Through the Bible – Day 235

Bible text(s)

Proverbs 3

Trust God

₁My child, remember

my teachings and instructions

and obey them completely.

₂They will help you live

a long and prosperous life.

₃Let love and loyalty

always show like a necklace,

and write them in your mind.

₄God and people will like you

and consider you a success.

₅With all your heart

you must trust the LORD

and not your own judgment.

₆Always let him lead you,

and he will clear the road

for you to follow.

₇Don't ever think that you

are wise enough,

but respect the LORD

and stay away from evil.

₈This will make you healthy,

and you will feel strong.

₉Honour the LORD by giving him

your money and the first part

of all your crops.

₁₀Then you will have

more grain and grapes

than you will ever need.

₁₁My child, don't turn away

or become bitter

when the LORD corrects you.

₁₂The LORD corrects

everyone he loves,

just as parents correct

their favourite child.

The value of wisdom

₁₃God blesses everyone

who has wisdom

and common sense.

₁₄Wisdom is worth more

than silver;

it makes you much richer

than gold.

₁₅Wisdom is more valuable

than precious jewels;

nothing you want

compares with her.

₁₆In her right hand

Wisdom holds a long life,

and in her left hand

are wealth and honour.

₁₇Wisdom makes life pleasant

and leads us safely along.

₁₈Wisdom is a life-giving tree,

the source of happiness

for all who hold on to her.

₁₉By his wisdom and knowledge

the LORD created

heaven and earth.

₂₀By his understanding

he let the ocean break loose

and clouds release the rain.

₂₁My child, use common sense

and sound judgment!

Always keep them in mind.

₂₂They will help you to live

a long and beautiful life.

₂₃You will walk safely

and never stumble;

₂₄you will rest without a worry

and sleep soundly.

₂₅So don't be afraid

of sudden disasters

or storms that strike

those who are evil.

₂₆You can be sure that the LORD

will protect you from harm.

₂₇Do all you can for everyone

who deserves your help.

₂₈Don't tell your neighbour

to come back tomorrow,

if you can help today.

₂₉Don't try to be mean

to neighbours who trust you.

₃₀Don't argue just to be arguing,

when you haven't been hurt.

₃₁Don't be jealous

of cruel people

or follow their example.

₃₂The LORD doesn't like

anyone who is dishonest,

but he lets good people

be his friends.

₃₃He places a curse on the home

of everyone who is evil,

but he blesses the home

of every good person.

₃₄The LORD sneers at those

who sneer at him,

but he is kind to everyone

who is humble.

₃₅You will be praised

if you are wise,

but you will be disgraced

if you are a stubborn fool.

Proverbs 3:1-35CEVOpen in Bible reader

1 Corinthians 6

Taking each other to court

₁When one of you has a complaint against another, do you take your complaint to a court of sinners? Or do you take it to God's people? ₂Don't you know that God's people will judge the world? And if you are going to judge the world, can't you settle small problems? ₃Don't you know that we will judge angels? And if that is so, we can surely judge everyday matters. ₄Why do you take everyday complaints to judges who are not respected by the church? ₅I say this to your shame. Aren't any of you wise enough to act as a judge between one follower and another? ₆Why should one of you take another to be tried by unbelievers?

₇When one of you takes another to court, all of you lose. It would be better to let yourselves be cheated and robbed. ₈But instead, you cheat and rob other followers.

₉Don't you know that evil people won't have a share in the blessings of God's kingdom? Don't fool yourselves! No one who is immoral or worships idols or is unfaithful in marriage or is a pervert or behaves like a homosexual ₁₀will share in God's kingdom. Neither will any thief or greedy person or drunkard or anyone who curses and cheats others. ₁₁Some of you used to be like that. But now the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and the power of God's Spirit have washed you and made you holy and acceptable to God.

Honour God with your body

₁₂Some of you say, “We can do anything we want to.” But I tell you that not everything is good for us. So I refuse to let anything have power over me. ₁₃You also say, “Food is meant for our bodies, and our bodies are meant for food.” But I tell you that God will destroy them both. We are not supposed to do indecent things with our bodies. We are to use them for the Lord who is in charge of our bodies. ₁₄God will raise us from death by the same power that he used when he raised our Lord to life.

₁₅Don't you know that your bodies are part of the body of Christ? Is it right for me to join part of the body of Christ to a prostitute? No, it isn't! ₁₆Don't you know that a man who does that becomes part of her body? The Scriptures say, “The two of them will be like one person.” ₁₇But anyone who is joined to the Lord is one in spirit with him.

₁₈Don't be immoral in matters of sex. That is a sin against your own body in a way that no other sin is. ₁₉You know that your body is a temple where the Holy Spirit lives. The Spirit is in you and is a gift from God. You are no longer your own. ₂₀God paid a great price for you. So use your body to honour God.

1 Corinthians 6:1-20CEVOpen in Bible reader