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

1 The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son makes his father happy, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

2 Treasures gained dishonestly profit no one, but righteousness rescues from death.

3 The LORD will not allow a righteous person to starve, but he intentionally ignores the desires of a wicked person.

4 Lazy hands bring poverty, but hard-working hands bring riches.

5 Whoever gathers in the summer is a wise son. Whoever sleeps at harvest time brings shame.

6 Blessings cover the head of a righteous person, but violence covers the mouths of wicked people.

7 The name of a righteous person remains blessed, but the names of wicked people will rot away.

8 The one who is truly wise accepts commands, but the one who talks foolishly will be thrown down headfirst.

9 Whoever lives honestly will live securely, but whoever lives dishonestly will be found out.

10 Whoever winks with his eye causes heartache. The one who talks foolishly will be thrown down headfirst.

11 The mouth of a righteous person is a fountain of life, but the mouths of wicked people conceal violence.

12 Hate starts quarrels, but love covers every wrong.

13 Wisdom is found on the lips of a person who has understanding, but a rod is for the back of one without sense.

14 Those who are wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of a stubborn fool invites ruin.

15 The rich person's wealth is [his] strong city. Poverty ruins the poor.

16 A righteous person's reward is life. A wicked person's harvest is sin.

17 Whoever practices discipline is on the way to life, but whoever ignores a warning strays.

18 Whoever conceals hatred has lying lips. Whoever spreads slander is a fool.

19 Sin is unavoidable when there is much talk, but whoever seals his lips is wise.

20 The tongue of a righteous person is pure silver. The hearts of wicked people are worthless.

21 The lips of a righteous person feed many, but stubborn fools die because they have no sense.

22 It is the LORD's blessing that makes a person rich, and hard work adds nothing to it.

23 Like the laughter of a fool when he carries out an evil plan, so is wisdom to a person who has understanding.

24 That which wicked people dread happens to them, but [the LORD] grants the desire of righteous people.

25 When the storm has passed, the wicked person has vanished, but the righteous person has an everlasting foundation.

26 Like vinegar to the teeth, like smoke to the eyes, so is the lazy person to those who send him [on a mission].

27 The fear of the LORD lengthens [the number of] days, but the years of wicked people are shortened.

28 The hope of righteous people [leads to] joy, but the eager waiting of wicked people comes to nothing.

29 The way of the LORD is a fortress for an innocent person but a ruin to those who are troublemakers.

30 A righteous person will never be moved, but wicked people will not continue to live in the land.

31 The mouth of a righteous person increases wisdom, but a devious tongue will be cut off.

32 The lips of a righteous person announce good will, but the mouths of wicked people are devious.

1 Dishonest scales are disgusting to the LORD, but accurate weights are pleasing to him.

2 Arrogance comes, then comes shame, but wisdom remains with humble people.

3 Integrity guides decent people, but hypocrisy leads treacherous people to ruin.

4 Riches are of no help on the day of fury, but righteousness saves from death.

5 The righteousness of innocent people makes their road smooth, but wicked people fall by their own wickedness.

6 Decent people are saved by their righteousness, but treacherous people are trapped by their own greed.

7 At the death of a wicked person, hope vanishes. Moreover, his confidence in strength vanishes.

8 A righteous person is rescued from trouble, and a wicked person takes his place.

9 With his talk a godless person can ruin his neighbor, but righteous people are rescued by knowledge.

10 When righteous people prosper, a city is glad. When wicked people die, there are songs of joy.

11 With the blessing of decent people a city is raised up, but by the words of wicked people, it is torn down.

12 A person who despises a neighbor has no sense, but a person who has understanding keeps quiet.

13 Whoever gossips gives away secrets, but whoever is trustworthy in spirit can keep a secret.

14 A nation will fall when there is no direction, but with many advisers there is victory.

15 Whoever guarantees a stranger's loan will get into trouble, but whoever hates the closing of a deal remains secure.

16 A gracious woman wins respect, but ruthless men gain riches.

17 A merciful person helps himself, but a cruel person hurts himself.

18 A wicked person earns dishonest wages, but whoever spreads righteousness earns honest pay.

19 As righteousness leads to life, so whoever pursues evil finds his own death.

20 Devious people are disgusting to the LORD, but he is delighted with those whose ways are innocent.

21 Certainly, an evil person will not go unpunished, but the descendants of righteous people will escape.

22 [Like] a gold ring in a pig's snout, [so] is a beautiful woman who lacks good taste.

23 The desire of righteous people ends only in good, but the hope of wicked people ends only in fury.

24 One person spends freely and yet grows richer, while another holds back what he owes and yet grows poorer.

25 A generous person will be made rich, and whoever satisfies others will himself be satisfied.

26 People will curse the one who hoards grain, but a blessing will be upon the head of the one who sells it.

27 Whoever eagerly seeks good searches for good will, but whoever looks for evil finds it.

28 Whoever trusts his riches will fall, but righteous people will flourish like a green leaf.

29 Whoever brings trouble upon his family inherits [only] wind, and that stubborn fool becomes a slave to the wise in heart.

30 The fruit of a righteous person is a tree of life, and a winner of souls is wise.

31 If the righteous person is rewarded on earth, how much more the wicked person and the sinner!

1 Whoever loves discipline loves to learn, but whoever hates correction is a dumb animal.

2 A good person obtains favor from the LORD, but the LORD condemns everyone who schemes.

3 A person cannot stand firm on a foundation of wickedness, and the roots of righteous people cannot be moved.

4 A wife with strength of character is the crown of her husband, but the wife who disgraces him is like bone cancer.

5 The thoughts of righteous people are fair. The advice of wicked people is treacherous.

6 The words of wicked people are a deadly ambush, but the words of decent people rescue.

7 Overthrow wicked people, and they are no more, but the families of righteous people continue to stand.

8 A person will be praised based on his insight, but whoever has a twisted mind will be despised.

9 Better to be unimportant and have a slave than to act important and have nothing to eat.

10 A righteous person cares [even] about the life of his animals, but the compassion of wicked people is [nothing but] cruelty.

11 Whoever works his land will have plenty to eat, but the one who chases unrealistic dreams has no sense.

12 A wicked person delights in setting a trap for [other] evil people, but the roots of righteous people produce [fruit].

13 An evil person is trapped by his own sinful talk, but a righteous person escapes from trouble.

14 One person enjoys good things as a result of his speaking ability. Another is paid according to what his hands have accomplished.

15 A stubborn fool considers his own way the right one, but a person who listens to advice is wise.

16 When a stubborn fool is irritated, he shows it immediately, but a sensible person hides the insult.

17 A truthful witness speaks honestly, but a lying witness speaks deceitfully.

18 Careless words stab like a sword, but the words of wise people bring healing.

19 The word of truth lasts forever, but lies last only a moment.

20 Deceit is in the heart of those who plan evil, but joy belongs to those who advise peace.

21 No [lasting] harm comes to a righteous person, but wicked people have lots of trouble.

22 Lips that lie are disgusting to the LORD, but honest people are his delight.

23 A sensible person [discreetly] hides knowledge, but foolish minds preach stupidity.

24 Hard-working hands gain control, but lazy hands do slave labor.

25 A person's anxiety will weigh him down, but an encouraging word makes him joyful.

26 A righteous person looks out for his neighbor, but the path of wicked people leads others astray.

27 A lazy hunter does not catch his prey, but a hard-working person becomes wealthy.

28 Everlasting life is on the way of righteousness. Eternal death is not along its path.

1 We don't become discouraged, since God has given us this ministry through his mercy.

2 Instead, we have refused to use secret and shameful ways. We don't use tricks, and we don't distort God's word. As God watches, we clearly reveal the truth to everyone. This is our [letter of] recommendation.

3 So if the Good News that we tell others is covered with a veil, it is hidden from those who are dying.

4 The god of this world has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. As a result, they don't see the light of the Good News about Christ's glory. It is Christ who is God's image.

5 Our message is not about ourselves. It is about Jesus Christ as the Lord. We are your servants for his sake.

6 We are his servants because the same God who said that light should shine out of darkness has given us light. For that reason we bring to light the knowledge about God's glory which shines from Christ's face.

7 Our bodies are made of clay, yet we have the treasure of the Good News in them. This shows that the superior power of this treasure belongs to God and doesn't come from us.

8 In every way we're troubled, but we aren't crushed by our troubles. We're frustrated, but we don't give up.

9 We're persecuted, but we're not abandoned. We're captured, but we're not killed.

10 We always carry around the death of Jesus in our bodies so that the life of Jesus is also shown in our bodies.

11 While we are alive, we are constantly handed over to death for Jesus' sake so that the life of Jesus is also shown in our mortal nature.

12 Death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

13 The following is written, "I believed; therefore, I spoke." We have that same spirit of faith. We also believe; therefore, we also speak.

14 We know that the one who brought the Lord Jesus back to life will also bring us back to life through Jesus. He will present us to God together with you.

15 All this is for your sake so that, as God's kindness overflows in the lives of many people, it will produce even more thanksgiving to the glory of God.

16 That is why we are not discouraged. Though outwardly we are wearing out, inwardly we are renewed day by day.

17 Our suffering is light and temporary and is producing for us an eternal glory that is greater than anything we can imagine.

18 We don't look for things that can be seen but for things that can't be seen. Things that can be seen are only temporary. But things that can't be seen last forever.