Proverbs 1; Proverbs 2; 1 Corinthians 16

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Proverbs 1

1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David and king of Israel.

2 Here are proverbs that will help you recognize wisdom and good advice, and understand sayings with deep meaning.

3 They can teach you how to live intelligently and how to be honest, just, and fair.

4 They can make an inexperienced person clever and teach young people how to be resourceful.

5 These proverbs can even add to the knowledge of the wise and give guidance to the educated,

6 so that they can understand the hidden meanings of proverbs and the problems that the wise raise.

7 To have knowledge, you must first have reverence for the Lord. Stupid people have no respect for wisdom and refuse to learn.

8 My child, pay attention to what your father and mother tell you.

9 Their teaching will improve your character as a handsome turban or a necklace improves your appearance.

10 My child, when sinners tempt you, don't give in.

11 Suppose they say, "Come on; let's find someone to kill! Let's attack some innocent people for the fun of it!

12 They may be alive and well when we find them, but they'll be dead when we're through with them!

13 We'll find all kinds of riches and fill our houses with loot!

14 Come and join us, and we'll all share what we steal."

15 My child, don't go with people like that. Stay away from them.

16 They can't wait to do something bad. They're always ready to kill.

17 It does no good to spread a net when the bird you want to catch is watching,

18 but people like that are setting a trap for themselves, a trap in which they will die.

19 Robbery always claims the life of the robber - this is what happens to anyone who lives by violence.

20 Listen! Wisdom is calling out in the streets and marketplaces,

21 calling loudly at the city gates and wherever people come together:

22 "Foolish people! How long do you want to be foolish? How long will you enjoy making fun of knowledge? Will you never learn?

23 Listen when I reprimand you; I will give you good advice and share my knowledge with you.

24 I have been calling you, inviting you to come, but you would not listen. You paid no attention to me.

25 You have ignored all my advice and have not been willing to let me correct you.

26 So when you get into trouble, I will laugh at you. I will make fun of you when terror strikes -

27 when it comes on you like a storm, bringing fierce winds of trouble, and you are in pain and misery.

28 Then you will call for wisdom, but I will not answer. You may look for me everywhere, but you will not find me.

29 You have never had any use for knowledge and have always refused to obey the Lord.

30 You have never wanted my advice or paid any attention when I corrected you.

31 So then, you will get what you deserve, and your own actions will make you sick.

32 Inexperienced people die because they reject wisdom. Stupid people are destroyed by their own lack of concern.

33 But whoever listens to me will have security. He will be safe, with no reason to be afraid."

Proverbs 2

1 My child, learn what I teach you and never forget what I tell you to do.

2 Listen to what is wise and try to understand it.

3 Yes, beg for knowledge; plead for insight.

4 Look for it as hard as you would for silver or some hidden treasure.

5 If you do, you will know what it means to fear the Lord and you will succeed in learning about God.

6 It is the Lord who gives wisdom; from him come knowledge and understanding.

7 He provides help and protection for those who are righteous and honest.

8 He protects those who treat others fairly, and guards those who are devoted to him.

9 If you listen to me, you will know what is right, just, and fair. You will know what you should do.

10 You will become wise, and your knowledge will give you pleasure.

11 Your insight and understanding will protect you

12 and prevent you from doing the wrong thing. They will keep you away from people who stir up trouble by what they say -

13 those who have abandoned a righteous life to live in the darkness of sin,

14 those who find pleasure in doing wrong and who enjoy senseless evil,

15 unreliable people who cannot be trusted.

16 You will be able to resist any immoral woman who tries to seduce you with her smooth talk,

17 who is faithless to her own husband and forgets her sacred vows.

18 If you go to her house, you are traveling the road to death. To go there is to approach the world of the dead.

19 No one who visits her ever comes back. He never returns to the road to life.

20 So you must follow the example of good people and live a righteous life.

21 Righteous people - people of integrity - will live in this land of ours.

22 But God will snatch the wicked from the land and pull sinners out of it like plants from the ground.

1 Corinthians 16

1 Now, concerning what you wrote about the money to be raised to help God's people in Judea. You must do what I told the churches in Galatia to do.

2 Every Sunday each of you must put aside some money, in proportion to what you have earned, and save it up, so that there will be no need to collect money when I come.

3 After I come, I shall give letters of introduction to those you have approved, and send them to take your gift to Jerusalem.

4 If it seems worthwhile for me to go, then they can go along with me.

5 I shall come to you after I have gone through Macedonia - for I have to go through Macedonia.

6 I shall probably spend some time with you, perhaps the whole winter, and then you can help me to continue my trip, wherever it is I shall go next.

7 I want to see you more than just briefly in passing; I hope to spend quite a long time with you, if the Lord allows.

8 I will stay here in Ephesus until the day of Pentecost.

9 There is a real opportunity here for great and worthwhile work, even though there are many opponents.

10 If Timothy comes your way, be sure to make him feel welcome among you, because he is working for the Lord, just as I am.

11 No one should look down on him, but you must help him continue his trip in peace, so that he will come back to me; for I am expecting him back with the believers.

12 Now, about brother Apollos. I have often encouraged him to visit you with the other believers, but he is not completely convinced that he should go at this time. When he gets the chance, however, he will go.

13 Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be brave, be strong.

14 Do all your work in love.

15 You know about Stephanas and his family; they are the first Christian converts in Achaia and have given themselves to the service of God's people. I beg you, my friends,

16 to follow the leadership of such people as these, and of anyone else who works and serves with them.

17 I am happy about the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus; they have made up for your absence

18 and have cheered me up, just as they cheered you up. Such men as these deserve notice.

19 The churches in the province of Asia send you their greetings; Aquila and Priscilla and the church that meets in their house send warm Christian greetings.

20 All the believers here send greetings. Greet one another with the kiss of peace.

21 With my own hand I write this: [Greetings from Paul.]

22 Whoever does not love the Lord - a curse on him! [Marana tha] - Our Lord, come!

23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.

24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus.

Proverbs 1; Proverbs 2; 1 Corinthians 16

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Proverbs 1

Proverbs 2

1 Corinthians 16