Proverbs 13; Proverbs 14; Proverbs 15; 2 Corinthians 5

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Proverbs 13

1 A wise son listens to his father's discipline, but a mocker does not listen to reprimands.

2 A person eats well as a result of his speaking ability, but the appetite of treacherous people [craves] violence.

3 Whoever controls his mouth protects his own life. Whoever has a big mouth comes to ruin.

4 A lazy person craves food and there is none, but the appetite of hard-working people is satisfied.

5 A righteous person hates lying, but a wicked person behaves with shame and disgrace.

6 Righteousness protects the honest way of life, but wickedness ruins a sacrifice for sin.

7 One person pretends to be rich but has nothing. Another pretends to be poor but has great wealth.

8 A person's riches are the ransom for his life, but the poor person does not pay attention to threats.

9 The light of righteous people beams brightly, but the lamp of wicked people will be snuffed out.

10 Arrogance produces only quarreling, but those who take advice gain wisdom.

11 Wealth [gained] through injustice dwindles away, but whoever gathers little by little has plenty.

12 Delayed hope makes one sick at heart, but a fulfilled longing is a tree of life.

13 Whoever despises [God's] words will pay the penalty, but the one who fears [God's] commands will be rewarded.

14 The teachings of a wise person are a fountain of life to turn [one] away from the grasp of death.

15 Good sense brings favor, but the way of treacherous people is always the same.

16 Any sensible person acts with knowledge, but a fool displays stupidity.

17 An undependable messenger gets into trouble, but a dependable envoy brings healing.

18 Poverty and shame come to a person who ignores discipline, but whoever pays attention to constructive criticism will be honored.

19 A fulfilled desire is sweet to the soul, but turning from evil is disgusting to fools.

20 Whoever walks with wise people will be wise, but whoever associates with fools will suffer.

21 Disaster hunts down sinners, but righteous people are rewarded with good.

22 Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren, but the wealth of sinners is stored away for a righteous person.

23 When poor people are able to plow, there is much food, but a person is swept away where there is no justice.

24 Whoever refuses to spank his son hates him, but whoever loves his son disciplines him from early on.

25 A righteous person eats to satisfy his appetite, but the bellies of wicked people are always empty.

Proverbs 14

1 The wisest of women builds up her home, but a stupid one tears it down with her own hands.

2 Whoever lives right fears the LORD, but a person who is devious in his ways despises him.

3 Because of a stubborn fool's words a whip is lifted against him, but wise people are protected by their speech.

4 Where there are no cattle, the feeding trough is empty, but the strength of an ox produces plentiful harvests.

5 A trustworthy witness does not lie, but a dishonest witness breathes lies.

6 A mocker searches for wisdom without finding it, but knowledge comes easily to a person who has understanding.

7 Stay away from a fool, because you will not receive knowledge from his lips.

8 The wisdom of a sensible person guides his way of life, but the stupidity of fools misleads them.

9 Stubborn fools make fun of guilt, but there is forgiveness among decent people.

10 The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger can share its joy.

11 The houses of wicked people will be destroyed, but the tents of decent people will continue to expand.

12 There is a way that seems right to a person, but eventually it ends in death.

13 Even while laughing a heart can ache, and joy can end in grief.

14 A heart that turns [from God] becomes bored with its own ways, but a good person is satisfied with God's ways.

15 A gullible person believes anything, but a sensible person watches his step.

16 A wise person is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is careless and overconfident.

17 A short-tempered person acts stupidly, and a person who plots evil is hated.

18 Gullible people are gifted with stupidity, but sensible people are crowned with knowledge.

19 Evil people will bow to good people. Wicked people will bow at the gates of a righteous person.

20 A poor person is hated even by his neighbor, but a rich person is loved by many.

21 Whoever despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is the one who is kind to humble people.

22 Don't those who stray plan what is evil, while those who are merciful and faithful plan what is good?

23 In hard work there is always something gained, but idle talk leads only to poverty.

24 The crown of wise people is their wealth. The stupidity of fools is just that--stupidity!

25 An honest witness saves lives, but one who tells lies is dangerous.

26 In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, and his children will have a place of refuge.

27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life to turn [one] away from the grasp of death.

28 A large population is an honor for a king, but without people a ruler is ruined.

29 A person of great understanding is patient, but a short temper is the height of stupidity.

30 A tranquil heart makes for a healthy body, but jealousy is [like] bone cancer.

31 Whoever oppresses the poor insults his maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors him.

32 A wicked person is thrown down by his own wrongdoing, but even in his death a righteous person has a refuge.

33 Wisdom finds rest in the heart of an understanding person. Even fools recognize this.

34 Righteousness lifts up a nation, but sin is a disgrace in any society.

35 A king is delighted with a servant who acts wisely, but he is furious with one who acts shamefully.

Proverbs 15

1 A gentle answer turns away rage, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

2 The tongues of wise people give good expression to knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out a flood of stupidity.

3 The eyes of the LORD are everywhere. They watch evil people and good people.

4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue breaks the spirit.

5 A stubborn fool despises his father's discipline, but whoever appreciates a warning shows good sense.

6 Great treasure is in the house of a righteous person, but trouble comes along with the income of a wicked person.

7 The lips of wise people spread knowledge, but a foolish attitude does not.

8 A sacrifice brought by wicked people is disgusting to the LORD, but the prayers of decent people please him.

9 The way of wicked people is disgusting to the LORD, but he loves those who pursue righteousness.

10 Discipline is a terrible [burden] to anyone who leaves the [right] path. Anyone who hates a warning will die.

11 If Sheol and Abaddon lie open in front of the LORD how much more the human heart!

12 A mocker does not appreciate a warning. He will not go to wise people.

13 A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but with a heartache comes depression.

14 The mind of a person who has understanding searches for knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on stupidity.

15 Every day is a terrible day for a miserable person, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

16 Better to have a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and turmoil.

17 Better to have a dish of vegetables where there is love than juicy steaks where there is hate.

18 A hothead stirs up a fight, but one who holds his temper calms disputes.

19 The path of lazy people is like a thorny hedge, but the road of decent people is an [open] highway.

20 A wise son makes his father happy, but a foolish child despises its mother.

21 Stupidity is fun to the one without much sense, but a person who has understanding forges straight ahead.

22 Without advice plans go wrong, but with many advisers they succeed.

23 A person is delighted to hear an answer from his own mouth, and a timely word--oh, how good!

24 The path of life for a wise person leads upward in order to turn him away from hell below.

25 The LORD tears down the house of an arrogant person, but he protects the property of widows.

26 The thoughts of evil people are disgusting to the LORD, but pleasant words are pure to him.

27 Whoever is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble to his family, but whoever hates bribes will live.

28 The heart of a righteous person carefully considers how to answer, but the mouths of wicked people pour out a flood of evil things.

29 The LORD is far from wicked people, but he hears the prayers of righteous people.

30 A twinkle in the eye delights the heart. Good news refreshes the body.

31 The ear that listens to a life-giving warning will be at home among wise people.

32 Whoever ignores discipline despises himself, but the person who listens to warning gains understanding.

33 The fear of the LORD is discipline [leading to] wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

2 Corinthians 5

1 We know that if the life we live here on earth is ever taken down like a tent, we still have a building from God. It is an eternal house in heaven that isn't made by human hands.

2 In our present tent-like existence we sigh, since we long to put on the house we will have in heaven.

3 After we have put it on, we won't be naked.

4 While we are in this tent, we sigh. We feel distressed because we don't want to take off the tent, but we do want to put on the eternal house. Then [eternal] life will put an end to our mortal existence.

5 God has prepared us for this and has given us his Spirit to guarantee it.

6 So we are always confident. We know that as long as we are living in these bodies, we are living away from the Lord.

7 Indeed, our lives are guided by faith, not by sight.

8 We are confident and prefer to live away from this body and to live with the Lord.

9 Whether we live in the body or move out of it, our goal is to be pleasing to him.

10 All of us must appear in front of Christ's judgment seat. Then all people will receive what they deserve for the good or evil they have done while living in their bodies.

11 As people who know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. God already knows what we are, and I hope that you also know what we are.

12 We are not trying to show you our qualifications again, but we are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us. Then you can answer those who are proud of their appearance rather than their character.

13 So if we were crazy, it was for God. If we are sane, it is for you.

14 Clearly, Christ's love guides us. We are convinced of the fact that one man has died for all people. Therefore, all people have died.

15 He died for all people so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for the man who died and was brought back to life for them.

16 So from now on we don't think of anyone from a human point of view. If we did think of Christ from a human point of view, we don't anymore.

17 Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence.

18 God has done all this. He has restored our relationship with him through Christ, and has given us this ministry of restoring relationships.

19 In other words, God was using Christ to restore his relationship with humanity. He didn't hold people's faults against them, and he has given us this message of restored relationships to tell others.

20 Therefore, we are Christ's representatives, and through us God is calling you. We beg you on behalf of Christ to become reunited with God.

21 God had Christ, who was sinless, take our sin so that we might receive God's approval through him.