Proverbs 6; Proverbs 7; 2 Corinthians 2

Viewing Multiple Passages

Proverbs 6

1 My son, don't put up money for what your neighbor owes. Don't agree to pay up for someone else.

2 Don't be trapped by what you have said. Don't be caught by the words of your mouth.

3 Instead, my son, do something to free yourself. Don't fall into your neighbor's hands. Don't be proud. Hurry and make your appeal to your neighbor.

4 Don't let your eyes go to sleep. Don't let your eyelids close.

5 As a deer frees itself from a hunter, free yourself. As a bird frees itself from a trapper, free yourself.

6 You people who don't want to work, think about the ant! Consider its ways and be wise!

7 It has no commander. It has no leader or ruler.

8 But it stores up its food in summer. It gathers its food at harvest time.

9 You lazy people, how long will you lie there? When will you get up from your sleep?

10 You might sleep a little or take a little nap. You might even fold your hands and rest.

11 Then you would be poor, as if someone had robbed you. You would have little, as if someone had stolen from you.

12 A worthless and evil man goes around saying twisted things with his mouth.

13 He winks with his eyes. He makes signals with his feet. He motions with his fingers.

14 His plans are evil. He has lies in his heart. He is always stirring up fights.

15 Trouble will catch up with him in an instant. He will suddenly be destroyed. Nothing can save him.

16 There are six things the LORD hates. In fact, he hates seven things.

17 The LORD hates proud eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that kill those who aren't guilty.

18 He also hates hearts that make evil plans, feet that are quick to do evil,

19 any witness who pours out lies, and anyone who stirs up family fights.

20 My son, keep your father's commands. Don't turn away from your mother's teaching.

21 Tie them to your heart forever. Put them around your neck.

22 When you walk, they will guide you. When you sleep, they will watch over you. When you wake up, they will speak to you.

23 Your father's commands are like a lamp. Your mother's teaching is like a light. And the training that corrects you leads to life.

24 It keeps you from a sinful woman. It keeps you from the smooth tongue of a woman who commits adultery.

25 Don't hunger in your heart after her beauty. Don't let her eyes capture you.

26 A prostitute leaves you with only a loaf of bread. Another man's wife hunts your very life.

27 You can't shovel fire into your lap without burning your clothes.

28 You can't walk on hot coals without burning your feet.

29 It's the same for anyone who has sex with another man's wife. Anyone who touches her will be punished.

30 People don't hate a thief who steals to fill his empty stomach.

31 But when he is caught, he must pay seven times as much as he stole. It may even cost him everything he has.

32 A man who commits adultery has no sense. Anyone who does it destroys himself.

33 He will be beaten up and dishonored. His shame will never be wiped away.

34 Jealousy stirs up a husband's anger. He will show no mercy when he gets even.

35 He won't accept any payment. He won't take any money, no matter how much he is offered.

Proverbs 7

1 My son, obey my words. Store up my commands inside you.

2 Obey my commands and you will live. Guard my teachings as you would your own eyes.

3 Tie them on your fingers. Write them on the tablet of your heart.

4 Say to wisdom, "You are my sister." Call understanding a member of your family.

5 They will keep you from a woman who commits adultery. They will keep you from the smooth talk of a sinful wife.

6 I stood at the window of my house. I looked out through it.

7 Among those who were childish I saw a young man who had no sense.

8 He went down the street near that sinful woman's corner. He walked toward her house.

9 The sun had gone down. Day was fading. The darkness of night was falling.

10 A woman came out to meet him. She was dressed like a prostitute and had a clever plan.

11 She was a loud and pushy woman. She never stayed at home.

12 Sometimes in the streets, sometimes at other places, at every corner she would wait.

13 She took hold of the young man and kissed him. With a bold face she spoke to him.

14 She said, "At home I have meat left over from my offerings. Today I offered what I had promised I would.

15 So I came out to meet you. I looked for you. And I have found you!

16 I have covered my bed with colored sheets from Egypt.

17 I've perfumed my bed with spices. I used myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.

18 Come, let's drink our fill of love until morning. Let's enjoy ourselves by having sex!

19 My husband isn't home. He's gone on a long journey.

20 He took his bag full of money. He won't be home for several days."

21 She led him down the wrong path with her clever words. She charmed him with her smooth talk.

22 All at once he followed her. He was like an ox going to be killed. He was like a deer stepping into a trap

23 until an arrow struck its liver. He was like a bird rushing into a trap. Little did he know it would cost him his life!

24 My sons, listen to me. Pay attention to what I say.

25 Don't let your hearts turn to her ways. Don't step onto her paths.

26 She has brought down a lot of men. She has killed a huge crowd.

27 Her house is a road to the grave. It leads down to the place of the dead.

2 Corinthians 2

1 So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you.

2 If I make you sad, who is going to make me glad? Only you, the one I made sad.

3 I wrote what I did for a special reason. When I came, I didn't want to be troubled by those who should make me glad. I was sure that all of you would share my joy.

4 I was very troubled when I wrote to you. My heart was sad. My eyes were full of tears. I didn't want to make you sad. I wanted to let you know that I love you very deeply.

5 Suppose someone has made us sad. In some ways, he hasn't made me sad so much as he has made all of you sad. But I don't want to put this too strongly.

6 He has been punished because most of you decided he should be. That is enough for him.

7 Now you should forgive him and comfort him. Then he won't be sad more than he can stand.

8 So I'm asking you to tell him again that you still love him.

9 I wrote to you for a special reason. I wanted to see if you could stand the test. I wanted to see if you could obey everything that was asked of you.

10 Anyone you forgive I also forgive. Was there anything to forgive? If so, I have forgiven it for your benefit, knowing that Christ is watching.

11 We don't want Satan to outsmart us. We know how he does his evil work.

12 I went to Troas to preach the good news about Christ. There I found that the Lord had opened a door of opportunity for me.

13 But I still had no peace of mind. I couldn't find my brother Titus there. So I said good-by to the believers at Troas and went on to Macedonia.

14 Give thanks to God! He always leads us in the winners' parade because we belong to Christ. Through us, God spreads the knowledge of Christ everywhere like perfume.

15 God considers us to be the sweet smell that Christ is spreading among people who are being saved and people who are dying.

16 To the one, we are the smell of death. To the other, we are the perfume of life. Who is able to do that work?

17 Unlike many people, we aren't selling God's word to make money. In fact, it is just the opposite. Because of Christ we speak honestly before God. We speak like people God has sent.

Proverbs 6; Proverbs 7; 2 Corinthians 2

Viewing Multiple Passages

Share

Settings

Proverbs 6

Proverbs 7

2 Corinthians 2