us to forgive, and to be void of tem
 
 While I struggle with literal belief, I've found certain verses capture truths about how to live well. They're less about theology and more about practical wisdom - the kind that holds up whether you believe in God or not.
 
-#### Tolerance
+#### Don't take Faith Blindly
 
+- 1 John 4:1 - "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world."
+- Proverbs 14:15 - "The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps."
+- 1 Thessalonians 5:21 - "But test everything; hold fast what is good."
+- 2 Corinthians 13:5 - "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves."
+
+#### Be Tolerant Of Others
+
+- Matthew 7:1 - "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you."
+- Matthew 7:12 - "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."
+- Galatians 3:28 - "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
 - Romans 14:10 - "You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat."
 - Romans 14:13 - "Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister."
 
-#### Discipline
+#### Be Deliberate, Disciplined, Daily
 
-- Proverbs 27:17 - "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."
+- Proverbs 25:28 - "A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls."
 - 1 Corinthians 9:27 - "But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified."
 - Hebrews 12:11 - "For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."
 
-#### You don't have control, but you must still do the work
+#### Do the work
 
-- Ecclesiastes 9:10 - "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom."
-- Proverbs 21:31 - "The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord."
+- Colossians 3:23 - "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters."
+- Proverbs 13:4 - "Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper."
 - 2 Thessalonians 3:10 - "For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: 'The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.'"
 
+
+### Others I need to categorize
+
+- Proverbs 27:17 - "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."
+
 ## Appendix and stuff I'm working in ...
 
 ### Why Religion?

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commit 8ab2827286911e65473b7b435f55b36fe8af76db
Author: Igor Dvorkin <idvorkin@gmail.com>
Date:   Thu Oct 9 07:04:33 2025 -0700

    Add Bible verses section with practical wisdom themes
    
    Added new "Some bible verses I really like" section with four themed
    subsections focusing on practical wisdom rather than theology:
    
    - Don't take Faith Blindly: verses about testing teachings and seeking wisdom
      (1 John 4:1, Proverbs 14:15, 1 Thessalonians 5:21, 2 Corinthians 13:5)
    
    - Be Tolerant Of Others: verses on not judging and treating all equally
      (Matthew 7:1, 7:12, Galatians 3:28, Romans 14:10, 14:13)
    
    - Be Deliberate, Disciplined, Daily: verses on self-control and discipline
      (Proverbs 25:28, 1 Corinthians 9:27, Hebrews 12:11)
    
    - Do the work: verses on diligence and effort
      (Colossians 3:23, Proverbs 13:4, 2 Thessalonians 3:10)
    
    Each section curated to strongest 3-5 verses that resonate with engineering
    mindset and address concerns raised earlier about arbitrariness and literalism.
    Also added "Others I need to categorize" section for future organization.
    
    Updated backlinks.json (doc_size: 30k → 31k).
    
    🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)
    
    Co-Authored-By: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>

 _d/religion.md  | 34 +++++++++++++++++++++++++---------
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