Proverbs 1; Proverbs 2; 1 Corinthians 16

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Proverbs 1

1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
2 For gaining wisdom and being instructed; for understanding insightful sayings;
3 for receiving wise instruction [in] righteousness, justice, and integrity;
4 for teaching shrewdness to the inexperienced, knowledge and discretion to a young man-
5 a wise man will listen and increase his learning, and a discerning man will obtain guidance-
6 for understanding a proverb or a parable, the words of the wise, and their riddles.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
8 Listen, my son, to your father's instruction, and don't reject your mother's teaching,
9 for they will be a garland of grace on your head and a [gold] chain around your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice you, don't be persuaded.
11 If they say-"Come with us! Let's set an ambush and kill someone. Let's attack some innocent person just for fun!
12 Let's swallow them alive, like Sheol, still healthy as they go down to the Pit.
13 We'll find all kinds of valuable property and fill our houses with plunder.
14 Throw in your lot with us, and we'll all share our money"-
15 my son, don't travel that road with them or set foot on their path,
16 because their feet run toward trouble and they hurry to commit murder.
17 It is foolish to spread a net where any bird can see it,
18 but they set an ambush to kill themselves; they attack their own lives.
19 Such are the paths of all who pursue gain dishonestly; it takes the lives of those who profit from it.
20 Wisdom calls out in the street; she raises her voice in the public squares.
21 She cries out above the commotion; she speaks at the entrance of the city gates:
22 "How long, foolish ones, will you love ignorance? [How long] will [you] mockers enjoy mocking and [you] fools hate knowledge?
23 If you turn to my discipline, then I will pour out my spirit on you and teach you my words.
24 Since I called out and you refused, extended my hand and no one paid attention,
25 since you neglected all my counsel and did not accept my correction,
26 I, in turn, will laugh at your calamity. I will mock when terror strikes you,
27 when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when trouble and stress overcome you.
28 Then they will call me, but I won't answer; they will search for me, but won't find me.
29 Because they hated knowledge, didn't choose to fear the Lord,
30 were not interested in my counsel, and rejected all my correction,
31 they will eat the fruit of their way and be glutted with their own schemes.
32 For the waywardness of the inexperienced will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
33 But whoever listens to me will live securely and be free from the fear of danger."
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

Proverbs 2

1 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,
2 listening closely to wisdom and directing your heart to understanding;
3 furthermore, if you call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding,
4 if you seek it like silver and search for it like hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He stores up success for the upright; He is a shield for those who live with integrity
8 so that He may guard the paths of justice and protect the way of His loyal followers.
9 Then you will understand righteousness, justice, and integrity-every good path.
10 For wisdom will enter your mind, and knowledge will delight your heart.
11 Discretion will watch over you, and understanding will guard you,
12 rescuing you from the way of evil- from the one who says perverse things,
13 [from] those who abandon the right paths to walk in ways of darkness,
14 [from] those who enjoy doing evil and celebrate perversity,
15 whose paths are crooked, and whose ways are devious.
16 It will rescue you from a forbidden woman, from a stranger with her flattering talk,
17 who abandons the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God;
18 for her house sinks down to death and her ways to the land of the departed spirits.
19 None return who go to her; none reach the paths of life.
20 So follow the way of good people, and keep to the paths of the righteous.
21 For the upright will inhabit the land, and those of integrity will remain in it;
22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous uprooted from it.
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

1 Corinthians 16

1 Now about the collection for the saints: you should do the same as I instructed the Galatian churches.
2 On the first day of the week, each of you is to set something aside and save to the extent that he prospers, so that no collections will need to be made when I come.
3 And when I arrive, I will send those whom you recommend by letter to carry your gracious gift to Jerusalem.
4 If it is also suitable for me to go, they will travel with me.
5 I will come to you after I pass through Macedonia-for I will be traveling through Macedonia-
6 and perhaps I will remain with you, or even spend the winter, that you may send me on my way wherever I go.
7 I don't want to see you now just in passing, for I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord allows.
8 But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost,
9 because a wide door for effective ministry has opened for me-yet many oppose me.
10 If Timothy comes, see that he has nothing to fear from you, because he is doing the Lord's work, just as I am.
11 Therefore no one should look down on him; but you should send him on his way in peace so he can come to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers.
12 About our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to come to you with the brothers, but he was not at all willing to come now. However, when he has time, he will come.
13 Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be brave and strong.
14 Your every [action] must be done with love.
15 Brothers, you know the household of Stephanas: they are the firstfruits of Achaia and have devoted themselves to serving the saints. I urge you
16 also to submit to such people, and to everyone who works and labors with them.
17 I am delighted over the presence of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, because these men have made up for your absence.
18 For they have refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore recognize such people.
19 The churches of the Asian province greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, along with the church that meets in their home.
20 All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
21 This greeting is in my own hand-Paul.
22 If anyone does not love the Lord, a curse be on him. Maranatha!
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
24 My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus.
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.