Proverbs 27–29
1 Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
2 Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth;
a stranger, and not your own lips.
3 A stone is heavy and the sand weighty,
but a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both.
4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous,
but who is able to stand before envy?
5 Open rebuke is better
than secret love.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
7 The full soul loathes a honeycomb,
but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
8 As a bird that wanders from her nest,
so is a man who wanders from his place.
9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart,
so does the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.
10 Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend,
nor go into your brother’s house in the day of your calamity;
for better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far off.
11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad,
that I may answer him who reproaches me.
12 A prudent man foresees the evil and hides himself,
but the simple pass on and are punished.
13 Take his garment that is security for a stranger,
and take a pledge of him for an adulterous woman.
14 He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning,
it will be counted a curse to him.
15 A continual dripping on a very rainy day
and a contentious woman are alike;
16 whoever restrains her restrains the wind,
and grasps oil in his right hand.
17 Iron sharpens iron,
so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
18 Whoever keeps the fig tree will eat its fruit;
so he who waits on his master will be honored.
19 As in water face answers to face,
so the heart of man to man.
20 Death and destruction are never full;
so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
21 As the refining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold,
so is a man to his praise.
22 Though you should grind a fool in a mortar
among wheat with a pestle,
yet his foolishness will not depart from him.
23 Be diligent to know the state of your flocks,
and look well to your herds;
24 for riches are not forever,
nor does the crown endure to every generation.
25 The hay appears, and the tender grass shows itself,
and herbs of the mountains are gathered.
26 The lambs are for your clothing,
and the goats are the price of the field.
27 You will have goats’ milk enough
for your food, for the food of your household,
and for the maintenance of your maidens.
Chapter 28
1 The wicked flee when no man pursues,
but the righteous are bold as a lion.
2 Because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes;
but by a man of understanding and knowledge, it shall be prolonged.
3 A poor man who oppresses the poor
is like a sweeping rain that leaves no food.
4 Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked,
but such as keep instruction contend with them.
5 Evil men do not understand justice,
but those who seek the Lord understand all things.
6 Better is the poor who walks in his uprightness
than he who is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
7 Whoever keeps the law is a wise son,
but he who is a companion of riotous men shames his father.
8 He who by usury and unjust gain increases his substance
will gather it for him who will pity the poor.
9 He who turns away his ear from hearing instruction,
even his prayer will be an abomination.
10 Whoever causes the righteous to go astray in an evil way,
he himself will fall into his own pit;
but the upright will have good things in possession.
11 The rich man is wise in his own conceit,
but the poor who has understanding searches him out.
12 When righteous men rejoice, there is great glory;
but when the wicked rise, a man hides himself.
13 He who covers his sins will not prosper,
but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.
14 Happy is the man who always fears,
but he who hardens his heart will fall into mischief.
15 As a roaring lion and a charging bear,
so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.
16 The prince who lacks understanding is also a great oppressor,
but he who hates covetousness will prolong his days.
17 A man burdened with bloodshed of any person
will flee until death;
let no man help him.
18 Whoever walks uprightly will be saved,
but he who is perverse in his ways will fall at once.
19 He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,
but he who follows after vain things will have poverty enough.
20 A faithful man will abound with blessings,
but he who makes haste to be rich will not be innocent.
21 To show partiality is not good,
because for a morsel of bread that man will transgress.
22 He who hastens to be rich has an evil eye,
and does not consider that poverty will come upon him.
23 He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward
than he who flatters with the tongue.
24 Whoever robs his father or his mother
and says, “It is no transgression,”
the same is the companion of a destroyer.
25 He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife,
but he who puts his trust in the Lord will prosper.
26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool,
but whoever walks wisely will be delivered.
27 He who gives to the poor will not lack,
but he who hides his eyes will have many a curse.
28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves;
but when they perish, the righteous increase.
Chapter 29
1 He who is often reproved, yet hardens his neck,
will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice;
but when the wicked rule, the people mourn.
3 Whoever loves wisdom rejoices his father,
but he who keeps company with harlots spends his substance.
4 The king establishes the land by judgment,
but he who receives bribes overthrows it.
5 A man who flatters his neighbor
spreads a net for his feet.
6 In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare,
but the righteous sing and rejoice.
7 The righteous considers the cause of the poor,
but the wicked regards not to know it.
8 Scornful men bring a city into a snare,
but wise men turn away wrath.
9 If a wise man contends with a foolish man,
whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.
10 The bloodthirsty hate the upright,
but the just seek his soul.
11 A fool utters all his mind,
but a wise man keeps it in until afterwards.
12 If a ruler listens to lies,
all his servants are wicked.
13 The poor and the deceitful man have this in common:
The Lord gives light to the eyes of both.
14 The king who faithfully judges the poor,
his throne will be established forever.
15 The rod and reproof give wisdom,
but a child left to himself brings his mother to shame.
16 When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increases;
but the righteous will see their fall.
17 Correct your son, and he will give you rest;
yes, he will give delight to your soul.
18 Where there is no vision, the people perish;
but happy is he who keeps the teaching.
19 A servant will not be corrected by words,
for though he understands he will not answer.
20 Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
21 He who delicately brings up his servant from a child
will have him as a son in the end.
22 An angry man stirs up strife,
and a furious man abounds in transgression.
23 A man’s pride will bring him low,
but honor will uphold the humble in spirit.
24 Whoever is partner with a thief hates his own soul;
he hears the oath but tells nothing.
25 The fear of man brings a snare,
but whoever puts his trust in the Lord will be safe.
26 Many seek the ruler’s favor,
but every man’s judgment comes from the Lord.
27 An unjust man is an abomination to the just,
and he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.
2 Corinthians 10
1 Now I, Paul, who am lowly in presence among you but bold toward you while absent, appeal to you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ. 2 I beg you that when I am present, I might not have to be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, 5 casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is complete.
7 Do you look at things from the outward appearance? If any man trusts that he is Christ’s, let him consider again that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s. 8 For even if I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord has given us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed, 9 lest I appear to frighten you by my letters. 10 “For his letters,” they say, “are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.” 11 Let such a person consider this: that as we are in word by letters when we are absent, we will also be in deed when we are present.
12 For we dare not count or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. They who measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another are not wise. 13 But we will not boast beyond measure, but within the boundaries which God has appointed us, which reach even you. 14 For we are not overextending ourselves as though we did not reach you, since we have come to you, preaching the gospel of Christ. 15 We are not boasting of things beyond our measure in other men’s labors. But we have hope that when your faith is increased, our region shall be greatly enlarged by you, 16 to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you and not to boast in another man’s accomplishments. 17 But, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 18 For it is not he who commends himself who is approved, but he whom the Lord commends.