Through the Bible – Day 261

Bible text(s)

Proverbs 29

Use good sense

₁If you keep being stubborn

after many warnings,

you will suddenly discover

you have gone too far.

₂When justice rules a nation,

everyone is glad;

when injustice rules,

everyone groans.

₃If you love wisdom

your parents will be glad,

but chasing after bad women

will cost you everything.

₄An honest ruler

makes the nation strong;

a ruler who takes bribes

will bring it to ruin.

₅Flattery is nothing less

than setting a trap.

₆Your sins will catch you,

but everyone who lives right

will sing and celebrate.

₇The wicked don't care

about the rights of the poor,

but good people do.

₈Sneering at others is a spark

that sets a city on fire;

using good sense can put out

the flames of anger.

₉Be wise and don't sue a fool.

You won't get satisfaction,

because all the fool will do

is sneer and shout.

₁₀A murderer hates everyone

who is honest

and lives right.

₁₁Don't be a fool

and quickly lose your temper—

be sensible and patient.

₁₂A ruler who listens to lies

will have corrupt officials.

₁₃The poor and all who abuse them

must each depend on God

for light.

₁₄Kings who are fair to the poor

will rule for ever.

₁₅Correct your children,

and they will be wise;

children out of control

disgrace their mothers.

₁₆Crime increases

when crooks are in power,

but law-abiding citizens

will see them fall.

₁₇If you correct your children,

they will bring you peace

and happiness.

₁₈Without guidance from God

law and order disappear,

but God blesses everyone

who obeys his Law.

₁₉Even when servants are clever,

it takes more than words

to make them obey.

₂₀There is more hope for a fool

than for someone who speaks

without thinking.

₂₁Slaves you treat kindly

from their childhood

will cause you sorrow.

₂₂A person with a quick temper

stirs up arguments

and commits a lot of sins.

₂₃Too much pride brings disgrace;

humility leads to honour.

₂₄If you take part in a crime

you are your worst enemy,

because even under oath

you can't tell the truth.

₂₅Don't fall into the trap

of being a coward—

trust the LORD,

and you will be safe.

₂₆Many try to make friends

with a ruler,

but justice comes

from the LORD.

₂₇Good people and criminals

can't stand each other.

Proverbs 29:1-27CEVOpen in Bible reader

Galatians 1

A true apostle and the true message

_1-2From the apostle Paul and from all the Lord's followers with me.

I was chosen to be an apostle by Jesus Christ and by God the Father, who raised him from death. No mere human chose or appointed me to this work.

To the churches in Galatia.

₃I pray that God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you and will bless you with peace! ₄Christ obeyed God our Father and gave himself as a sacrifice for our sins to rescue us from this evil world. ₅God will be given glory for ever and ever. Amen.

The only true message

₆I am shocked that you have so quickly turned from God, who chose you because of his wonderful kindness. You have believed another message, ₇when there is really only one true message. But some people are causing you trouble and want to make you turn away from the good news about Christ. ₈I pray that God will punish anyone who preaches anything different from our message to you! It doesn't matter if that person is one of us or an angel from heaven. ₉I have said it before, and I will say it again. I hope God will punish anyone who preaches anything different from what you have already believed.

₁₀I am not trying to please people. I want to please God. Do you think I am trying to please people? If I were doing that, I would not be a servant of Christ.

God chose Paul to be an apostle

How Paul became an apostle

₁₁My friends, I want you to know that no one made up the message I preach. ₁₂It wasn't given or taught to me by some mere human. My message came directly from Jesus Christ when he appeared to me.

₁₃You know how I used to live as a Jew. I was cruel to God's church and even tried to destroy it. ₁₄I was a much better Jew than anyone else my own age, and I obeyed every law that our ancestors had given us. ₁₅But even before I was born, God had chosen me. He was kind and had decided ₁₆to show me his Son, so that I would announce his message to the Gentiles. I didn't talk this over with anyone. ₁₇I didn't say a word, not even to the men in Jerusalem who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went at once to Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus.

₁₈Three years later I went to visit Peter in Jerusalem and stayed with him for fifteen days. ₁₉The only other apostle I saw was James, the Lord's brother. ₂₀And in the presence of God I swear I am telling the truth.

₂₁Later, I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. ₂₂But no one who belonged to Christ's churches in Judea had ever seen me in person. ₂₃They had only heard that the one who had been cruel to them was now preaching the message that he had once tried to destroy. ₂₄And because of me, they praised God.

Galatians 1:1-24CEVOpen in Bible reader