Proverbs 4:1-19

New International Version

Get Wisdom at Any Cost

4 Listen, my sons,^(A) to a father’s instruction;^(B)
    pay attention and gain understanding.^(C)
²I give you sound learning,
    so do not forsake my teaching.
³For I too was a son to my father,
    still tender, and cherished by my mother.
⁴Then he taught me, and he said to me,
    “Take hold^(D) of my words with all your heart;
    keep my commands, and you will live.^(E)
⁵Get wisdom,^(F) get understanding;
    do not forget my words or turn away from them.
⁶Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;^(G)
    love her, and she will watch over you.^(H)
⁷The beginning of wisdom is this: Get^[a] wisdom.
    Though it cost all^(I) you have,^[b] get understanding.^(J)
⁸Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
    embrace her, and she will honor you.^(K)
⁹She will give you a garland to grace your head
    and present you with a glorious crown.^(L)”

¹⁰Listen, my son,^(M) accept what I say,
    and the years of your life will be many.^(N)
¹¹I instruct^(O) you in the way of wisdom
    and lead you along straight paths.^(P)
¹²When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
    when you run, you will not stumble.^(Q)
¹³Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
    guard it well, for it is your life.^(R)
¹⁴Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
    or walk in the way of evildoers.^(S)
¹⁵Avoid it, do not travel on it;
    turn from it and go on your way.
¹⁶For they cannot rest until they do evil;^(T)
    they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
¹⁷They eat the bread of wickedness
    and drink the wine of violence.^(U)

¹⁸The path of the righteous^(V) is like the morning sun,^(W)
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.^(X)
¹⁹But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;^(Y)
they do not know what makes them stumble.^(Z)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

Proverbs 4:7 Or Wisdom is supreme; therefore get
Proverbs 4:7 Or wisdom. / Whatever else you get

Psalm 103:1-5

New International Version

Psalm 103

Of David.

¹Praise the Lord,^(A) my soul;^(B)
    all my inmost being, praise his holy name.^(C)
²Praise the Lord,^(D) my soul,
    and forget not^(E) all his benefits—
³who forgives all your sins^(F)
    and heals^(G) all your diseases,
⁴who redeems your life^(H) from the pit
    and crowns you with love and compassion,^(I)
⁵who satisfies^(J) your desires with good things
    so that your youth is renewed^(K) like the eagle’s.^(L)

Read full chapter

1 Corinthians 10:14-33

New International Version

Idol Feasts and the Lord’s Supper

¹⁴Therefore, my dear friends,^(A) flee from idolatry.^(B) ¹⁵I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. ¹⁶Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break^(C) a participation in the body of Christ?^(D) ¹⁷Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body,^(E) for we all share the one loaf.

¹⁸Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices^(F) participate in the altar? ¹⁹Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?^(G) ²⁰No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons,^(H) not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. ²¹You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.^(I) ²²Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy?^(J) Are we stronger than he?^(K)

The Believer’s Freedom

²³“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial.^(L) “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. ²⁴No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.^(M)

²⁵Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience,^(N) ²⁶for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”^[a]^(O)

²⁷If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you^(P) without raising questions of conscience. ²⁸But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience.^(Q) ²⁹I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom^(R) being judged by another’s conscience? ³⁰If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?^(S)

³¹So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.^(T) ³²Do not cause anyone to stumble,^(U) whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God^(V)— ³³even as I try to please everyone in every way.^(W) For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many,^(X) so that they may be saved.^(Y)