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

Proverbs 16

1 It is the part of man to prepare the soul: and of the Lord to govern the tongue.

2 All the ways of a man are open to his eyes: the Lord is the weigher of spirits.

3 Lay open thy works to the Lord: and thy thoughts shall be directed.

4 The Lord hath made all things for himself: the wicked also for the evil day.

5 Every proud man is an abomination to the Lord: though hand should be joined to hand, he is not innocent. The beginning of a good way is to do justice: and this is more acceptable with God, than to offer sacrifices.

6 By mercy and truth iniquity is redeemed; and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.

7 When the ways of man shall please the Lord, he will convert even his enemies to peace.

8 Better is a little with justice, than great revenues with iniquity.

9 The heart of man disposeth his way: but the Lord must direct his steps.

10 Divination is in the lips of the king, his mouth shall not err in judgment.

11 Weight and balance are judgments of the Lord: and his work all the weights of the bag.

12 They that act wickedly are abominable to the king: for the throne is established by justice.

13 Just lips are the delight of kings: he that speaketh right things shall be loved.

14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: and the wise man will pacify it.

15 In the cheerfulness of the king’s countenance is life: and his clemency is like the latter rain.

16 Get wisdom, because it is better than gold: and purchase prudence, for it is more precious than silver.

17 The path of the just departeth from evils: he that keepeth his soul keepeth his way.

18 Pride goeth before destruction: and the spirit is lifted up before a fall.

19 It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the proud.

20 The learned in word shall find good things: and he that trusteth in the Lord is blessed.

21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and he that is sweet in words, shall attain to greater things.

22 Knowledge is a fountain of life to him that possesseth it: the instruction of fools is foolishness.

23 The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth: and shall add grace to his lips.

24 Well ordered words are as a honeycomb: sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

25 There is a way that seemeth to a man right: and the ends thereof lead to death.

26 The soul of him that laboureth, laboureth for himself, because his mouth hath obliged him to it.

27 The wicked man diggeth evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.

28 A perverse man stirreth up quarrels: and one full of words separateth princes.

29 An unjust man allureth his friend: and leadeth him into a way that is not good.

30 He that with fixed eyes deviseth wicked things, biting his lips, bringeth evil to pass.

31 Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justice.

32 The patient man is better than the valiant: and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh cities.

33 Lots are cast into the lap, but they are disposed of by the Lord.

Proverbs 17

1 Better is a dry morsel with joy, than a house full of victims with strife.

2 A wise servant shall rule over foolish sons, and shall divide the inheritance among the brethren.

3 As silver is tried by fire, and gold in the furnace: so the Lord trieth the hearts.

4 The evil man obeyeth an unjust tongue: and the deceitful hearkeneth to lying lips.

5 He that despiseth the poor, reproacheth his maker: and he that rejoiceth at another man’s ruin, shall not be unpunished.

6 Children’s children are the crown of old men: and the glory of children are their fathers.

7 Eloquent words do not become a fool, nor lying lips a prince.

8 The expectation of him that expecteth is a most acceptable jewel: whithersoever he turneth himself, he understandeth wisely.

9 He that concealeth a transgression, seeketh friendships: he that repeateth it again, separateth friends.

10 A reproof availeth more with a wise man, than a hundred stripes with a fool.

11 An evil man always seeketh quarrels: but a cruel angel shall be sent against him.

12 It is better to meet a bear robbed of her whelps, than a fool trusting in his own folly.

13 He that rendereth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

14 The beginning of quarrels is as when one letteth out water: and before he suffereth reproach, he forsaketh judgment.

15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, both are abominable before God.

16 What doth it avail a fool to have riches, seeing he cannot buy wisdom? He that maketh his house high, seeketh a downfall: and he that refuseth to learn, shall fall into evils.

17 He that is a friend loveth at all times: and a brother is proved in distress.

18 A foolish man will clap hands, when he is surety for his friend.

19 He that studieth discords, loveth quarrels: and he that exalteth his door, seeketh ruin.

20 He that is of a perverse heart, shall not find good: and he that perverteth his tongue, shall fall into evil.

21 A fool is born to his own disgrace: and even his father shall not rejoice in a fool.

22 A joyful mind maketh age flourishing: a sorrowful spirit drieth up the bones.

23 The wicked man taketh gifts out of the bosom, that he may pervert the paths of judgment.

24 Wisdom shineth in the face of the wise: the eyes of fools are in the ends of the earth.

25 A foolish son is the anger of the father: and the sorrow of the mother that bore him.

26 It is no good thing to do hurt to the just: nor to strike the prince, who judgeth right.

27 He that setteth bounds to his words, is knowing and wise: and the man of understanding is of a precious spirit.

28 Even a fool, if he will hold his peace, shall be counted wise: and if he close his lips, a man of understanding.

Proverbs 18

1 He that hath a mind to depart from a friend, seeketh occasions: he shall ever be subject to reproach.

2 A fool receiveth not the words of prudence: unless thou say those things which are in his heart.

3 The wicked man, when he is come into the depths of sins, contemneth: but ignominy and reproach follow him.

4 Words from the mouth of a man are as deep water: and the fountain of wisdom is an overflowing stream.

5 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to decline from the truth of judgment.

6 The lips of a fool intermeddle with strife: and his mouth provoketh quarrels.

7 The mouth of a fool is his destruction: and his lips are the ruin of his soul.

8 The words of the double tongued are as if they were harmless: and they reach even to the inner parts of the bowels. Fear casteth down the slothful: and the souls of the effeminate shall be hungry.

9 He that is loose and slack in his work, is the brother of him that wasteth his own works.

10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the just runneth to it, and shall be exalted.

11 The substance of the rich man is the city of his strength, and as a strong wall compassing him about.

12 Before destruction, the heart of a man is exalted: and before he be glorified, it is humbled.

13 He that answereth before he heareth, sheweth himself to be a fool, and worthy of confusion.

14 The spirit of a man upholdeth his infirmity: but a spirit that is easily angered, who can bear?

15 A wise heart shall acquire knowledge: and the ear of the wise seeketh instruction.

16 A man’s gift enlargeth his way, and maketh him room before princes.

17 The just is first accuser of himself: his friend cometh, and shall search him.

18 The lot suppresseth contentions, and determineth even between the mighty.

19 A brother that is helped by his brother, is like a strong city: and judgments are like the bars of cities.

20 Of the fruit of a man’s mouth shall his belly be satisfied: and the offspring of his lips shall fill him.

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: they that love it, shall eat the fruits thereof.

22 He that hath found a good wife, hath found a good thing, and shall receive a pleasure from the Lord. He that driveth away a good wife, driveth away a good thing: but he that keepeth an adulteress, is foolish and wicked.

23 The poor will speak with supplications, and the rich will speak roughly.

24 A man amiable in society, shall be more friendly than a brother.

2 Corinthians 6

1 And we helping do exhort you that you receive not the grace of God in vain.

2 For he saith: In an accepted time have I heard thee and in the day of salvation have I helped thee. Behold, now is the acceptable time: behold, now is the day of salvation.

3 Giving no offence to any man, that our ministry be not blamed.

4 But in all things let us exhibit ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in tribulation, in necessities, in distresses,

5 In stripes, in prisons, in seditions, in labours, in watchings, in fastings,

6 In chastity, in knowledge, in longsuffering, in sweetness, in the Holy Ghost, in charity unfeigned,

7 In the word of truth, in the power of God: by the armour of justice on the right hand and on the left:

8 By honour and dishonour: by evil report and good report: as deceivers and yet true: as unknown and yet known:

9 As dying and behold we live: as chastised and not killed:

10 As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing: as needy, yet enriching many: as having nothing and possessing all things.

11 Our mouth is open to you, O ye Corinthians: our heart is enlarged.

12 You are not straitened in us: but in your own bowels you are straitened.

13 But having the same recompense (I speak as to my children): be you also enlarged.

14 Bear not the yoke with unbelievers. For what participation hath justice with injustice? Or what fellowship hath light with darkness?

15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath the faithful with the unbeliever?

16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God: as God saith: I will dwell in them and walk among them. And I will be their God: and they shall be my people.

17 Wherefore: Go out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing:

18 And I will receive you. And will be a Father to you: and you shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.