Diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God. Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently. I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him. The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute. The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious. The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want. Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men. Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto Me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.
Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
