Proverbs 19; Proverbs 20; Proverbs 21; 2 Corinthians 7

1 Better to be poor and walk in innocence than to have dishonest lips and be a fool.

2 Ignorant desire isn't good; rushing feet make mistakes.

3 People's own folly corrupts their way, but their hearts rage against the LORD.

4 Riches increase one's friends, but the poor lose their friends.

5 A false witness won't go unpunished, and a liar won't escape.

6 Many seek favor from rulers; everyone befriends a gift giver.

7 All the relatives of the poor hate them; even more, their friends stay far from them. When they pursue them with words, they aren't there.

8 Those who acquire good sense love themselves; those who keep understanding find success.

9 False witnesses won't go unpunished, and liars will perish.

10 Luxury isn't fitting for a fool; even less so for a servant to rule over princes.

11 Insightful people restrain their anger; their glory is to ignore an offense.

12 A raging king roars like a lion; his favor is like the dew on the grass.

13 A foolish son is a disaster to his father; a contentious wife is like constant dripping.

14 House and riches are an inheritance from one's ancestors, but an insightful wife is from the LORD.

15 Laziness brings on deep sleep; a slacker goes hungry.

16 Those who keep the commandment preserve their lives; those who disregard their ways will die.

17 Those who are gracious to the poor lend to the LORD, and the Lord will fully repay them.

18 Discipline your children while there is hope, but don't plan to kill them.

19 Angry people must pay the penalty; if you rescue them, then you will have to do it again.

20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, so you might grow wise in the future.

21 Many plans are in a person's mind, but the LORD's purpose will succeed.

22 People long for trustworthiness; it is better to be poor than a liar.

23 The fear of the LORD leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by harm.

24 Lazy people bury their hand in the bowl; they won't even put it to their mouth.

25 Strike someone who scoffs, and a naive person will become clever; correct someone with understanding, and they will gain knowledge.

26 Those who assault their father and drive out their mother are disgraceful children, worthy of reproach.

27 If, my child, you stop listening to discipline, you will wander away from words of knowledge.

28 A worthless witness mocks justice; the wicked mouth gulps down trouble.

29 Punishments were made for mockers, and blows for the backs of fools.

1 Wine is a mocker; beer a carouser. Those it leads astray won't become wise.

2 A king is as terrifying as a lion's growl. Those who anger him may lose their life.

3 It is honorable to back off from a fight, but fools jump right in.

4 The lazy don't plow during winter; at harvest they look but find nothing.

5 Advice comes from the deep waters of the heart; those with understanding can draw it out.

6 Many people will say that they are loyal, but who can find a reliable person?

7 The righteous live with integrity; happy are their children who come after them.

8 A king who sits on his judgment throne sifts out all evil with his eyes.

9 Who can say, "I'm innocent to the core; I'm cleansed from my sin"?

10 False weights and measures— the LORD detests them both.

11 Even young people are known by their actions, whether their conduct is pure and upright.

12 Ears to hear and eyes to see— the LORD made them both.

13 Don't love sleep or you will be poor; stay alert and you will have plenty to eat.

14 The buyer says, "Bad, bad," but then goes away and brags.

15 Much gold and many pearls exist, but wise speech is the most precious jewel.

16 Take the garment of the person who secures a loan for a stranger; take his pledge for a foreigner.

17 Stolen bread is sweet, but afterward the mouth is full of gravel.

18 Plans are firmed up by advice; wage wars with good guidance.

19 Gossips reveal secrets; don't associate with those who talk too much.

20 Those who curse their father or mother— their lamp will be snuffed out when it becomes dark.

21 Inheritance gained quickly at first won't bless later on.

22 Don't say, "I'll repay the evildoer!" Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.

23 The LORD detests false weights; deceptive scales aren't right.

24 A person's steps are from the LORD; how then can people understand their path?

25 It is a snare to say rashly, "It is holy," and only reflect after making the promise.

26 A wise king sifts out the wicked, and runs them over with a wheel.

27 The breath of a person is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the inmost parts.

28 Kindness and faithfulness protect the king; he supports his throne by kindness.

29 Strength is the glory of young men; gray hair is the splendor of old age.

30 Blows and bruises remove evil; beatings cleanse the inner parts.

1 The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; he directs it wherever he wants.

2 Everyone's path is straight in their own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart.

3 Acting with righteousness and justice is more valued by the LORD than sacrifice.

4 Prideful eyes, an arrogant heart, and the lamp of the wicked are all sinful.

5 The plans of the diligent end up in profit, but those who hurry end up with loss.

6 Those who gain treasure with lies are like a drifting fog, leading to death.

7 The violence of the wicked will sweep them away, for they refuse to act with justice.

8 The ways of some people are twisted and strange, but the behavior of those who do right is pure.

9 Better to live on the edge of a roof than with a contentious woman in a large house.

10 Wicked people desire evil; their neighbors receive no mercy from them.

11 When a mocker is punished, the naive person gains wisdom; when insight comes to the wise, knowledge increases.

12 The righteous one observes the house of the wicked, turning the wicked toward trouble.

13 Those who close their ears to the cries of the poor will themselves call out but receive no answer.

14 A secret gift calms anger, and a hidden bribe removes furious wrath.

15 Acting justly is a joy to the righteous, but dreaded by those who do evil.

16 People who wander from the path of insight will rest in the company of the dead.

17 Those who love pleasure end up poor; lovers of wine and oil won't get rich.

18 The wicked are a ransom for the righteous; the treacherous will be punished in the place of the virtuous.

19 Better to live in a wilderness than in a house with a contentious and angry woman.

20 Precious treasure and oil stay in the home of the wise, but fools swallow them up.

21 Those who pursue righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.

22 A wise person fought a city of warriors and brought down the stronghold in which they felt safe.

23 Those who guard their mouths and their tongues guard themselves from trouble.

24 Incredibly proud—mockers are their name! Their conduct involves excessive pride.

25 The desires of the lazy will kill them, because their hands refuse to do anything.

26 The lazy desire things constantly, but the righteous give without holding back.

27 The LORD detests the sacrifices of the wicked, especially when brought with devious motives.

28 A lying witness will perish, but one who listens will testify successfully.

29 The wicked person appears brash, but the virtuous think about the path ahead.

30 No wisdom, understanding, or advice can stand up against the LORD.

31 A horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the LORD.

1 My dear friends, since we have these promises, let's cleanse ourselves from anything that contaminates our body or spirit so that we make our holiness complete in the fear of God.

2 Make room in your hearts for us. We didn't do anything wrong to anyone. We didn't ruin anyone. We didn't take advantage of anyone.

3 I'm not saying this to make you feel guilty. I've already said that you are in our hearts so that we die and live together with you.

4 I have every confidence in you. I'm terribly proud of you. I'm filled with encouragement. I'm overwhelmed with happiness while in the middle of our problems.

5 Even after we arrived in Macedonia, we couldn't rest physically. We were surrounded by problems. There was external conflict, and there were internal fears.

6 However, God comforts people who are discouraged, and he comforted us by Titus' arrival.

7 We weren't comforted only by his arrival but also by the comfort he had received from you. He told us about your desire to see me, how you were sorry, and about your concern for me, so that I was even happier.

8 Even though my letter hurt you, I don't regret it. Well—I did regret it just a bit because I see that that letter made you sad, though only for a short time.

9 Now I'm glad—not because you were sad but because you were made sad enough to change your hearts and lives. You felt godly sadness so that no one was harmed by us in any way.

10 Godly sadness produces a changed heart and life that leads to salvation and leaves no regrets, but sorrow under the influence of the world produces death.

11 Look at what this very experience of godly sadness has produced in you: such enthusiasm, what a desire to clear yourselves of blame, such indignation, what fear, what purpose, such concern, what justice! In everything you have shown yourselves to be innocent in the matter.

12 So although I wrote to you, it wasn't for the sake of the one who did wrong, or for the sake of the one who was wronged, but to show you your own enthusiasm for us in the sight of God.

13 Because of this we have been encouraged. And in addition to our own encouragement, we were even more pleased at how happy Titus was. His mind has been put at rest by all of you.

14 If I've bragged about you to him in any way, I haven't been embarrassed. Instead, our bragging to Titus has also been proven to be true, just like everything we said to you was true.

15 His devotion to you is growing even more as he remembers how all of you were obedient when you welcomed him with fear and trembling.

16 I'm happy, because I can completely depend on you.