Proverbs 28:13-29:11

English Standard Version

¹³Whoever ^(A)conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
    but he who ^(B)confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
¹⁴Blessed is the one who ^(C)fears the Lord^[a] always,
    but whoever ^(D)hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
¹⁵Like ^(E)a roaring lion or ^(F)a charging bear
    is ^(G)a wicked ruler over a poor people.
¹⁶A ruler who ^(H)lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,
    but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
¹⁷If one is burdened with ^(I)the blood of another,
    he will be a fugitive until death;^[b]
    let no one help him.
¹⁸^(J)Whoever ^(K)walks in integrity will be delivered,
    but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.
¹⁹^(L)Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,
    but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
²⁰A faithful man will abound with blessings,
    but whoever hastens to be rich ^(M)will not go unpunished.
²¹To show ^(N)partiality is not good,
    but for ^(O)a piece of bread a man will do wrong.
²²A ^(P)stingy man^[c] ^(Q)hastens after wealth
    and does not know that ^(R)poverty will come upon him.
²³Whoever ^(S)rebukes a man will afterward find more favor
    than ^(T)he who flatters with his tongue.
²⁴Whoever robs his father or his mother
    and says, “That is no transgression,”
    is ^(U)a companion to a man who destroys.
²⁵A greedy man ^(V)stirs up strife,
    but the one who trusts in the Lord will ^(W)be enriched.
²⁶Whoever ^(X)trusts in his own mind is a fool,
    but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
²⁷Whoever ^(Y)gives to the poor will not want,
    but he who ^(Z)hides his eyes will get many a curse.
²⁸When ^(AA)the wicked rise, ^(AB)people hide themselves,
    but when they perish, the righteous increase.
29 ^(AC)He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck,
    will suddenly be ^(AD)broken ^(AE)beyond healing.
²When ^(AF)the righteous increase, the people rejoice,
    but when ^(AG)the wicked rule, the people groan.
³He who ^(AH)loves wisdom makes his father glad,
    but ^(AI)a companion of prostitutes ^(AJ)squanders his wealth.
⁴By justice a king ^(AK)builds up the land,
    but he who exacts gifts^[d] tears it down.
⁵^(AL)A man who flatters his neighbor
    spreads ^(AM)a net for his feet.
⁶An evil man is ^(AN)ensnared in his transgression,
    but a righteous man ^(AO)sings and rejoices.
⁷A righteous man ^(AP)knows the rights of the poor;
    a wicked man does not ^(AQ)understand such knowledge.
⁸^(AR)Scoffers set a city aflame,
    but the wise turn away wrath.
⁹If a wise man has an argument with a fool,
    the fool only rages and laughs, and there is ^(AS)no quiet.
¹⁰Bloodthirsty men ^(AT)hate one who is blameless
    and seek the life of the upright.^[e]
¹¹A fool gives full vent to his spirit,
    but a wise man quietly holds it back.

Footnotes

Proverbs 28:14 Hebrew lacks the Lord
Proverbs 28:17 Hebrew until the pit
Proverbs 28:22 Hebrew A man whose eye is evil
Proverbs 29:4 Or who taxes heavily
Proverbs 29:10 Or but the upright seek his soul

Psalm 106:1-5

English Standard Version

Give Thanks to the Lord, for He Is Good

106 ^(A)Praise the Lord!
^(B)Oh give thanks to the Lord, ^(C)for he is good,
    ^(D)for his steadfast love endures forever!
²Who can utter the mighty deeds of the Lord,
    or declare all his praise?
³Blessed are they who observe justice,
    who ^(E)do righteousness at all times!

⁴^(F)Remember me, O Lord, when you show favor to your people;
    help me when you save them,^[a]
⁵that I may look upon the prosperity of your ^(G)chosen ones,
    that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation,
    that I may glory with your inheritance.

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Footnotes

Psalm 106:4 Or Remember me, O Lord, with the favor you show to your people; help me with your salvation

2 Corinthians 5:11-21

English Standard Version

The Ministry of Reconciliation

¹¹Therefore, knowing ^(A)the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But ^(B)what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. ¹²^(C)We are not commending ourselves to you again but ^(D)giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. ¹³For if we ^(E)are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. ¹⁴For the love of Christ ^(F)controls us, because we have concluded this: that ^(G)one has died for all, therefore all have died; ¹⁵and he died for all, ^(H)that those who live might no longer live for themselves but ^(I)for him who for their sake died and was raised.

¹⁶From now on, therefore, ^(J)we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. ¹⁷Therefore, if anyone is ^(K)in Christ, he is ^(L)a new creation.^[a] ^(M)The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. ¹⁸All this is from God, ^(N)who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us ^(O)the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹that is, in Christ God was reconciling^[b] the world to himself, ^(P)not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us ^(Q)the message of reconciliation. ²⁰Therefore, ^(R)we are ambassadors for Christ, ^(S)God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. ²¹^(T)For our sake he made him to be sin ^(U)who knew no sin, so that in him we might become ^(V)the righteousness of God.