12 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
    I possess knowledge and discretion.(A)
13 To fear the Lord(B) is to hate evil;(C)
    I hate(D) pride and arrogance,
    evil behavior and perverse speech.
14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
    I have insight, I have power.(E)
15 By me kings reign
    and rulers(F) issue decrees that are just;
16 by me princes govern,(G)
    and nobles—all who rule on earth.[a]
17 I love those who love me,(H)
    and those who seek me find me.(I)
18 With me are riches and honor,(J)
    enduring wealth and prosperity.(K)
19 My fruit is better than fine gold;(L)
    what I yield surpasses choice silver.(M)
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,(N)
    along the paths of justice,
21 bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me
    and making their treasuries full.(O)

22 “The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works,[b][c]
    before his deeds of old;
23 I was formed long ages ago,
    at the very beginning, when the world came to be.
24 When there were no watery depths, I was given birth,
    when there were no springs overflowing with water;(P)
25 before the mountains were settled in place,(Q)
    before the hills, I was given birth,(R)
26 before he made the world or its fields
    or any of the dust of the earth.(S)
27 I was there when he set the heavens in place,(T)
    when he marked out the horizon(U) on the face of the deep,
28 when he established the clouds above(V)
    and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,(W)
29 when he gave the sea its boundary(X)
    so the waters would not overstep his command,(Y)
and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.(Z)
30     Then I was constantly[d] at his side.(AA)
I was filled with delight day after day,
    rejoicing always in his presence,
31 rejoicing in his whole world
    and delighting in mankind.(AB)

32 “Now then, my children, listen(AC) to me;
    blessed are(AD) those who keep my ways.(AE)
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise;
    do not disregard it.
34 Blessed are those who listen(AF) to me,
    watching daily at my doors,
    waiting at my doorway.
35 For those who find me(AG) find life(AH)
    and receive favor from the Lord.(AI)
36 But those who fail to find me harm themselves;(AJ)
    all who hate me love death.”(AK)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 8:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; other Hebrew manuscripts all righteous rulers
  2. Proverbs 8:22 Or way; or dominion
  3. Proverbs 8:22 Or The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work; or The Lord brought me forth at the beginning of his work
  4. Proverbs 8:30 Or was the artisan; or was a little child

Psalm 104

Praise the Lord, my soul.(A)

Lord my God, you are very great;
    you are clothed with splendor and majesty.(B)

The Lord wraps(C) himself in light(D) as with a garment;
    he stretches(E) out the heavens(F) like a tent(G)
    and lays the beams(H) of his upper chambers on their waters.(I)
He makes the clouds(J) his chariot(K)
    and rides on the wings of the wind.(L)
He makes winds his messengers,[a](M)
    flames of fire(N) his servants.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 104:4 Or angels

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ,(A) and each one of you is a part of it.(B) 28 And God has placed in the church(C) first of all apostles,(D) second prophets,(E) third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing,(F) of helping, of guidance,(G) and of different kinds of tongues.(H) 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues[a]?(I) Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire(J) the greater gifts.

Love Is Indispensable

And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 12:30 Or other languages

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