Through the Bible – Day 259

Bible text(s)

Proverbs 27

Don't boast about tomorrow

₁Don't boast about tomorrow!

Each day brings

its own surprises.

₂Don't boast about yourself—

let others praise you.

₃Stones and sand are heavy,

but trouble caused by a fool

is a much heavier load.

₄An angry person is dangerous,

but a jealous person

is even worse.

₅A truly good friend

will openly correct you.

₆You can trust a friend

who corrects you,

but kisses from an enemy

are nothing but lies.

₇If you have had enough to eat,

honey doesn't taste good,

but if you are really hungry,

you will eat anything.

₈When you are far from home,

you feel like a bird

without a nest.

₉The sweet smell of incense

can make you feel good,

but true friendship

is better still.

₁₀Don't desert an old friend

of your family

or visit your relatives

when you are in trouble.

A friend nearby is better

than relatives far away.

₁₁My child, show good sense!

Then I will be happy

and able to answer anyone

who criticizes me.

₁₂Be cautious and hide

when you see danger—

don't be stupid and walk

right into trouble.

₁₃Don't loan money to a stranger

unless you are given something

to guarantee payment.

₁₄A loud greeting

early in the morning

is the same as a curse.

₁₅The steady dripping of rain

and the nagging of a wife

are one and the same.

₁₆It's easier to catch the wind

or hold olive oil in your hand

than to stop a nagging wife.

₁₇Just as iron sharpens iron,

friends sharpen the minds

of each other.

₁₈Take care of a tree,

and you will eat its fruit;

look after your master,

and you will be praised.

₁₉You see your face in a mirror

and your thoughts

in the minds of others.

₂₀Death and the grave

are never satisfied,

and neither are we.

₂₁Gold and silver are tested

in a red-hot furnace,

but we are tested by praise.

₂₂No matter how hard

you beat a fool,

you can't pound out

the foolishness.

₂₃You should take good care

of your sheep and goats,

₂₄because wealth and honour

don't last for ever.

₂₅After the hay is cut

and the new growth appears

and the harvest is over,

₂₆you can sell lambs and goats

to buy clothes and land.

₂₇From the milk of the goats,

you can make enough cheese

to feed your family

and all your servants.

Proverbs 27:1-27CEVOpen in Bible reader

2 Corinthians 12

Visions from the Lord

₁I have to boast. There is nothing to be gained by it, but I must boast about the visions and other things that the Lord has shown me. ₂I know about one of Christ's followers who was taken up into the third heaven fourteen years ago. I don't know if the man was still in his body when it happened, but God certainly knows.

₃As I said, only God really knows if this man was in his body at the time. ₄But he was taken up into paradise, where he heard things that are too wonderful to tell. ₅I will boast about that man, but not about myself, except to say how weak I am.

₆Yet even if I did boast, I would not be foolish. I would simply be speaking the truth. But I will try not to say too much. That way, none of you will think more highly of me than you should because of what you have seen me do and say. ₇Of course, I am now referring to the wonderful things I saw. One of Satan's angels was sent to make me suffer terribly, so that I would not feel too proud.

₈Three times I begged the Lord to make this suffering go away. ₉But he replied, “My kindness is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.” So if Christ keeps giving me his power, I will gladly boast about how weak I am. ₁₀Yes, I am glad to be weak or insulted or ill-treated or to have troubles and sufferings, if it is for Christ. Because when I am weak, I am strong.

Paul's concern for the Lord's followers at Corinth

₁₁I have been making a fool of myself. But you forced me to do it, when you should have been speaking up for me. I may be nothing at all, but I am as good as those super apostles. ₁₂When I was with you, I was patient and worked all the powerful miracles and signs and wonders of a true apostle. ₁₃You missed out on only one blessing that the other churches received. That is, you didn't have to support me. Forgive me for doing you wrong.

₁₄I am planning to visit you for the third time. But I still won't make a burden of myself. What I really want is you, and not what you have. Children are not supposed to save up for their parents, but parents are supposed to take care of their children. ₁₅So I will gladly give all that I have and all that I am. Will you love me less for loving you too much? ₁₆You agree that I wasn't a burden to you. Perhaps that's because I was trying to catch you off guard and trick you. ₁₇Were you cheated by any of those I sent to you? ₁₈I urged Titus to visit you, and I sent another follower with him. But Titus didn't cheat you, and we felt and behaved the same way he did.

₁₉Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? Actually, we have been speaking to God as followers of Christ. But, my friends, we did it all for your good.

₂₀I am afraid that when I come, we won't be pleased with each other. I fear that some of you may be arguing or jealous or angry or selfish or gossiping or insulting each other. I even fear that you may be proud and acting like a mob. ₂₁I am afraid God will make me ashamed when I visit you again. I will feel like crying because many of you have never given up your old sins. You are still doing things that are immoral, indecent, and shameful.

2 Corinthians 12:1-21CEVOpen in Bible reader