Through the Bible – Day 240

Bible text(s)

Proverbs 8

In praise of wisdom

₁With great understanding,

Wisdom is calling out

₂as she stands at the crossroads

and on every hill.

₃She stands by the city gate

where everyone enters the city,

and she shouts:

₄“I am calling out

to each one of you!

₅Good sense and sound judgment

can be yours.

₆Listen, because what I say

is worthwhile and right.

₇I always speak the truth

and refuse to tell a lie.

₈Every word I speak is honest,

not one is misleading

or deceptive.

₉“If you have understanding,

you will see that my words

are just what you need.

₁₀Let instruction and knowledge

mean more to you than silver

or the finest gold.

₁₁Wisdom is worth much more

than precious jewels

or anything else you desire.”

Wisdom speaks

₁₂I am Wisdom—Common Sense

is my closest friend;

I possess knowledge

and sound judgment.

₁₃If you respect the LORD,

you will hate evil.

I hate pride and conceit

and deceitful lies.

₁₄I am strong, and I offer

sensible advice

and sound judgment.

₁₅By my power kings govern,

and rulers make laws

that are fair.

₁₆Every honest leader rules

with help from me.

₁₇I love everyone who loves me,

and I will be found by all

who honestly search.

₁₈I can make you rich and famous,

important and successful.

₁₉What you receive from me

is more valuable

than even the finest gold

or the purest silver.

₂₀I always do what is right,

₂₁and I give great riches

to everyone who loves me.

₂₂From the beginning,

I was with the LORD.

I was there before he began

₂₃to create the earth.

At the very first,

the LORD gave life to me.

₂₄When I was born,

there were no oceans

or springs of water.

₂₅My birth was before

mountains were formed

or hills were put in place.

₂₆It happened long before God

had made the earth

or any of its fields

or even the dust.

₂₇I was there when the LORD

put the heavens in place

and stretched the sky

over the surface of the sea.

₂₈I was with him when he placed

the clouds in the sky

and created the springs

that fill the ocean.

₂₉I was there when he set

boundaries for the sea

to make it obey him,

and when he laid foundations

to support the earth.

₃₀I was right beside the LORD,

helping him plan and build.

I made him happy each day,

and I was happy at his side.

₃₁I was pleased with his world

and pleased with its people.

₃₂Pay attention, my children!

Follow my advice,

and you will be happy.

₃₃Listen carefully

to my instructions,

and you will be wise.

₃₄Come to my home each day

and listen to me.

You will find happiness.

₃₅By finding me, you find life,

and the LORD will be pleased

with you.

₃₆But if you don't find me,

you hurt only yourself,

and if you hate me,

you are in love with death.

Proverbs 8:1-36CEVOpen in Bible reader

1 Corinthians 9

A race and a fight

₂₄You know that many runners enter a race, and only one of them wins the prize. So run to win! ₂₅Athletes work hard to win a crown that cannot last, but we do it for a crown that will last for ever. ₂₆I don't run without a goal. And I don't box by beating my fists in the air. ₂₇I keep my body under control and make it my slave, so I won't lose out after telling the good news to others.

1 Corinthians 10

Don't worship idols

₁Friends, I want to remind you that all our ancestors walked under the cloud and went through the sea. ₂This was like being baptized and becoming followers of Moses. ₃All of them also ate the same spiritual food ₄and drank the same spiritual drink, which flowed from the spiritual rock that followed them. That rock was Christ. ₅But most of them did not please God. So they died, and their bodies were scattered all over the desert.

₆What happened to them is a warning to keep us from wanting to do the same evil things. ₇They worshipped idols, just as the Scriptures say, “The people sat down to eat and drink. Then they got up to dance around.” So don't worship idols. ₈Some of those people did shameful things, and in a single day about twenty-three thousand of them died. Don't do shameful things as they did. ₉And don't try to test Christ, as some of them did and were later bitten by poisonous snakes. ₁₀Don't even grumble, as some of them did and were killed by the destroying angel. ₁₁These things happened to them as a warning to us. All this was written in the Scriptures to teach us who live in these last days.

₁₂Even if you think you can stand up to temptation, be careful not to fall. ₁₃You are tempted in the same way that everyone else is tempted. But God can be trusted not to let you be tempted too much, and he will show you how to escape from your temptations.

₁₄My friends, you must keep away from idols. ₁₅I am speaking to you as people who have enough sense to know what I am talking about. ₁₆When we drink from the cup that we ask God to bless, isn't that sharing in the blood of Christ? When we eat the bread that we break, isn't that sharing in the body of Christ? ₁₇By sharing in the same loaf of bread, we become one body, even though there are many of us.

₁₈Aren't the people of Israel sharing in the worship when they gather around the altar and eat the sacrifices offered there? ₁₉Am I saying that either the idols or the food sacrificed to them is anything at all? ₂₀No, I am not! That food is really sacrificed to demons and not to God. I don't want you to have anything to do with demons. ₂₁You cannot drink from the cup of demons and still drink from the Lord's cup. You cannot eat at the table of demons and still eat at the Lord's table. ₂₂We would make the Lord jealous if we did that. And we are not stronger than the Lord.

1 Corinthians 9:24-10:22CEVOpen in Bible reader