Proverbs 10–12
1 The proverbs of Solomon.
A wise son makes a glad father,
but a foolish son is the grief of his mother.
2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing,
but righteousness delivers from death.
3 The Lord will not allow the soul of the righteous to famish,
but He casts away the desire of the wicked.
4 He becomes poor who deals with a slack hand,
but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
5 He who gathers in summer is a wise son,
but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.
6 Blessings are on the head of the just,
but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
7 The memory of the just is blessed,
but the name of the wicked will rot.
8 The wise in heart will receive commandments,
but a prating fool will fall.
9 He who walks uprightly walks surely,
but he who perverts his ways will be known.
10 He who winks with the eye causes sorrow,
but a prating fool will fall.
11 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life,
but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
12 Hatred stirs up strife,
but love covers all sins.
13 In the lips of him who has understanding wisdom is found,
but a rod is for the back of him who is void of understanding.
14 Wise men store up knowledge,
but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
15 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city;
the destruction of the poor is their poverty.
16 The labor of the righteous tends to life,
the fruit of the wicked to sin.
17 He who keeps instruction is in the way of life,
but he who refuses reproof errs.
18 He who hides hatred has lying lips,
and he who spreads slander is a fool.
19 In the multitude of words sin is not lacking,
but he who restrains his lips is wise.
20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver;
the heart of the wicked is worth little.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many,
but fools die for lack of wisdom.
22 The blessing of the Lord makes rich,
and He adds no sorrow with it.
23 To do mischief is like sport to a fool,
but a man of understanding has wisdom.
24 The fear of the wicked will come upon him,
but the desire of the righteous will be granted.
25 As the whirlwind passes, so is the wicked no more,
but the righteous has an everlasting foundation.
26 As vinegar to the teeth and as smoke to the eyes,
so is the sluggard to those who send him.
27 The fear of the Lord prolongs days,
but the years of the wicked will be shortened.
28 The hope of the righteous will be gladness,
but the expectation of the wicked will perish.
29 The way of the Lord is strength to the upright,
but destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.
30 The righteous will never be removed,
but the wicked will not inhabit the earth.
31 The mouth of the just brings forth wisdom,
but the perverse tongue will be cut out.
32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,
but the mouth of the wicked speaks what is perverse.
Chapter 11
1 A false balance is abomination to the Lord,
but a just weight is His delight.
2 When pride comes, then comes shame;
but with the humble is wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright will guide them,
but the perverseness of transgressors will destroy them.
4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.
5 The righteousness of the upright will direct his way,
but the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,
but transgressors will be taken by their schemes.
7 When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish,
and the hope of unjust men perishes.
8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble,
and the wicked comes in his place.
9 A hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor,
but through knowledge the just will be delivered.
10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices;
and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted,
but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12 He who is void of wisdom despises his neighbor,
but a man of understanding holds his peace.
13 A talebearer reveals secrets,
but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals the matter.
14 Where there is no counsel, the people fall;
but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.
15 He who puts up a pledge for a stranger will suffer for it,
and he who hates being a pledge is secure.
16 A gracious woman retains honor,
but ruthless men retain riches.
17 The merciful man does good to his own soul,
but he who is cruel troubles his own body.
18 The wicked works a deceitful work,
but to him who sows righteousness will be a sure reward.
19 As righteousness tends to life,
so he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.
20 Those who are of a perverse heart are abomination to the Lord,
but such as are upright in their way are His delight.
21 Though be assured, the wicked will not be unpunished,
but the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.
22 As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout,
so is a fair woman who is without discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good,
but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 There is one who scatters, yet increases;
and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty.
25 The generous soul will be made rich,
and he who waters will be watered also himself.
26 The people will curse him who withholds grain,
but blessing will be upon the head of him who sells it.
27 He who diligently seeks good procures favor,
but he who seeks mischief, it will come to him.
28 He who trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous will flourish as a branch.
29 He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and he who wins souls is wise.
31 If the righteous will be recompensed in the earth,
how much more the wicked and the sinner.
Chapter 12
1 Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge,
but he who hates reproof is brutish.
2 A good man obtains favor of the Lord,
but a man of wicked devices will He condemn.
3 A man will not be established by wickedness,
but the root of the righteous will not be moved.
4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband,
but she who brings shame is as rottenness in his bones.
5 The thoughts of the righteous are right,
but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
6 The words of the wicked are, “Lie in wait for blood,”
but the mouth of the upright will deliver them.
7 The wicked are overthrown, and are not,
but the house of the righteous will stand.
8 A man will be commended according to his wisdom,
but he who is of a perverse heart will be despised.
9 He who is lightly esteemed and has a servant is better
than he who honors himself and lacks bread.
10 A righteous man regards the life of his animal,
but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
11 He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread,
but he who follows vain persons is void of understanding.
12 The wicked covet the plunder of evil men,
but the root of the righteous yields fruit.
13 The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips,
but the just will come out of trouble.
14 A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth,
and the recompense of a man’s hands will be rendered to him.
15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
but he who listens to counsel is wise.
16 A fool’s wrath is presently known,
but a prudent man covers shame.
17 He who speaks truth shows forth righteousness,
but a false witness deceit.
18 There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword,
but the tongue of the wise is health.
19 The truthful lip will be established forever,
but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who imagine evil,
but to the counselors of peace is joy.
21 There will no evil happen to the just,
but the wicked will be filled with mischief.
22 Lying lips are abomination to the Lord,
but those who deal truly are His delight.
23 A prudent man conceals knowledge,
but the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.
24 The hand of the diligent will rule,
but the slothful will be put to forced labor.
25 Heaviness in the heart of man makes it droop,
but a good word makes it glad.
26 The righteous is a guide to his neighbors,
but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27 The slothful man does not roast that which he took in hunting,
but the substance of a diligent man is precious.
28 In the way of righteousness is life,
and in its pathway there is no death.
2 Corinthians 4
1 Therefore, since we have this ministry through the mercy we have received, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced the secret things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by expressing the truth and commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 But if our gospel is hidden, it is hidden to those who are lost. 4 The god of this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, the excellency of the power being from God and not from ourselves. 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 and always carrying around in the body the death of the Lord Jesus, that also the life of Jesus might be expressed in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that also the life of Jesus might be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then, death works in us, but life in you.
13 We have the same spirit of faith. As it is written, “I believed, and therefore I have spoken.” So we also believe and therefore speak, 14 knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us through Jesus and will present us with you. 15 All these things are for your sakes, so that the abundant grace through the thanksgiving of many might overflow to the glory of God.
16 For this reason we do not lose heart: Even though our outward man is perishing, yet our inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 Our light affliction, which lasts but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.