Through the Bible – Day 247

Bible text(s)

Proverbs 15

The LORD sees everything

₁A kind answer

soothes angry feelings,

but harsh words

stir them up.

₂Words of wisdom

come from the wise,

but fools speak foolishness.

₃The LORD sees everything,

whether good or bad.

₄Kind words are good medicine,

but deceitful words

can really hurt.

₅Don't be a fool

and disobey your parents.

Be clever! Accept correction.

₆Good people become wealthy,

but those who are evil

will lose what they have.

₇Words of wisdom

make good sense;

the thoughts of a fool

make no sense at all.

₈The LORD is disgusted

by gifts from the wicked,

but it makes him happy

when his people pray.

₉The LORD is disgusted

with all who do wrong,

but he loves everyone

who does right.

₁₀If you turn from the right way,

you will be punished;

if you refuse correction,

you will die.

₁₁If the LORD can see everything

in the world of the dead,

he can see in our hearts.

₁₂Those who sneer at others

don't like to be corrected,

and they won't ask help

from someone with sense.

₁₃Happiness makes you smile;

sorrow can crush you.

₁₄Anyone with good sense

is eager to learn more,

but fools are hungry

for foolishness.

₁₅The poor have a hard life,

but being content is as good

as an endless feast.

₁₆It's better to obey the LORD

and have only a little,

than to be very rich

and terribly confused.

₁₇A simple meal with love

is better than a feast

where there is hatred.

₁₈Losing your temper

causes a lot of trouble,

but staying calm

settles arguments.

₁₉Being lazy is like walking

in a thorn patch,

but everyone who does right

walks on a smooth road.

₂₀Children with good sense

make their parents happy,

but foolish children

are hateful to them.

₂₁Stupidity brings happiness

to senseless fools,

but everyone with good sense

follows the straight path.

₂₂Without good advice

everything goes wrong—

it takes careful planning

for things to go right.

₂₃Giving the right answer

at the right time

makes everyone happy.

₂₄All who are wise follow a road

that leads upward to life

and away from death.

₂₅The LORD destroys the homes

of those who are proud,

but he protects the property

of widows.

₂₆The LORD hates evil thoughts,

but kind words please him.

₂₇Being greedy causes trouble

for your family,

but you protect yourself

by refusing bribes.

₂₈Good people think

before they answer,

but the wicked speak evil

without ever thinking.

₂₉The LORD never even hears

the prayers of the wicked,

but he answers the prayers

of all who obey him.

₃₀A friendly smile

makes you happy,

and good news

makes you feel strong.

₃₁Healthy correction is good,

and if you accept it,

you will be wise.

₃₂You hurt only yourself

by rejecting instruction,

but it makes good sense

to accept it.

₃₃Showing respect to the LORD

will make you wise,

and being humble

will bring honour to you.

Proverbs 15:1-33CEVOpen in Bible reader

1 Corinthians 15

God's people will be raised to life

₁₂If we preach that Christ was raised from death, how can some of you say that the dead will not be raised to life? ₁₃If they won't be raised to life, Christ himself wasn't raised to life. ₁₄And if Christ wasn't raised to life, our message is worthless, and so is your faith. ₁₅If the dead won't be raised to life, we have told lies about God by saying that he raised Christ to life, when he really did not.

₁₆So if the dead won't be raised to life, Christ wasn't raised to life. ₁₇Unless Christ was raised to life, your faith is useless, and you are still living in your sins. ₁₈And those people who died after putting their faith in him are completely lost. ₁₉If our hope in Christ is good only for this life, we are worse off than anyone else.

₂₀But Christ has been raised to life! And he makes us certain that others will also be raised to life. ₂₁Just as we will die because of Adam, we will be raised to life because of Christ. ₂₂Adam brought death to all of us, and Christ will bring life to all of us. ₂₃But we must each wait our turn. Christ was the first to be raised to life, and his people will be raised to life when he returns. ₂₄Then after Christ has destroyed all powers and forces, the end will come, and he will give the kingdom to God the Father.

₂₅Christ will rule until he puts all his enemies under his power, ₂₆and the last enemy he destroys will be death. ₂₇When the Scriptures say that he will put everything under his power, they don't include God. It was God who put everything under the power of Christ. ₂₈After everything is under the power of God's Son, he will put himself under the power of God, who put everything under his Son's power. Then God will mean everything to everyone.

₂₉If the dead are not going to be raised to life, what will people do who are being baptized for them? Why are they being baptized for those dead people? ₃₀And why do we always risk our lives ₃₁and face death every day? The pride that I have in you because of Christ Jesus our Lord is what makes me say this. ₃₂What do you think I gained by fighting wild animals in Ephesus? If the dead are not raised to life,

“Let's eat and drink.

Tomorrow we die.”

₃₃Don't fool yourselves. Bad friends will destroy you. ₃₄Be sensible and stop sinning. You should be embarrassed that some people still don't know about God.

1 Corinthians 15:12-34CEVOpen in Bible reader