Proverbs 22; Proverbs 23; Proverbs 24; 2 Corinthians 8

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Proverbs 22

1 A good reputation is better than much wealth; high esteem is better than silver and gold.

2 The rich and the poor have this in common: the LORD made them both.

3 Prudent people see trouble and hide, while the simpleminded go right to it and get punished.

4 The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD is wealth, honor, and life.

5 Thorns and nets are in the path of the crooked; those who guard their lives keep their distance.

6 Train children in the way they should go; when they grow old, they won't depart from it.

7 The wealthy rule over the poor; a borrower is a slave to a lender.

8 Those who sow injustice will harvest evil; the rod of their fury will come to an end.

9 Happy are generous people, because they give some of their food to the poor.

10 Remove the mocker and conflict disappears; judgment and shame also stop.

11 Those who love a pure heart— their speech is gracious, and the king is their friend.

12 The LORD's eyes protect knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the treacherous.

13 A lazy person says, "There's a lion in the street! I'll be killed in the town square!"

14 The mouth of a mysterious woman is a deep pit; those under the LORD's wrath will fall in it.

15 Folly is bound up in a child's heart; the rod of discipline removes it.

16 Oppressing the poor to get rich and giving to the wealthy lead only to poverty.

17 Turn your ear and hear the words of the wise; focus your mind on my knowledge.

18 It will be pleasant if you keep the words in you, if you have them ready on your lips.

19 So that your trust will be in the LORD, I'm teaching you today—yes, you.

20 Haven't I written for you thirty sayings full of advice and knowledge?

21 Their purpose is to teach you true, reliable words, so you can report back reliably to those who sent you.

22 Don't steal from the poor, because they are poor. Don't oppress the needy in the gate.

23 The LORD will take up their case and press the life out of those who oppress them.

24 Don't befriend people controlled by anger; don't associate with hot-tempered people;

25 otherwise, you will learn their ways and become trapped.

26 Don't shake hands to guarantee a loan.

27 If you can't repay, why should they be able to take your bed from you?

28 Don't remove an ancient boundary marker that your ancestors established.

29 Do you see people who work skillfully? They will work for kings but not work for lowly people.

Proverbs 23

1 When you sit down to dine with a ruler, carefully consider what is in front of you.

2 Place a knife at your throat to control your appetite.

3 Don't long for the ruler's delicacies; the food misleads.

4 Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich; be smart enough to stop.

5 When your eyes fly to wealth it is gone; it grows wings like an eagle and flies heavenward.

6 Don't eat food with stingy people; don't long for their delicacies,

7 because they are like a hair in the throat. They say to you, "Eat and drink!" but they don't mean it.

8 You will eat scraps and vomit them out. You will waste your pleasant words.

9 Don't speak in the ears of fools, for they will scorn your insightful words.

10 Don't remove an ancient boundary marker; don't invade the fields of orphans,

11 for their redeemer is strong. He will bring charges against you.

12 Bring your mind to instruction, your ear to knowledgeable sayings.

13 Don't withhold instruction from children; if you strike them with a rod, they won't die.

14 Strike them with a rod, and you will save their lives from the grave.

15 My child, if your heart is wise, then my heart too will be happy.

16 My inner being will rejoice when your lips speak with integrity.

17 Don't let your heart envy sinners, but fear the LORD constantly;

18 then you will have a future, and your hope won't be cut off.

19 Listen, my child, and be wise! Keep your mind straight on the path.

20 Don't hang out with those who get drunk on wine or those who eat too much meat,

21 because drunks and gluttons will be impoverished; their stupor will clothe them in rags.

22 Listen to your father, who gave you life; don't despise your elderly mother.

23 Buy truth and don't sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

24 The father of the righteous will be very happy; the one who gives life to the wise will rejoice.

25 Your father and your mother will rejoice; she who gave you birth will be happy.

26 My child, give your mind to me and let your eyes keep to my path.

27 A prostitute is a deep pit, and a foreign woman is a narrow well.

28 Indeed, she ambushes like a robber and increases the number of the faithless.

29 Who is suffering? Who is uneasy? Who has arguments? Who has complaints? Who has unnecessary wounds? Who has glazed eyes?—

30 those who linger over wine; those who go looking for mixed wine.

31 Don't look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, going down smoothly.

32 In the end, it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.

33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart will speak distorted words.

34 You will be like one who lies down while out on the sea or one who lies on top of a mast.

35 "Though hit, I feel no pain; though beaten up, I don't know anything about it. When I wake up, I'll look for wine again!"

Proverbs 24

1 Don't envy evil people, and don't long to be with them.

2 Their hearts are focused on violence, and their lips speak of trouble.

3 By wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established.

4 By knowledge rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant wealth.

5 A wise person is mightier than a strong one; a knowledgeable person than a powerful one.

6 You should make war with guidance; victory comes with many counselors.

7 Wisdom is beyond foolish people. They don't open their mouths in the gate.

8 Those who plot evil will be called master schemers.

9 The scheming of fools is sin; people detest mockers.

10 If you show yourself weak on a day of distress, your strength is too small.

11 Rescue those being taken off to death; and from those staggering to the slaughter, don't hold back.

12 If you say, "Look, we didn't know about it," the one who weighs hearts—doesn't he understand? The one who protects your life—he knows. He makes people pay for their actions.

13 My child, eat honey, for it is good. The honeycomb is sweet in your mouth.

14 Know that wisdom is like that for your whole being. If you find it, there is a future. Your hope won't be cut off.

15 Wicked one, don't wait secretly at the home of the righteous. Don't destroy their dwelling.

16 The righteous may fall seven times but still get up, but the wicked will stumble into trouble.

17 When your enemies fall, don't rejoice. When they stumble, don't let your heart be glad,

18 or the LORD will see it and be displeased, and he will turn his anger from them.

19 Don't get fighting mad at evil people; don't be envious of the wicked.

20 Indeed, there is no future for the evil; the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

21 Fear the LORD, my child, as well as the king. Don't associate with those who are rebellious.

22 Disaster comes suddenly from them. Who can know the ruin that both can bring?

23 These are also the sayings of the wise: Partiality in judgment isn't good.

24 Those who say to the guilty, "You are innocent"— the people will curse them. Nations will condemn them.

25 But it will go well for those who rebuke them. A rich blessing will come to them.

26 Those who speak honestly are like those who kiss on the lips.

27 Get your outside work done; make preparations in the field; then you can build your house.

28 Don't be a witness against your neighbor without reason; don't deceive with your lips.

29 Don't say, "I'll do to them what they did to me. I'll pay them back for their actions."

30 I happened upon the field of a lazy person, by the vineyard of one with no sense.

31 Thorns grew all over it; weeds covered the ground, and the stone wall was falling down.

32 I observed this and took it to heart; I saw it and learned a lesson.

33 "A little sleep, a little slumber, a little lying down with folded arms"—

34 and poverty will come on you like a prowler, deprivation like a man with a shield.

2 Corinthians 8

1 Brothers and sisters, we want to let you know about the grace of God that was given to the churches of Macedonia.

2 While they were being tested by many problems, their extra amount of happiness and their extreme poverty resulted in a surplus of rich generosity.

3 I assure you that they gave what they could afford and even more than they could afford, and they did it voluntarily.

4 They urgently begged us for the privilege of sharing in this service for the saints.

5 They even exceeded our expectations, because they gave themselves to the Lord first and to us, consistent with God's will.

6 As a result, we challenged Titus to finish this work of grace with you the way he had started it.

7 Be the best in this work of grace in the same way that you are the best in everything, such as faith, speech, knowledge, total commitment, and the love we inspired in you.

8 I'm not giving an order, but by mentioning the commitment of others, I'm trying to prove the authenticity of your love also.

9 You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Although he was rich, he became poor for our sakes, so that you could become rich through his poverty.

10 I'm giving you my opinion about this. It's to your advantage to do this, since you not only started to do it last year but you wanted to do it too.

11 Now finish the job as well so that you finish it with as much enthusiasm as you started, given what you can afford.

12 A gift is appreciated because of what a person can afford, not because of what that person can't afford, if it's apparent that it's done willingly.

13 It isn't that we want others to have financial ease and you financial difficulties, but it's a matter of equality.

14 At the present moment, your surplus can fill their deficit so that in the future their surplus can fill your deficit. In this way there is equality.

15 As it is written, The one who gathered more didn't have too much, and the one who gathered less didn't have too little.

16 But thank God, who put the same commitment that I have for you in Titus' heart.

17 Not only has he accepted our challenge but he's on his way to see you voluntarily, and he's excited.

18 We are sending the brother who is famous in all the churches because of his work for the gospel along with him.

19 In addition to this, he is chosen by the churches to be our traveling companion in this work of grace, which we are taking care of for the sake of the glory of the Lord himself, and to show our desire to help.

20 We are trying to avoid being blamed by anyone for the way we take care of this large amount of money.

21 We care about doing the right thing, not only in the Lord's eyes but also in the eyes of other people.

22 We are sending our brother with them. We have tested his commitment in many ways and many times. Now he's even more committed, because he has so much confidence in you.

23 If there is any question about Titus, he is my partner and coworker among you. If there is any question about our brothers, they are the churches' apostles and an honor to Christ.

24 So show them the proof of your love and the reason we are so proud of you, in such a way that the churches can see it.