Through the Bible – Day 246

Bible text(s)

Proverbs 14

Wisdom makes good sense

1A woman's family

is held together

by her wisdom,

but it can be destroyed

by her foolishness.

2By living right, you show

that you respect the LORD;

by being deceitful, you show

that you despise him.

3Proud fools are punished

for their stupid talk,

but sensible talk

can save your life.

4Without the help of an ox

there can be no crop,

but with a strong ox

a big crop is possible.

5An honest witness

tells the truth;

a dishonest witness

tells nothing but lies.

6Make fun of wisdom,

and you will never find it.

But if you have understanding,

knowledge comes easily.

7Stay away from fools,

or you won't learn a thing.

8Wise people have enough sense

to find their way,

but stupid fools get lost.

9Fools don't care

if they are wrong,

but God is pleased

when people do right.

10No one else can really know

how sad or happy you are.

11The tent of a good person

stands longer than the house

of someone evil.

12You may think you are

on the right road

and still end up dead.

13Sorrow may hide

behind laughter,

and happiness may end

in sorrow.

14You harvest what you plant,

whether good or bad.

15Don't be stupid

and believe all you hear;

be clever and know

where you are headed.

16Only a stupid fool

is never cautious—

so be extra careful

and stay out of trouble.

17Fools have quick tempers,

and no one likes you

if you can't be trusted.

18Stupidity leads to foolishness;

be clever and learn.

19The wicked will come crawling

to those who obey God.

20You have no friends

if you are poor,

but you have lots of friends

if you are rich.

21It's wrong to hate others,

but God blesses everyone

who is kind to the poor.

22It's a mistake

to make evil plans,

but you will have loyal friends

if you want to do right.

23Hard work is worthwhile,

but empty talk

will make you poor.

24Wisdom can make you rich,

but foolishness leads

to more foolishness.

25An honest witness

can save your life,

but liars can't be trusted.

26If you respect the LORD,

you and your children

have a strong fortress

27and a life-giving fountain

that keeps you safe

from deadly traps.

28Rulers of powerful nations

are held in honour;

rulers of weak nations

are nothing at all.

29It's clever to be patient,

but it's stupid

to lose your temper.

30It's healthy to be content,

but envy can eat you up.

31If you ill-treat the poor,

you insult your Creator;

if you are kind to them,

you show him respect.

32In times of trouble

the wicked are destroyed,

but even at death

the innocent have faith.

33Wisdom is found in the minds

of people with good sense,

but fools don't know it.

34Doing right brings honour

to a nation,

but sin brings disgrace.

35Kings reward servants

who act wisely,

but they punish those

who act foolishly.

Proverbs 14:1-35CEVOpen in Bible reader

1 Corinthians 14

Worship must be orderly

26My friends, when you meet to worship, you must do everything for the good of everyone there. That's how it should be when someone sings or teaches or tells what God has said or speaks an unknown language or explains what the language means. 27No more than two or three of you should speak unknown languages during the meeting. You must take turns, and someone should always be there to explain what you mean. 28If no one can explain, you must keep silent in church and speak only to yourself and to God.

29Two or three persons may prophesy, and everyone else must listen carefully. 30If someone sitting there receives a message from God, the speaker must stop and let the other person speak. 31Let only one person speak at a time, then all of you will learn something and be encouraged. 32A prophet should be willing to stop and let someone else speak. 33God wants everything to be done peacefully and in order.

When God's people meet in church, 34the women must not be allowed to speak. They must keep quiet and listen, as the Law of Moses teaches. 35If there is something they want to know, they can ask their husbands when they get home. It is disgraceful for women to speak in church. 36God's message did not start with you people, and you are not the only ones it has reached.

37If you think of yourself as a prophet or a spiritual person, you will know that I am writing only what the Lord has commanded. 38So don't pay attention to anyone who ignores what I am writing. 39My friends, be eager to prophesy and don't stop anyone from speaking languages that others don't know. 40But do everything properly and in order.

1 Corinthians 15

Christ's victory over death

Christ was raised to life

1My friends, I want you to remember the message that I preached and that you believed and trusted. 2You will be saved by this message, if you hold firmly to it. But if you don't, your faith was all for nothing.

3I told you the most important part of the message exactly as it was told to me. That part is:

Christ died for our sins,

as the Scriptures say.

4He was buried,

and three days later

he was raised to life,

as the Scriptures say.

5Christ appeared to Peter,

then to the twelve.

6After this, he appeared

to more than five hundred

other followers.

Most of them are still alive,

but some have died.

7He also appeared to James,

and then to all

the apostles.

8Finally, he appeared to me, even though I am like someone who was born at the wrong time.

9I am the least important of all the apostles. In fact, I caused so much trouble for God's church that I don't even deserve to be called an apostle. 10But God was kind! He made me what I am, and his wonderful kindness wasn't wasted. I worked much harder than any of the other apostles, although it was really God's kindness at work and not me. 11But it doesn't matter if I preached or if they preached. All of you believed the message just the same.

1 Corinthians 14:26-15:11CEVOpen in Bible reader
Canadian Bible Societyv.4.24.4
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