Through the Bible – Day 244

₁To accept correction is wise,

to reject it is stupid.

₂The LORD likes everyone

who lives right,

but he punishes everyone

who makes evil plans.

₃Sin cannot offer security!

But if you live right,

you will be as secure

as a tree with deep roots.

₄A helpful wife is a jewel

for her husband,

but a shameless wife

will make his bones rot.

₅Good people have kind thoughts,

but you should never trust

the advice of someone evil.

₆Bad advice is a deadly trap,

but good advice

is like a shield.

₇Once the wicked are defeated,

they are gone for ever,

but no one who obeys God

will ever be thrown down.

₈Good sense is worthy of praise,

but stupidity is a curse.

₉It's better to be ordinary

and have only one servant

than to think you are somebody

and starve to death.

₁₀Good people are kind

to their animals,

but a mean person is cruel.

₁₁Hard working farmers have more

than enough food;

daydreamers are nothing more

than stupid fools.

₁₂An evil person tries to hide

behind evil;

good people are like trees

with deep roots.

₁₃We trap ourselves

by telling lies,

but we stay out of trouble

by living right.

₁₄We are rewarded or punished

for what we say and do.

₁₅Fools think they know

what is best,

but a sensible person

listens to advice.

₁₆Losing your temper is foolish;

ignoring an insult is sensible.

₁₇An honest person

tells the truth in court,

but a dishonest person

tells nothing but lies.

₁₈Sharp words cut like a sword,

but words of wisdom heal.

₁₉Truth will last for ever;

lies are soon found out.

₂₀An evil mind is deceitful,

but gentle thoughts

bring happiness.

₂₁Good people never have trouble,

but troublemakers

have more than enough.

₂₂The LORD hates every liar,

but he is the friend of all

who can be trusted.

₂₃Be sensible and don't tell

everything you know—

only fools spread

foolishness everywhere.

₂₄Work hard, and you

will be a leader;

be lazy, and you

will end up a slave.

₂₅Worry is a heavy burden,

but a kind word

always brings cheer.

₂₆You are better off doing right,

than losing your way

by doing wrong.

₂₇Anyone too lazy to cook

will starve,

but a hard worker

is a valuable treasure.

₂₈Follow the road to life,

and you won't be bothered

by death.

₁What if I could speak

all languages of humans

and of angels?

If I did not love others,

I would be nothing more

than a noisy gong

or a clanging cymbal.

₂What if I could prophesy

and understand all secrets

and all knowledge?

And what if I had faith

that moved mountains?

I would be nothing,

unless I loved others.

₃What if I gave away all

that I owned

and let myself

be burnt alive?

I would gain nothing,

unless I loved others.

₄Love is kind and patient,

never jealous, boastful,

proud, or ₅rude.

Love isn't selfish

or quick-tempered.

It doesn't keep a record

of wrongs that others do.

₆Love rejoices in the truth,

but not in evil.

₇Love is always supportive,

loyal, hopeful,

and trusting.

₈Love never fails!

Everyone who prophesies

will stop,

and unknown languages

will no longer

be spoken.

All that we know

will be forgotten.

₉We don't know everything,

and our prophecies

are not complete.

₁₀But what is perfect

will some day appear,

and what isn't perfect

will then disappear.

₁₁When we were children,

we thought and reasoned

as children do.

But when we grew up,

we stopped our childish ways.

₁₂Now all we can see of God

is like a cloudy picture

in a mirror.

Later we will see him

face to face.

We don't know everything,

but then we will,

just as God completely

understands us.

₁₃For now there are faith,

hope, and love.

But of these three,

the greatest is love.