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

Proverbs 16

1 The plans of the heart belong to humans, but an answer on the tongue comes from the LORD.

2 A person thinks all his ways are pure, but the LORD weighs motives.

3 Entrust your efforts to the LORD, and your plans will succeed.

4 The LORD has made everything for his own purpose, even wicked people for the day of trouble.

5 Everyone with a conceited heart is disgusting to the LORD. Certainly, [such a person] will not go unpunished.

6 By mercy and faithfulness, peace is made with the LORD. By the fear of the LORD, evil is avoided.

7 When a person's ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

8 Better a few [possessions] gained honestly than many gained through injustice.

9 A person may plan his own journey, but the LORD directs his steps.

10 When a divine revelation is on a king's lips, he cannot voice a wrong judgment.

11 Honest balances and scales belong to the LORD. He made the entire set of weights.

12 Wrongdoing is disgusting to kings because a throne is established through righteousness.

13 Kings are happy with honest words, and whoever speaks what is right is loved.

14 A king's anger announces death, but a wise man makes peace with him.

15 When the king is cheerful, there is life, and his favor is like a cloud bringing spring rain.

16 How much better it is to gain wisdom than gold, and the gaining of understanding should be chosen over silver.

17 The highway of decent people turns away from evil. Whoever watches his way preserves his own life.

18 Pride precedes a disaster, and an arrogant attitude precedes a fall.

19 Better to be humble with lowly people than to share stolen goods with arrogant people.

20 Whoever gives attention to the LORD's word prospers, and blessed is the person who trusts the LORD.

21 The person who is truly wise is called understanding, and speaking sweetly helps others learn.

22 Understanding is a fountain of life to the one who has it, but stubborn fools punish themselves with their stupidity.

23 A wise person's heart controls his speech, and what he says helps others learn.

24 Pleasant words are [like] honey from a honeycomb-- sweet to the spirit and healthy for the body.

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

26 A laborer's appetite works to his advantage, because his hunger drives him on.

27 A worthless person plots trouble, and his speech is like a burning fire.

28 A devious person spreads quarrels. A gossip separates the closest of friends.

29 A violent person misleads his neighbor and leads him on a path that is not good.

30 Whoever winks his eye is plotting something devious. Whoever bites his lips has finished his evil work.

31 Silver hair is a beautiful crown found in a righteous life.

32 Better to get angry slowly than to be a hero. Better to be even-tempered than to capture a city.

33 The dice are thrown, but the LORD determines every outcome.

Proverbs 17

1 Better a bite of dry bread [eaten] in peace than a family feast filled with strife.

2 A wise slave will become master over a son who acts shamefully, and he will share the inheritance with the brothers.

3 The crucible is for refining silver and the smelter for gold, but the one who purifies hearts [by fire] is the LORD.

4 An evildoer pays attention to wicked lips. A liar opens his ears to a slanderous tongue.

5 Whoever makes fun of a poor person insults his maker. Whoever is happy [to see someone's] distress will not escape punishment.

6 Grandchildren are the crown of grandparents, and parents are the glory of their children.

7 Refined speech is not fitting for a godless fool. How much less does lying fit a noble person!

8 A bribe seems [like] a jewel to the one who gives it. Wherever he turns, he prospers.

9 Whoever forgives an offense seeks love, but whoever keeps bringing up the issue separates the closest of friends.

10 A reprimand impresses a person who has understanding more than a hundred lashes impress a fool.

11 A rebel looks for nothing but evil. Therefore, a cruel messenger will be sent [to punish] him.

12 Better to meet a bear robbed of its cubs than a fool [carried away] with his stupidity.

13 Whoever pays back evil for good-- evil will never leave his home.

14 Starting a quarrel is [like] opening a floodgate, so stop before the argument gets out of control.

15 Whoever approves of wicked people and whoever condemns righteous people is disgusting to the LORD.

16 Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he doesn't have a mind to grasp anything?

17 A friend always loves, and a brother is born to share trouble.

18 A person without good sense closes a deal with a handshake. He guarantees a loan in the presence of his friend.

19 Whoever loves sin loves a quarrel. Whoever builds his city gate high invites destruction.

20 A twisted mind never finds happiness, and one with a devious tongue [repeatedly] gets into trouble.

21 The parent of a fool has grief, and the father of a godless fool has no joy.

22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but depression drains one's strength.

23 A wicked person secretly accepts a bribe to corrupt the ways of justice.

24 Wisdom is directly in front of an understanding person, but the eyes of a fool [are looking around] all over the world.

25 A foolish son is a heartache to his father and bitter grief to his mother.

26 To punish an innocent person is not good. To strike down noble people is not right.

27 Whoever has knowledge controls his words, and a person who has understanding is even-tempered.

28 Even a stubborn fool is thought to be wise if he keeps silent. He is considered intelligent if he keeps his lips sealed.

Proverbs 18

1 A loner is out to get what he wants for himself. He opposes all sound reasoning.

2 A fool does not find joy in understanding but only in expressing his own opinion.

3 When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and insult comes along with disgrace.

4 The words of a person's mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is an overflowing stream.

5 It is not good to be partial toward a wicked person, thereby depriving an innocent person of justice.

6 By talking, a fool gets into an argument, and his mouth invites a beating.

7 A fool's mouth is his ruin. His lips are a trap to his soul.

8 The words of a gossip are swallowed greedily, and they go down into a person's innermost being.

9 Whoever is lazy in his work is related to a vandal.

10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower. A righteous person runs to it and is safe.

11 A rich person's wealth is his strong city and is like a high wall in his imagination.

12 Before destruction a person's heart is arrogant, but humility comes before honor.

13 Whoever gives an answer before he listens is stupid and shameful.

14 A person's spirit can endure sickness, but who can bear a broken spirit?

15 The mind of a person who has understanding acquires knowledge. The ears of wise people seek knowledge.

16 A gift opens doors for the one who gives it and brings him into the presence of great people.

17 The first to state his case seems right [until] his neighbor comes to cross-examine him.

18 Flipping a coin ends quarrels and settles [issues] between powerful people.

19 An offended brother is more [resistant] than a strong city, and disputes are like the locked gate of a castle tower.

20 A person's speaking ability provides for his stomach. His talking provides him a living.

21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love to talk will have to eat their own words.

22 Whoever finds a wife finds something good and has obtained favor from the LORD.

23 A poor person is timid when begging, but a rich person is blunt when replying.

24 Friends can destroy one another, but a loving friend can stick closer than family.

2 Corinthians 6

1 Since we are God's coworkers, we urge you not to let God's kindness be wasted on you.

2 God says, "At the right time I heard you. On the day of salvation I helped you." Listen, now is God's acceptable time! Now is the day of salvation!

3 We don't give people any opportunity to find fault with how we serve.

4 Instead, our lives demonstrate that we are God's servants. We have endured many things: suffering, distress, anxiety,

5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, hard work, sleepless nights, and lack of food.

6 [People can see] our purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit's presence [in our lives], our sincere love,

7 truthfulness, and the presence of God's power. We demonstrate that we are God's servants

8 as we are praised and dishonored, as we are slandered and honored, and as we use what is right to attack what is wrong and to defend the truth. We are treated as dishonest although we are honest,

9 as unknown although we are well-known, as dying although, as you see, we go on living. We are punished, but we are not killed.

10 People think we are sad although we're always glad, that we're beggars although we make many people spiritually rich, that we have nothing although we possess everything.

11 We have been very open in speaking to you Corinthians. We have a place for you in our hearts.

12 We haven't cut you off. Your own emotions have cut you off [from us].

13 I'm talking to you as I would talk to children. Treat us the same way we've treated you. Make a place for us in your hearts too.

14 Stop forming inappropriate relationships with unbelievers. Can right and wrong be partners? Can light have anything in common with darkness?

15 Can Christ agree with the devil? Can a believer share life with an unbeliever?

16 Can God's temple contain false gods? Clearly, we are the temple of the living God. As God said, "I will live and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people."

17 The Lord says, "Get away from unbelievers. Separate yourselves from them. Have nothing to do with anything unclean. Then I will welcome you."

18 The Lord Almighty says, "I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters."