Through the Bible – Day 253

Bible text(s)

Proverbs 21

The LORD is in charge

₁The LORD controls rulers,

just as he determines

the course of rivers.

₂We may think we are doing

the right thing,

but the LORD always knows

what is in our hearts.

₃Doing what is right and fair

pleases the LORD

more than an offering.

₄Evil people are proud

and arrogant,

but sin is the only crop

they produce.

₅If you plan and work hard,

you will have plenty;

if you get in a hurry,

you will end up poor.

₆Cheating to get rich

is a foolish dream

and no less than suicide.

₇You destroy yourself

by being cruel and violent

and refusing to live right.

₈All crooks are liars,

but anyone who is innocent

will do right.

₉It's better to stay outside

on the roof of your house

than to live inside

with a nagging wife.

₁₀Evil people want to do wrong,

even to their friends.

₁₁An ignorant fool learns

by seeing others punished;

a sensible person learns

by being instructed.

₁₂God is always fair!

He knows what the wicked do

and will punish them.

₁₃If you won't help the poor,

don't expect to be heard

when you cry out for help.

₁₄A secret bribe will save you

from someone's fierce anger.

₁₅When justice is done,

good citizens are glad

and crooks are terrified.

₁₆If you stop using good sense,

you will find yourself

in the grave.

₁₇Heavy drinkers and others

who live only for pleasure

will lose all they have.

₁₈God's people will escape,

but all who are wicked

will pay the price.

₁₉It's better out in the desert

than at home with a nagging,

complaining wife.

₂₀Be sensible and store up

precious treasures—

don't waste them

like a fool.

₂₁If you try to be kind and good,

you will be blessed with life

and goodness and honour.

₂₂One wise person can defeat

a city full of soldiers

and capture their fortress.

₂₃Watching what you say

can save you

a lot of trouble.

₂₄If you are proud and conceited,

everyone will say,

“You're a snob!”

₂₅If you want too much

and are too lazy to work,

it could be fatal.

₂₆But people who obey God

are always generous.

₂₇The Lord despises the offerings

of wicked people

with evil motives.

₂₈If you tell lies in court,

you are done for;

only a reliable witness

can do the job.

₂₉Wicked people bluff their way,

but God's people think

before they take a step.

₃₀No matter how much you know

or what plans you make,

you can't defeat the LORD.

₃₁Even if your army has horses

ready for battle,

the LORD will always win.

Proverbs 21:1-31CEVOpen in Bible reader

2 Corinthians 5

Bringing people to God

₁₁We know what it means to respect the Lord, and we encourage everyone to turn to him. God himself knows what we are like, and I hope you also know what kind of people we are. ₁₂We are not trying once more to boast about ourselves. But we want you to be proud of us, when you are with those who are not sincere and boast about what others think of them.

₁₃If we seem out of our minds, it is between God and us. But if we are in our right minds, it is for your good. ₁₄We are ruled by Christ's love for us. We are certain that if one person died for everyone else, then all of us have died. ₁₅And Christ did die for all of us. He died so we would no longer live for ourselves, but for the one who died and was raised to life for us.

₁₆We are careful not to judge people by what they seem to be, though we once judged Christ in that way. ₁₇Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new. ₁₈God has done it all! He sent Christ to make peace between himself and us, and he has given us the work of making peace between himself and others.

₁₉What we mean is that God was in Christ, offering peace and forgiveness to the people of this world. And he has given us the work of sharing his message about peace. ₂₀We were sent to speak for Christ, and God is begging you to listen to our message. We speak for Christ and sincerely ask you to make peace with God. ₂₁Christ never sinned! But God treated him as a sinner, so that Christ could make us acceptable to God.

2 Corinthians 6

₁We work together with God, and we beg you to make good use of God's kindness to you. ₂In the Scriptures God says,

“When the time came,

I listened to you,

and when you needed help,

I came to save you.”

That time has come. This is the day for you to be saved.

₃We don't want anyone to find fault with our work, and so we try hard not to cause problems. ₄But in everything and in every way we show that we truly are God's servants. We have always been patient, though we have had a lot of trouble, suffering, and hard times. ₅We have been beaten, put in jail, and hurt in riots. We have worked hard and have gone without sleep or food. ₆But we have kept ourselves pure and have been understanding, patient, and kind. The Holy Spirit has been with us, and our love has been real. ₇We have spoken the truth, and God's power has worked in us. In all our struggles we have said and done only what is right.

₈Whether we were honoured or dishonoured or praised or cursed, we always told the truth about ourselves. But some people said we did not. ₉We are unknown to others, but well known to you. We seem to be dying, and yet we are still alive. We have been punished, but never killed, ₁₀and we are always happy, even in times of suffering. Although we are poor, we have made many people rich. And though we own nothing, everything is ours.

₁₁Friends in Corinth, we are telling the truth when we say that there is room in our hearts for you. ₁₂We are not holding back on our love for you, but you are holding back on your love for us. ₁₃I speak to you as I would speak to my own children. Please make room in your hearts for us.

2 Corinthians 5:11-6:13CEVOpen in Bible reader