Patience in the Bible

The love chapter: Paul declares that without love, all gifts are meaningless. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, boast, or keep record of wrongs. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Faith, hope, and love remain—but the greatest of these is love.

Peter addresses scoffers who mock the promise of Christ's return. God is not slow about His promise—with the Lord a day is like a thousand years. He is patient, not wanting anyone to perish. The day of the Lord will come like a thief. Peter urges believers to live holy lives and grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ.

A collection of reflections on wisdom, suffering, and balance. A good name is better than fine perfume. Sorrow is better than laughter because it deepens the heart. Do not be overrighteous or overwicked. No one on earth is truly righteous.

Practical wisdom sayings on foolishness, leadership, and speech. A little folly outweighs wisdom, like a dead fly spoils perfume. The fool multiplies words. Dig a pit and you may fall into it. A snake may bite the charmer.

Jacob arrives in Haran and meets Rachel at a well, falling in love with her. He agrees to work seven years for Laban to marry her, but Laban deceives him by substituting Leah on the wedding night. Jacob works another seven years for Rachel, and God opens Leah's womb as she bears four sons.

Habakkuk waits on his watchtower for God's answer. It comes: the vision awaits its appointed time — wait for it. The righteous shall live by faith — a verse that shapes Paul's entire theology. Five woes follow against the arrogant oppressor. The earth will be filled with knowledge of God's glory as waters cover the sea.

James warns the rich about coming judgment and calls for patient endurance, using Job and the prophets as examples. He encourages the sick to call for elders to pray over them. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. He closes urging believers to turn back anyone who wanders from the truth.

Jonah is furious that God showed mercy — he wanted Nineveh destroyed. God teaches him through a plant that grows and dies: Jonah pities the plant but not 120,000 people. Should I not have concern for this great city? The book ends with God's question unanswered.

Proverbs on friendship, conflict, and restraint. A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for a time of adversity. Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam. Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent.

Proverbs on patience, kindness to the poor, and parenting. Kindness to the poor is lending to the Lord. A person's wisdom yields patience. Discipline your children while there is hope. Many are the plans in a person's heart, but the Lord's purpose prevails.

Proverbs collected by Hezekiah's scribes. A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. If your enemy is hungry, feed him—Paul quotes this in Romans 12. Do not exalt yourself before the king.