Through the Bible – Day 233

Bible text(s)

Proverbs 1

Introduction: how proverbs can be used

₁These are the proverbs

of King Solomon of Israel,

the son of David.

₂Proverbs will teach you

wisdom and self-control

and how to understand

sayings with deep meanings.

₃You will learn what is right

and honest and fair.

₄From these, an ordinary person

can learn to be clever,

and young people can gain

knowledge and good sense.

₅If you are already wise,

you will become even wiser.

And if you are clever,

you will learn to understand

₆proverbs and sayings,

as well as words of wisdom

and all kinds of riddles.

₇Respect and obey the LORD!

This is the beginning

of knowledge.

Only a fool rejects wisdom

and good advice.

Parental advice on the importance of seeking wisdom and not being foolish

Warnings against bad friends

₈My child, obey the teachings

of your parents,

₉and wear their teachings

as you would a lovely hat

or a pretty necklace.

₁₀Don't be tempted by sinners

or listen ₁₁when they say,

“Come on! Let's gang up

and kill somebody,

just for the fun of it!

₁₂They're well and healthy now,

but we'll finish them off

once and for all.

₁₃We'll take their valuables

and fill our homes

with stolen goods.

₁₄If you join our gang,

you'll get your share.”

₁₅Don't follow anyone like that

or do what they do.

₁₆They are in a big hurry

to commit some crime,

perhaps even murder.

₁₇They are like a bird

that sees the bait,

but ignores the trap.

₁₈They gang up to murder someone,

but they are the victims.

₁₉The wealth you get from crime

robs you of your life.

Wisdom speaks

₂₀Wisdom shouts in the streets

wherever crowds gather.

₂₁She shouts in the market places

and near the city gates

as she says to the people,

₂₂“How much longer

will you enjoy

being stupid fools?

Won't you ever stop sneering

and laughing at knowledge?

₂₃Listen as I correct you

and tell you what I think.

₂₄You completely ignored me

and refused to listen;

₂₅you rejected my advice

and paid no attention

when I warned you.

₂₆“So when you are struck

by some terrible disaster,

₂₇or when trouble and distress

surround you like a whirlwind,

I will laugh and make fun of you.

₂₈You will ask for my help,

but I won't listen;

you will search,

but you won't find me.

₂₉No, you would not learn,

and you refused

to respect the LORD.

₃₀You rejected my advice

and paid no attention

when I warned you.

₃₁“Now you will eat the fruit

of what you have done,

until you are stuffed full

with your own schemes.

₃₂Sin and self-satisfaction

bring destruction and death

to stupid fools.

₃₃But if you listen to me,

you will be safe and secure

without fear of disaster.”

Proverbs 1:1-33CEVOpen in Bible reader

1 Corinthians 4

The work of the apostles

₁Think of us as servants of Christ who have been given the work of explaining God's mysterious ways. ₂And since our first duty is to be faithful to the one we work for, ₃it doesn't matter to me if I am judged by you or even by a court of law. In fact, I don't judge myself. ₄I don't know of anything against me, but that doesn't prove that I am right. The Lord is my judge. ₅So don't judge anyone until the Lord returns. He will show what is hidden in the dark and what is in everyone's heart. Then God will be the one who praises each of us.

₆Friends, I have used Apollos and myself as examples to teach you the meaning of the saying, “Follow the rules.” I want you to stop saying that one of us is better than the other. ₇What is so special about you? What do you have that you were not given? And if it was given to you, how can you boast? ₈Are you already satisfied? Are you now rich? Have you become kings while we are still nobodies? I wish you were kings. Then we could have a share in your kingdom.

₉It seems to me that God has put us apostles in the worst possible place. We are like prisoners on their way to death. Angels and the people of this world just laugh at us. ₁₀Because of Christ we are thought of as fools, but Christ has made you wise. We are weak and hated, but you are powerful and respected. ₁₁Even today we go hungry and thirsty and don't have anything to wear except rags. We are ill-treated and don't have a place to live. ₁₂We work hard with our own hands, and when people abuse us, we wish them well. When we suffer, we are patient. ₁₃When someone curses us, we answer with kind words. Until now we are thought of as nothing more than the trash and rubbish of this world.

₁₄I am not writing to embarrass you. I want to help you, just as parents help their own dear children. ₁₅Ten thousand people may teach you about Christ, but I am your only father. You became my children when I told you about Christ Jesus, ₁₆and I want you to be like me. ₁₇That's why I sent Timothy to you. I love him like a son, and he is a faithful servant of the Lord. Timothy will tell you what I do to follow Christ and how it agrees with what I always teach about Christ in every church.

₁₈Some of you think I am not coming for a visit, and so you are boasting. ₁₉But if the Lord lets me come, I will soon be there. Then I will find out if the ones who are doing all this boasting really have any power. ₂₀God's kingdom isn't just a lot of words. It is power. ₂₁What do you want me to do when I arrive? Do you want me to be hard on you or to be kind and gentle?

1 Corinthians 4:1-21CEVOpen in Bible reader