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

1 These are the wise words of Solomon: A wise son makes his father happy, but a foolish son makes his mother sad.

2 Riches gotten by doing wrong have no value, but right living will save you from death.

3 The Lord does not let good people go hungry, but he keeps evil people from getting what they want.

4 A lazy person will end up poor, but a hard worker will become rich.

5 Those who gather crops on time are wise, but those who sleep through the harvest are a disgrace.

6 Good people will have rich blessings, but the wicked will be overwhelmed by violence.

7 Good people will be remembered as a blessing, but evil people will soon be forgotten.

8 The wise do what they are told, but a talkative fool will be ruined.

9 The honest person will live in safety, but the dishonest will be caught.

10 A wink may get you into trouble, and foolish talk will lead to your ruin.

11 The words of a good person give life, like a fountain of water, but the words of the wicked contain nothing but violence.

12 Hatred stirs up trouble, but love forgives all wrongs.

13 Smart people speak wisely, but people without wisdom should be punished.

14 The wise don't tell everything they know, but the foolish talk too much and are ruined.

15 Having lots of money protects the rich, but having no money destroys the poor.

16 Good people are rewarded with life, but evil people are paid with punishment.

17 Whoever accepts correction is on the way to life, but whoever ignores correction will lead others away from life.

18 Whoever hides hate is a liar. Whoever tells lies is a fool.

19 If you talk a lot, you are sure to sin; if you are wise, you will keep quiet.

20 The words of a good person are like pure silver, but an evil person's thoughts are worth very little.

21 Good people's words will help many others, but fools will die because they don't have wisdom.

22 The Lord's blessing brings wealth, and no sorrow comes with it.

23 A foolish person enjoys doing wrong, but a person with understanding enjoys doing what is wise.

24 Evil people will get what they fear most, but good people will get what they want most.

25 A storm will blow the evil person away, but a good person will always be safe.

26 A lazy person affects the one he works for like vinegar on the teeth or smoke in the eyes.

27 Whoever respects the Lord will have a long life, but the life of an evil person will be cut short.

28 A good person can look forward to happiness, but an evil person can expect nothing.

29 The Lord will protect good people but will ruin those who do evil.

30 Good people will always be safe, but evil people will not remain in the land.

31 A good person says wise things, but a liar's tongue will be stopped.

32 Good people know the right thing to say, but evil people only tell lies.

1 The Lord hates dishonest scales, but he is pleased with honest weights.

2 Pride leads only to shame; it is wise to be humble.

3 Good people will be guided by honesty; dishonesty will destroy those who are not trustworthy.

4 Riches will not help when it's time to die, but right living will save you from death.

5 The goodness of the innocent makes life easier, but the wicked will be destroyed by their wickedness.

6 Doing right brings freedom to honest people, but those who are not trustworthy will be caught by their own desires.

7 When the wicked die, hope dies with them; their hope in riches will come to nothing.

8 The good person is saved from trouble; it comes to the wicked instead.

9 With words an evil person can destroy a neighbor, but a good person will escape by being smart.

10 When good people succeed, the city is happy. When evil people die, there are shouts of joy.

11 Good people bless and build up their city, but the wicked can destroy it with their words.

12 People without good sense find fault with their neighbors, but those with understanding keep quiet.

13 Gossips can't keep secrets, but a trustworthy person can.

14 Without leadership a nation falls, but lots of good advice will save it.

15 Whoever guarantees to pay somebody else's loan will suffer. It is safer to avoid such promises.

16 A kind woman gets respect, but cruel men get only wealth.

17 Kind people do themselves a favor, but cruel people bring trouble on themselves.

18 An evil person really earns nothing, but a good person will surely be rewarded.

19 Those who are truly good will live, but those who chase after evil will die.

20 The Lord hates those with evil hearts but is pleased with those who are innocent.

21 Evil people will certainly be punished, but those who do right will be set free.

22 A beautiful woman without good sense is like a gold ring in a pig's snout.

23 Those who do right only wish for good, but the wicked can expect to be defeated by God's anger.

24 Some people give much but get back even more. Others don't give what they should and end up poor.

25 Whoever gives to others will get richer; those who help others will themselves be helped.

26 People curse those who keep all the grain, but they bless the one who is willing to sell it.

27 Whoever looks for good will find kindness, but whoever looks for evil will find trouble.

28 Those who trust in riches will be ruined, but a good person will be healthy like a green leaf.

29 Whoever brings trouble to his family will be left with nothing but the wind. A fool will be a servant to the wise.

30 A good person gives life to others; the wise person teaches others how to live.

31 Good people will be rewarded on earth, and the wicked and the sinners will be punished.

1 Anyone who loves learning accepts correction, but a person who hates being corrected is stupid.

2 The Lord is pleased with a good person, but he will punish anyone who plans evil.

3 Doing evil brings no safety at all, but a good person has safety and security.

4 A good wife is like a crown for her husband, but a disgraceful wife is like a disease in his bones.

5 The plans that good people make are fair, but the advice of the wicked will trick you.

6 The wicked talk about killing people, but the words of good people will save them.

7 Wicked people die and they are no more, but a good person's family continues.

8 The wisdom of the wise wins praise, but there is no respect for the stupid.

9 A person who is not important but has a servant is better off than someone who acts important but has no food.

10 Good people take care of their animals, but even the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.

11 Those who work their land will have plenty of food, but the one who chases empty dreams is not wise.

12 The wicked want what other evil people have stolen, but good people want to give what they have to others.

13 Evil people are trapped by their evil talk, but good people stay out of trouble.

14 People will be rewarded for what they say, and they will also be rewarded for what they do.

15 Fools think they are doing right, but the wise listen to advice.

16 Fools quickly show that they are upset, but the wise ignore insults.

17 An honest witness tells the truth, but a dishonest witness tells lies.

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

19 Truth will continue forever, but lies are only for a moment.

20 Those who plan evil are full of lies, but those who plan peace are happy.

21 No harm comes to a good person, but an evil person's life is full of trouble.

22 The Lord hates those who tell lies but is pleased with those who keep their promises.

23 Wise people keep what they know to themselves, but fools can't keep from showing how foolish they are.

24 Hard workers will become leaders, but those who are lazy will be slaves.

25 Worry is a heavy load, but a kind word cheers you up.

26 Good people take advice from their friends, but an evil person is easily led to do wrong.

27 The lazy catch no food to cook, but a hard worker will have great wealth.

28 Doing what is right is the way to life, but there is another way that leads to death.

1 God, with his mercy, gave us this work to do, so we don't give up.

2 But we have turned away from secret and shameful ways. We use no trickery, and we do not change the teaching of God. We teach the truth plainly, showing everyone who we are. Then they can know in their hearts what kind of people we are in God's sight.

3 If the Good News that we preach is hidden, it is hidden only to those who are lost.

4 The devil who rules this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe. They cannot see the light of the Good News -- the Good News about the glory of Christ, who is exactly like God.

5 We do not preach about ourselves, but we preach that Jesus Christ is Lord and that we are your servants for Jesus.

6 God once said, "Let the light shine out of the darkness!" This is the same God who made his light shine in our hearts by letting us know the glory of God that is in the face of Christ.

7 We have this treasure from God, but we are like clay jars that hold the treasure. This shows that the great power is from God, not from us.

8 We have troubles all around us, but we are not defeated. We do not know what to do, but we do not give up the hope of living.

9 We are persecuted, but God does not leave us. We are hurt sometimes, but we are not destroyed.

10 We carry the death of Jesus in our own bodies so that the life of Jesus can also be seen in our bodies.

11 We are alive, but for Jesus we are always in danger of death so that the life of Jesus can be seen in our bodies that die.

12 So death is working in us, but life is working in you.

13 It is written in the Scriptures, "I believed, so I spoke." Our faith is like this, too. We believe, and so we speak.

14 God raised the Lord Jesus from the dead, and we know that God will also raise us with Jesus. God will bring us together with you, and we will stand before him.

15 All these things are for you. And so the grace of God that is being given to more and more people will bring increasing thanks to God for his glory.

16 So we do not give up. Our physical body is becoming older and weaker, but our spirit inside us is made new every day.

17 We have small troubles for a while now, but they are helping us gain an eternal glory that is much greater than the troubles.

18 We set our eyes not on what we see but on what we cannot see. What we see will last only a short time, but what we cannot see will last forever.