Proverbs 10; Proverbs 11; Proverbs 12; 2 Corinthians 4

Proverbs 10

1 Solomon's proverbs: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son, heartache to his mother.

2 Ill-gotten gains do not profit anyone, but righteousness rescues from death.

3 The Lord will not let the righteous go hungry, but He denies the wicked what they crave.

4 Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring riches.

5 The son who gathers during summer is prudent; the son who sleeps during harvest is disgraceful.

6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

7 The remembrance of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.

8 A wise heart accepts commands, but foolish lips will be destroyed.

9 The one who lives with integrity lives securely, but whoever perverts his ways will be found out.

10 A sly wink of the eye causes grief, and foolish lips will be destroyed.

11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

12 Hatred stirs up conflicts, but love covers all offenses.

13 Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of the one who lacks sense.

14 The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of the fool hastens destruction.

15 A rich man's wealth is his fortified city; the poverty of the poor is their destruction.

16 The labor of the righteous leads to life; the activity of the wicked leads to sin.

17 The one who follows instruction is on the path to life, but the one who rejects correction goes astray.

18 The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.

19 When there are many words, sin is unavoidable, but the one who controls his lips is wise.

20 The tongue of the righteous is pure silver; the heart of the wicked is of little value.

21 The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense.

22 The Lord's blessing enriches, and struggle adds nothing to it.

23 As shameful conduct is pleasure for a fool, so wisdom is for a man of understanding.

24 What the wicked dreads will come to him, but what the righteous desires will be given to him.

25 When the whirlwind passes, the wicked are no more, but the righteous are secure forever.

26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so the slacker is to the one who sends him [on an errand].

27 The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.

28 The hope of the righteous is joy, but the expectation of the wicked comes to nothing.

29 The way of the Lord is a stronghold for the honorable, but destruction awaits the malicious.

30 The righteous will never be shaken, but the wicked will not remain on the earth.

31 The mouth of the righteous produces wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out.

32 The lips of the righteous know what is appropriate, but the mouth of the wicked, [only] what is perverse.

Proverbs 11

1 Dishonest scales are detestable to the Lord, but an accurate weight is His delight.

2 When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom.

3 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the treacherous destroys them.

4 Wealth is not profitable on a day of wrath, but righteousness rescues from death.

5 The righteousness of the blameless clears his path, but the wicked person will fall because of his wickedness.

6 The righteousness of the upright rescues them, but the treacherous are trapped by their own desires.

7 When the wicked dies, his expectation comes to nothing, and hope placed in wealth vanishes.

8 The righteous is rescued from trouble; in his place, the wicked goes in.

9 With his mouth the ungodly destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous are rescued.

10 When the righteous thrive, a city rejoices, and when the wicked die, there is joyful shouting.

11 A city is built up by the blessing of the upright, but it is torn down by the mouth of the wicked.

12 Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks sense, but a man with understanding keeps silent.

13 A gossip goes around revealing a secret, but the trustworthy keeps a confidence.

14 Without guidance, people fall, but with many counselors there is deliverance.

15 If someone puts up security for a stranger, he will suffer for it, but the one who hates such agreements is protected.

16 A gracious woman gains honor, but violent men gain [only] riches.

17 A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings disaster on himself.

18 The wicked man earns an empty wage, but the one who sows righteousness, a true reward.

19 Genuine righteousness [leads] to life, but pursuing evil [leads] to death.

20 Those with twisted minds are detestable to the Lord, but those with blameless conduct are His delight.

21 Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape.

22 A beautiful woman who rejects good sense is like a gold ring in a pig's snout.

23 The desire of the righteous [turns out] well, but the hope of the wicked [leads to] wrath.

24 One person gives freely, yet gains more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor.

25 A generous person will be enriched, and the one who gives a drink of water will receive water.

26 People will curse anyone who hoards grain, but a blessing will come to the one who sells it.

27 The one who searches for what is good finds favor, but if someone looks for trouble, it will come to him.

28 Anyone trusting in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage.

29 The one who brings ruin on his household will inherit the wind, and a fool will be a slave to someone whose heart is wise.

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, but violence takes lives.

31 If the righteous will be repaid on earth, how much more the wicked and sinful.

Proverbs 12

1 Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but one who hates correction is stupid.

2 The good obtain favor from the Lord, but He condemns a man who schemes.

3 Man cannot be made secure by wickedness, but the root of the righteous is immovable.

4 A capable wife is her husband's crown, but a wife who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones.

5 The thoughts of the righteous [are] just, but guidance from the wicked [leads to] deceit.

6 The words of the wicked are a deadly ambush, but the speech of the upright rescues them.

7 The wicked are overthrown and perish, but the house of the righteous will stand.

8 A man is praised for his insight, but a twisted mind is despised.

9 Better to be dishonored, yet have a servant, than to act important but have no food.

10 A righteous man cares about his animal's health, but [even] the merciful acts of the wicked are cruel.

11 The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies lacks sense.

12 The wicked desire what evil men have, but the root of the righteous produces [fruit].

13 An evil man is trapped by [his] rebellious speech, but the righteous escapes from trouble.

14 A man will be satisfied with good by the words of his mouth, and the work of a man's hands will reward him.

15 A fool's way is right in his own eyes, but whoever listens to counsel is wise.

16 A fool's displeasure is known at once, but whoever ignores an insult is sensible.

17 Whoever speaks the truth declares what is right, but a false witness, deceit.

18 There is one who speaks rashly, like a piercing sword; but the tongue of the wise [brings] healing.

19 Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue, only a moment.

20 Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy.

21 No disaster [overcomes] the righteous, but the wicked are full of misery.

22 Lying lips are detestable to the Lord, but faithful people are His delight.

23 A shrewd person conceals knowledge, but a foolish heart publicizes stupidity.

24 The diligent hand will rule, but laziness will lead to forced labor.

25 Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down, but a good word cheers it up.

26 A righteous man is careful in dealing with his neighbor, but the ways of wicked men lead them astray.

27 A lazy man doesn't roast his game, but to a diligent man, his wealth is precious.

28 There is life in the path of righteousness, but another path leads to death.

2 Corinthians 4

1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not give up.

2 Instead, we have renounced shameful secret things, not walking in deceit or distorting God's message, but in God's sight we commend ourselves to every person's conscience by an open display of the truth.

3 But if, in fact, our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.

4 Regarding them: the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

5 For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves because of Jesus.

6 For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness"-He has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God's glory in the face of Jesus Christ.

7 Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us.

8 We are pressured in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair;

9 we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed.

10 We always carry the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

11 For we who live are always given over to death because of Jesus, so that Jesus' life may also be revealed in our mortal flesh.

12 So death works in us, but life in you.

13 And since we have the same spirit of faith in accordance with what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke, we also believe, and therefore speak,

14 knowing that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and present us with you.

15 For all this is because of you, so that grace, extended through more and more people, may cause thanksgiving to overflow to God's glory.

16 Therefore we do not give up; even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day.

17 For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.

18 So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen; for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.