Through the Bible – Day 245

Bible text(s)

Proverbs 13

Wise friends make you wise

₁Children with good sense

accept correction

from their parents,

but stubborn children

ignore it completely.

₂You will be well rewarded

for saying something kind,

but all some people think about

is how to be cruel and mean.

₃Keep what you know to yourself,

and you will be safe;

talk too much,

and you are done for.

₄No matter how much you want,

laziness won't help a bit,

but hard work will reward you

with more than enough.

₅A good person hates deceit,

but those who are evil

cause shame and disgrace.

₆Live right, and you are safe!

But sin will destroy you.

₇Some who have nothing

may pretend to be rich,

and some who have everything

may pretend to be poor.

₈The rich may have

to pay a ransom,

but the poor don't have

that problem.

₉The lamp of a good person

keeps on shining;

the lamp of an evil person

soon goes out.

₁₀Too much pride causes trouble.

Be sensible and take advice.

₁₁Money wrongly got

will disappear bit by bit;

money earned little by little

will grow and grow.

₁₂Not getting what you want

can make you feel sick,

but a wish that comes true

is a life-giving tree.

₁₃If you reject God's teaching,

you will pay the price;

if you obey his commands,

you will be rewarded.

₁₄Sensible instruction

is a life-giving fountain

that helps you escape

all deadly traps.

₁₅Sound judgment is praised,

but people without good sense

are on the way to disaster.

₁₆If you have good sense,

you will act sensibly,

but fools act like fools.

₁₇Whoever delivers your message

can make things better

or worse for you.

₁₈All who refuse correction

will be poor and disgraced;

all who accept correction

will be praised.

₁₉It's a good feeling

to get what you want,

but only a stupid fool

hates to turn from evil.

₂₀Wise friends make you wise,

but you hurt yourself

by going around with fools.

₂₁You are in for trouble

if you sin,

but you will be rewarded

if you live right.

₂₂If you obey God,

you will have something

to leave your grandchildren.

If you don't obey God,

those who live right

will get what you leave.

₂₃Even when the land of the poor

produces good crops,

they get cheated

out of what they grow.

₂₄If you love your children,

you will correct them;

if you don't love them,

you won't correct them.

₂₅If you live right,

you will have plenty to eat;

if you don't live right,

you will go away empty.

Proverbs 13:1-25CEVOpen in Bible reader

1 Corinthians 14

Speaking unknown languages and prophesying

₁Love should be your guide. Be eager to have the gifts that come from the Holy Spirit, especially the gift of prophecy. ₂If you speak languages that others don't know, God will understand what you are saying, though no one else will know what you mean. You will be talking about mysteries that only the Spirit understands. ₃But when you prophesy, you will be understood, and others will be helped. They will be encouraged and made to feel better.

₄By speaking languages that others don't know, you help only yourself. But by prophesying you help everyone in the church. ₅I am glad for you to speak unknown languages, although I would rather you prophesied. In fact, prophesying does much more good than speaking unknown languages, unless someone can help the church by explaining what you mean.

₆My friends, what good would it do, if I came and spoke unknown languages to you and didn't explain what I meant? How would I help you, unless I told you what God had shown me or gave you some knowledge or prophecy or teaching? ₇If all musical instruments sounded alike, how would you know the difference between a flute and a harp? ₈If a bugle call isn't clear, how would you know to get ready for battle?

₉That's how it is when you speak unknown languages. If no one can understand what you are talking about, you will only be talking to the wind. ₁₀There are many different languages in this world, and all of them make sense. ₁₁But if I don't understand the language that someone is using, we will be like foreigners to each other. ₁₂If you really want spiritual gifts, choose the ones that will be most helpful to the church.

₁₃When we speak languages that others don't know, we should pray for the power to explain what we mean. ₁₄For example, if I use an unknown language in my prayers, my spirit prays but my mind is useless. ₁₅Then what should I do? There are times when I should pray with my spirit, and times when I should pray with my mind. Sometimes I should sing with my spirit, and at other times I should sing with my mind.

₁₆Suppose some strangers are in your worship service, when you are praising God with your spirit. If they don't understand you, how will they know to say, “Amen”? ₁₇You may be worshipping God in a wonderful way, but no one else will be helped. ₁₈I thank God that I speak unknown languages more than any of you. ₁₉But words that make sense can help the church. That's why in church I had rather speak five words that make sense than to speak ten thousand words in a language that others don't know.

₂₀My friends, stop thinking like children. Think like mature people and be as innocent as tiny babies. ₂₁In the Scriptures the Lord says,

“I will use strangers

who speak unknown languages

to talk to my people.

They will speak to them

in foreign languages,

but still my people

won't listen to me.”

₂₂Languages that others don't know may mean something to unbelievers, but not to the Lord's followers. Prophecy, on the other hand, is for followers, not for unbelievers. ₂₃Suppose everyone in your worship service started speaking unknown languages, and some outsiders or some unbelievers come in. Won't they think you are mad? ₂₄But suppose all of you are prophesying when those unbelievers and outsiders come in. They will realize that they are sinners, and they will want to change their ways because of what you are saying. ₂₅They will tell what is hidden in their hearts. Then they will kneel down and say to God, “We are certain that you are with these people.”

1 Corinthians 14:1-25CEVOpen in Bible reader