Proverbs 13

wise son responds to his father’s discipline,
but a mocker doesn’t listen to rebuke.
2 From the fruit of his mouth,
a person will enjoy good things,
but treacherous people have an appetite for violence.
3 The one who guards his mouth protects his life;
the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.
4 The slacker craves, yet has nothing,
but the diligent is fully satisfied.
5 The righteous hate lying,
but the wicked bring disgust and shame.
6 Righteousness guards people of integrity,
but wickedness undermines the sinner.
7 One person pretends to be rich but has nothing;
another pretends to be poor but has abundant wealth.
8 Riches are a ransom for a person’s life,
but a poor person hears no threat.
9 The light of the righteous shines brightly,
but the lamp of the wicked is put out.
10 Arrogance leads to nothing but strife,
but wisdom is gained by those who take advice.
11 Wealth obtained by fraud will dwindle,
but whoever earns it through labor will multiply it.
12 Hope delayed makes the heart sick,
but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
13 The one who has contempt for instruction will pay the penalty,
but the one who respects a command will be rewarded.
14 A wise person’s instruction is a fountain of life,
turning people away from the snares of death.
15 Good sense wins favor,
but the way of the treacherous never changes.
16 Every sensible person acts knowledgeably,
but a fool displays his stupidity.
17 A wicked envoy falls into trouble,
but a trustworthy courier brings healing.
18 Poverty and disgrace come to those
who ignore discipline,
but the one who accepts correction will be honored.
19 Desire fulfilled is sweet to the taste,
but to turn from evil is detestable to fools.
20 The one who walks with the wise will become wise,
but a companion of fools will suffer harm.
21 Disaster pursues sinners,
but good rewards the righteous.
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren,
but the sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.
23 The uncultivated field of the poor yields abundant food,
but without justice, it is swept away.
24 The one who will not use the rod hates his son,
but the one who loves him disciplines him diligently.
25 A righteous person eats until he is satisfied,
but the stomach of the wicked is empty.

Proverbs 14

very wise woman builds her house,
but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
2 Whoever lives with integrity fears the Lord,
but the one who is devious in his ways despises him.
3 The proud speech of a fool brings a rod of discipline,
but the lips of the wise protect them.
4 Where there are no oxen, the feeding trough is empty,
but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of an ox.
5 An honest witness does not deceive,
but a dishonest witness utters lies.
6 A mocker seeks wisdom and doesn’t find it,
but knowledge comes easily to the perceptive.
7 Stay away from a foolish person;
you will gain no knowledge from his speech.
8 The sensible person’s wisdom is to consider his way,
but the stupidity of fools deceives them.
9 Fools mock at making reparation,
but there is goodwill among the upright.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness,
and no outsider shares in its joy.
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There is a way that seems right to a person,
but its end is the way to death.
13 Even in laughter a heart may be sad,
and joy may end in grief.
14 The disloyal one will get what his conduct deserves,
and a good one, what his deeds deserve.
15 The inexperienced one believes anything,
but the sensible one watches his steps.
16 A wise person is cautious and turns from evil,
but a fool is easily angered and is careless.
17 A quick-tempered person acts foolishly,
and one who schemes is hated.
18 The inexperienced inherit foolishness,
but the sensible are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil bow before those who are good,
and the wicked, at the gates of the righteous.
20 A poor person is hated even by his neighbor,
but there are many who love the rich.
21 The one who despises his neighbor sins,
but whoever shows kindness to the poor will be happy.
22 Don’t those who plan evil go astray?
But those who plan good find loyalty and faithfulness.
23 There is profit in all hard work,
but endless talk leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their wealth,
but the foolishness of fools produces foolishness.
25 A truthful witness rescues lives,
but one who utters lies is deceitful.
26 In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence
and his children have a refuge.
27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
turning people away from the snares of death.
28 A large population is a king’s splendor,
but a shortage of people is a ruler’s devastation.
29 A patient person shows great understanding,
but a quick-tempered one promotes foolishness.
30 A tranquil heart is life to the body,
but jealousy is rottenness to the bones.
31 The one who oppresses the poor person insults his Maker,
but one who is kind to the needy honors him.
32 The wicked one is thrown down by his own sin,
but the righteous one has a refuge in his death.
33 Wisdom resides in the heart of the discerning;
she is known even among fools.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a disgrace to any people.
35 A king favors a prudent servant,
but his anger falls on a disgraceful one.

Proverbs 15

gentle answer turns away anger,
but a harsh word stirs up wrath.
2 The tongue of the wise makes knowledge attractive,
but the mouth of fools blurts out foolishness.
3 The eyes of the Lord are everywhere,
observing the wicked and the good.
4 The tongue that heals is a tree of life,
but a devious tongue breaks the spirit.
5 A fool despises his father’s discipline,
but a person who accepts correction is sensible.
6 The house of the righteous has great wealth,
but trouble accompanies the income of the wicked.
7 The lips of the wise broadcast knowledge,
but not so the heart of fools.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the Lord,
but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
9 The Lord detests the way of the wicked,
but he loves the one who pursues righteousness.
10 Discipline is harsh for the one who leaves the path;
the one who hates correction will die.
11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord —
how much more, human hearts.
12 A mocker doesn’t love one who corrects him;
he will not consult the wise.
13 A joyful heart makes a face cheerful,
but a sad heart produces a broken spirit.
14 A discerning mind seeks knowledge,
but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.
15 All the days of the oppressed are miserable,
but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.
16 Better a little with the fear of the Lord
than great treasure with turmoil.
17 Better a meal of vegetables where there is love
than a fattened ox with hatred.
18 A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict,
but one slow to anger calms strife.
19 A slacker’s way is like a thorny hedge,
but the path of the upright is a highway.
20 A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish man despises his mother.
21 Foolishness brings joy to one without sense,
but a person with understanding walks a straight path.
22 Plans fail when there is no counsel,
but with many advisers they succeed.
23 A person takes joy in giving an answer;
and a timely word ​— ​how good that is!
24 For the prudent the path of life leads upward,
so that he may avoid going down to Sheol.
25 The Lord tears apart the house of the proud,
but he protects the widow’s territory.
26 The Lord detests the plans of the one who is evil,
but pleasant words are pure.
27 The one who profits dishonestly troubles his household,
but the one who hates bribes will live.
28 The mind of the righteous person thinks before answering,
but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil things.
29 The Lord is far from the wicked,
but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 Bright eyes cheer the heart;
good news strengthens the bones.
31 One who listens to life-giving rebukes
will be at home among the wise.
32 Anyone who ignores discipline despises himself,
but whoever listens to correction acquires good sense.
33 The fear of the Lord is what wisdom teaches,
and humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 16

he reflections of the heart belong to mankind,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All a person’s ways seem right to him,
but the Lord weighs motives.
3 Commit your activities to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.
4 The Lord has prepared everything for his purpose —
even the wicked for the day of disaster.
5 Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the Lord;
be assured, he will not go unpunished.
6 Iniquity is atoned for by loyalty and faithfulness,
and one turns from evil by the fear of the Lord.
7 When a person’s ways please the Lord,
he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better a little with righteousness
than great income with injustice.
9 A person’s heart plans his way,
but the Lord determines his steps.
10 God’s verdict is on the lips of a king;
his mouth should not give an unfair judgment.
11 Honest balances and scales are the Lord’s;
all the weights in the bag are his concern.
12 Wicked behavior is detestable to kings,
since a throne is established through righteousness.
13 Righteous lips are a king’s delight,
and he loves one who speaks honestly.
14 A king’s fury is a messenger of death,
but a wise person appeases it.
15 When a king’s face lights up, there is life;
his favor is like a cloud with spring rain.
16 Get wisdom —
how much better it is than gold!
And get understanding —
it is preferable to silver.
17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
the one who guards his way protects his life.
18 Pride comes before destruction,
and an arrogant spirit before a fall.
19 Better to be lowly of spirit with the humble
than to divide plunder with the proud.
20 The one who understands a matter finds success,
and the one who trusts in the Lord will be happy.
21 Anyone with a wise heart is called discerning,
and pleasant speech increases learning.
22 Insight is a fountain of life for its possessor,
but the discipline of fools is folly.
23 The heart of a wise person instructs his mouth;
it adds learning to his speech.
24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb:
sweet to the taste and health to the body.
25 There is a way that seems right to a person,
but its end is the way to death.
26 A worker’s appetite works for him
because his hunger urges him on.
27 A worthless person digs up evil,
and his speech is like a scorching fire.
28 A contrary person spreads conflict,
and a gossip separates close friends.
29 A violent person lures his neighbor,
leading him on a path that is not good.
30 The one who narrows his eyes is planning deceptions;
the one who compresses his lips brings about evil.
31 Gray hair is a glorious crown;
it is found in the ways of righteousness.
32 Patience is better than power,
and controlling one’s emotions, than capturing a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the Lord.

2 Corinthians 1

GREETING
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, and Timothy our brother:

To the church of God at Corinth, with all the saints who are throughout Achaia.

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

THE GOD OF COMFORT
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that as you share in the sufferings, so you will also share in the comfort.

8 We don’t want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, of our affliction that took place in Asia. We were completely overwhelmed ​— ​beyond our strength ​— ​so that we even despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a terrible death, and he will deliver us. We have put our hope in him that he will deliver us again 11 while you join in helping us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gift that came to us through the prayers of many.

A CLEAR CONSCIENCE
12 Indeed, this is our boast: The testimony of our conscience is that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with godly sincerity and purity, not by human wisdom but by God’s grace. 13 For we are writing nothing to you other than what you can read and also understand. I hope you will understand completely ​— ​14 just as you have partially understood us ​— ​that we are your reason for pride, just as you also are ours in the day of our Lord Jesus.

A VISIT POSTPONED
15 Because of this confidence, I planned to come to you first, so that you could have a second benefit, 16 and to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and then come to you again from Macedonia and be helped by you on my journey to Judea. 17 Now when I planned this, was I of two minds? Or what I plan, do I plan in a purely human way so that I say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time? 18 As God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes and no.” 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you ​— ​Silvanus, Timothy, and I ​— ​did not become “Yes and no.” On the contrary, in him it is always “Yes.” 20 For every one of God’s promises is “Yes” in him. Therefore, through him we also say “Amen” to the glory of God. 21 Now it is God who strengthens us together with you in Christ, and who has anointed us. 22 He has also put his seal on us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment.

23 I call on God as a witness, on my life, that it was to spare you that I did not come to Corinth. 24 I do not mean that we lord it over your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy, because you stand firm in your faith.

— 2 Corinthians 1:1-24 (CSB)