Through the Bible – Day 256

Bible text(s)

Proverbs 24

—19—

₁Don't be jealous of crooks

or want to be their friends.

₂All they think about

and talk about

is violence and cruelty.

—20—

₃Use wisdom and understanding

to establish your home;

₄let good sense fill the rooms

with priceless treasures.

—21—

₅Wisdom brings strength,

and knowledge gives power.

₆Battles are won

by listening to advice

and making a lot of plans.

—22—

₇Wisdom is too much for fools!

Their advice is no good.

—23—

₈No one but troublemakers

think up trouble.

₉Everyone hates senseless fools

who think up ways to sin.

—24—

₁₀Don't give up and be helpless

in times of trouble.

—25—

₁₁Don't fail to rescue those

who are doomed to die.

₁₂Don't say, “I didn't know it!”

God can read your mind.

He watches each of us

and knows our thoughts.

And God will pay us back

for what we do.

—26—

₁₃Honey is good for you,

my children,

and it tastes sweet.

₁₄Wisdom is like honey

for your life—

if you find it,

your future is bright.

—27—

₁₅Don't be a cruel person

who attacks good people

and hurts their families.

₁₆Even if good people

fall seven times,

they will get back up.

But when trouble strikes

the wicked,

that's the end of them.

—28—

₁₇Don't be happy

to see your enemies trip

and fall down.

₁₈The LORD will find out

and be unhappy.

Then he will stop

being angry with them.

—29—

₁₉Don't let evil people

worry you

or make you jealous.

₂₀They will soon be gone

like the flame of a lamp

that burns out.

—30—

₂₁My children, you must respect

the LORD and the king,

and you must not make friends

with anyone who rebels

against either of them.

₂₂Who knows what sudden disaster

the LORD or a ruler

might bring?

More sayings that make good sense

₂₃Here are some more sayings

that make good sense:

When you judge,

you must be fair.

₂₄If you let the guilty

go free,

people of all nations

will hate and curse you.

₂₅But if you punish the guilty,

things will go well for you,

and you will prosper.

₂₆Giving an honest answer

is a sign

of true friendship.

₂₇Get your fields ready

and plant your crops

before setting up home.

₂₈Don't accuse anyone

who isn't guilty.

Don't ever tell a lie

₂₉or say to someone,

“I'll get even with you!”

₃₀I once walked by the field

and the vineyard

of a lazy fool.

₃₁Thorns and weeds

were everywhere,

and the stone wall

had fallen down.

₃₂When I saw this,

it taught me a lesson:

₃₃Sleep a little. Doze a little.

Fold your hands

and twiddle your thumbs.

₃₄Suddenly poverty hits you

and everything is gone!

Proverbs 24:1-34CEVOpen in Bible reader

2 Corinthians 9

The money for God's people

₁I don't need to write to you about the money you plan to give for God's people. ₂I know how eager you are to give. And I have proudly told the Lord's followers in Macedonia that you people in Achaia have been ready for a whole year. Now your desire to give has made them want to give. ₃That's why I am sending Titus and the two others to you. I want you to be ready, just as I promised. This will prove that we were not wrong to boast about you.

₄Some followers from Macedonia may come with me, and I want them to find that you have the money ready. If you don't, I would be embarrassed for trusting you to do this. But you would be embarrassed even more. ₅So I have decided to ask Titus and the others to spend some time with you before I arrive. This way they can arrange to collect the money you have promised. Then you will have the chance to give because you want to, and not because you feel forced to.

₆Remember this saying,

“A few seeds make

a small harvest,

but a lot of seeds make

a big harvest.”

₇Each of you must make up your own mind about how much to give. But don't feel sorry that you must give and don't feel that you are forced to give. God loves people who love to give. ₈God can bless you with everything you need, and you will always have more than enough to do all kinds of good things for others. ₉The Scriptures say,

“God freely gives his gifts

to the poor,

and always does right.”

₁₀God gives seed to farmers and provides everyone with food. He will increase what you have, so that you can give even more to those in need. ₁₁You will be blessed in every way, and you will be able to keep on being generous. Then many people will thank God when we deliver your gift.

₁₂What you are doing is much more than a service that supplies God's people with what they need. It is something that will make many others thank God. ₁₃The way in which you have proved yourselves by this service will bring honour and praise to God. You believed the message about Christ, and you obeyed it by sharing generously with God's people and with everyone else. ₁₄Now they are praying for you and want to see you, because God used you to bless them so very much. ₁₅Thank God for his gift that is too wonderful for words!

2 Corinthians 9:1-15CEVOpen in Bible reader