Proverbs 13-14; 1 Corinthians 16

From today's Bible reading:

Proverbs 13:

A wise son hears his father's instruction,
but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

From the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good,
but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.

Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;
he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.

One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;
another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

The ransom of a man's life is his wealth,
but a poor man hears no threat.

Wealth gained hastily will dwindle,
but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
that one may turn away from the snares of death.

Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction,
but whoever heeds reproof is honored.

A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,
but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.

A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children,
but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous.

The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food,
but it is swept away through injustice.

Whoever spares the rod hates his son,
but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,
but the belly of the wicked suffers want.

Proverbs 14:

The wisest of women builds her house,
but folly with her own hands tears it down.

By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back,
but the lips of the wise will preserve them.

Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean,
but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.

(In other words, when a place looks "lived in" that's a good thing.)

A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain,
but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.

(It helps to have a grid through which you see the world.)

Leave the presence of a fool,
for there you do not meet words of knowledge.

(We spend time with people for words.)

Fools mock at the guilt offering,
but the upright enjoy acceptance.

There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.

Even in laughter the heart may ache,
and the end of joy may be grief.

The simple believes everything,
but the prudent gives thought to his steps.

The simple inherit folly,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

(Perhaps a good way to understand "simple" is ignorant.)

The evil bow down before the good,
the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

The poor is disliked even by his neighbor,
but the rich has many friends.

Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner,
but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.

Do they not go astray who devise evil?
Those who devise good meet steadfast love and faithfulness.

In all toil there is profit,
but mere talk tends only to poverty.

A truthful witness saves lives,
but one who breathes out lies is deceitful.

In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence,
and his children will have a refuge.

The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,
that one may turn away from the snares of death.

In a multitude of people is the glory of a king,
but without people a prince is ruined.

(If you're going to be a leader, you need followers.)

Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding,
but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh,
but envy makes the bones rot.

Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker,
but he who is generous to the needy honors him.

The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing,
but the righteous finds refuge in his death.

Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding,
but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.

Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a reproach to any people.


1 Corinthians 16:

On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.

And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me.

When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am. So let no one despise him.

Help him on his way in peace, that he may return to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers.

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

Let all that you do be done in love.

Now I urge you, brothers—you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints—be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer.

I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence, for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such men.

I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand.

If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed.

Our Lord, come!

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.

My love be with you all in Christ Jesus.

Amen.