Proverbs 16; Proverbs 17; Proverbs 18; 2 Corinthians 6

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Proverbs 16

1 The reflections of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

2 All a man's ways seem right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the motives.

3 Commit your activities to the Lord and your plans will be achieved.

4 The Lord has prepared everything for His purpose- even the wicked for the day of disaster.

5 Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished.

6 Wickedness is atoned for by loyalty and faithfulness, and one turns from evil by the fear of the Lord.

7 When a man's ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

8 Better a little with righteousness than great income with injustice.

9 A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps.

10 God's verdict is on the lips of a king; his mouth should not err in judgment.

11 Honest balances and scales are the Lord's; all the weights in the bag are His concern.

12 Wicked behavior is detestable to kings, since a throne is established through righteousness.

13 Righteous lips are a king's delight, and he loves one who speaks honestly.

14 A king's fury is a messenger of death, but a wise man appeases it.

15 When a king's face lights up, there is life; his favor is like a cloud with spring rain.

16 Acquire wisdom- how much better it is than gold! And acquire understanding- it is preferable to silver.

17 The highway of the upright avoids evil; the one who guards his way protects his life.

18 Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.

19 Better to be lowly of spirit with the humble than to divide plunder with the proud.

20 The one who understands a matter finds success, and the one who trusts in the Lord will be happy.

21 Anyone with a wise heart is called discerning, and pleasant speech increases learning.

22 Insight is a fountain of life for its possessor, but folly is the instruction of fools.

23 A wise heart instructs its mouth and increases learning with its speech.

24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb: sweet to the taste and health to the body.

25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it is the way of death.

26 A worker's appetite works for him because his hunger urges him on.

27 A worthless man digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.

28 A contrary man spreads conflict, and a gossip separates friends.

29 A violent man lures his neighbor, leading him in a way that is not good.

30 The one who narrows his eyes is planning deceptions; the one who compresses his lips brings about evil.

31 Gray hair is a glorious crown; it is found in the way of righteousness.

32 Patience is better than power, and controlling one's temper, than capturing a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.

Proverbs 17

1 Better a dry crust with peace than a house full of feasting with strife.

2 A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share an inheritance among brothers.

3 A crucible is for silver and a smelter for gold, but the Lord is a tester of hearts.

4 A wicked person listens to malicious talk; a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

5 The one who mocks the poor insults his Maker, and one who rejoices over disaster will not go unpunished.

6 Grandchildren are the crown of the elderly, and the pride of sons is their fathers.

7 Excessive speech is not appropriate on a fool's lips; how much worse are lies for a ruler.

8 A bribe seems like a magic stone to its owner; wherever he turns, he succeeds.

9 Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but whoever gossips about it separates friends.

10 A rebuke cuts into a perceptive person more than a hundred lashes into a fool.

11 An evil man seeks only rebellion; a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

12 Better for a man to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his foolishness.

13 If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never depart from his house.

14 To start a conflict is to release a flood; stop the dispute before it breaks out.

15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the just- both are detestable to the Lord.

16 Why does a fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?

17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a difficult time.

18 One without sense enters an agreement and puts up security for his friend.

19 One who loves to offend loves strife; one who builds a high threshold invites injury.

20 One with a twisted mind will not succeed, and one with deceitful speech will fall into ruin.

21 A man fathers a fool to his own sorrow; the father of a fool has no joy.

22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

23 A wicked man secretly takes a bribe to subvert the course of justice.

24 Wisdom is the focus of the perceptive, but a fool's eyes roam to the ends of the earth.

25 A foolish son is grief to his father and bitterness to the one who bore him.

26 It is certainly not good to fine an innocent person, or to beat a noble for his honesty.

27 The intelligent person restrains his words, and one who keeps a cool head is a man of understanding.

28 Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent, discerning, when he seals his lips.

Proverbs 18

1 One who isolates himself pursues [selfish] desires; he rebels against all sound judgment.

2 A fool does not delight in understanding, but only wants to show off his opinions.

3 When a wicked man comes, shame does also, and along with dishonor, disgrace.

4 The words of a man's mouth are deep waters, a flowing river, a fountain of wisdom.

5 It is not good to show partiality to the guilty by perverting the justice due the innocent.

6 A fool's lips lead to strife, and his mouth provokes a beating.

7 A fool's mouth is his devastation, and his lips are a trap for his life.

8 A gossip's words are like choice food that goes down to one's innermost being.

9 The one who is truly lazy in his work is brother to a vandal.

10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are protected.

11 A rich man's wealth is his fortified city; in his imagination it is like a high wall.

12 Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but before honor comes humility.

13 The one who gives an answer before he listens- this is foolishness and disgrace for him.

14 A man's spirit can endure sickness, but who can survive a broken spirit?

15 The mind of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks it.

16 A gift opens doors for a man and brings him before the great.

17 The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

18 [Casting] the lot ends quarrels and separates powerful opponents.

19 An offended brother is [harder to reach] than a fortified city, and quarrels are like the bars of a fortress.

20 From the fruit of his mouth a man's stomach is satisfied; he is filled with the product of his lips.

21 Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

22 A man who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.

23 The poor man pleads, but the rich one answers roughly.

24 A man with many friends may be harmed, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.

2 Corinthians 6

1 Working together with Him, we also appeal to you: "Don't receive God's grace in vain."

2 For He says: In an acceptable time, I heard you, and in the day of salvation, I helped you. Look, now is the acceptable time; look, now is the day of salvation.

3 We give no opportunity for stumbling to anyone, so that the ministry will not be blamed.

4 But in everything, as God's ministers, we commend ourselves: by great endurance, by afflictions, by hardship, by pressures,

5 by beatings, by imprisonments, by riots, by labors, by sleepless nights, by times of hunger,

6 by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,

7 by the message of truth, by the power of God; through weapons of righteousness on the right hand and the left,

8 through glory and dishonor, through slander and good report; as deceivers yet true;

9 as unknown yet recognized; as dying and look-we live; as being chastened yet not killed;

10 as grieving yet always rejoicing; as poor yet enriching many; as having nothing yet possessing everything.

11 We have spoken openly to you, Corinthians; our heart has been opened wide.

12 You are not limited by us, but you are limited by your own affections.

13 Now in like response-I speak as to children-you also should be open to us.

14 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?

15 What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

16 And what agreement does God's sanctuary have with idols? For we are the sanctuary of the living God, as God said: I will dwell among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.

17 Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord; do not touch any unclean thing, and I will welcome you.

18 I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty.