Old/New Testament
16 People might plan what they want to say, but it is the Lord who gives them the right words.
2 People think that whatever they do is right, but the Lord judges their reason for doing it.
3 Turn to the Lord for help in everything you do, and you will be successful.
4 The Lord has a plan for everything. In his plan, the wicked will be destroyed.
5 The Lord hates those who are proud. You can be sure he will punish them all.
6 Faithful love and loyalty will remove your guilt.[a] Respect the Lord, and you will stay far away from evil.
7 When people live to please the Lord, even their enemies will be at peace with them.
8 It is better to be poor and do right than to be rich and do wrong.
9 People can plan what they want to do, but it is the Lord who guides their steps.
10 When a king speaks, his words are law. So when he makes a decision, it is never a mistake.
11 The Lord wants all scales and balances to be right; he wants all business agreements to be fair.
12 Kings hate to see anyone doing wrong,[b] because kingdoms grow strong only when everyone is honest and fair.
13 Kings want to hear the truth. They like those who are honest.
14 When a king gets angry, he can put someone to death. So it is wise to keep the king happy.
15 When the king is happy, life is better for everyone. When he is pleased, it is like a refreshing spring rain.
16 Wisdom is worth much more than gold. Understanding is worth much more than silver.
17 Good people try to avoid evil. They watch what they do and protect themselves.
18 Pride is the first step toward destruction. Proud thoughts will lead you to defeat.
19 It is better to be a humble person living among the poor than to share the wealth among the proud.
20 Good things happen to those who learn from their experiences, and the Lord blesses those who trust him.
21 People will know if someone is wise. Those who choose their words carefully can be very convincing.
22 Good sense is a spring of fresh water to those who have it, but fools can offer only foolishness.
23 Wise people always think before they speak, so what they say is worth listening to.
24 Kind words are like honey; they are easy to accept and good for your health.
25 There is a way that seems right to people, but that way leads only to death.
26 The thought of hunger keeps the workers working so that they can eat.
27 Troublemakers create disasters. Their advice destroys like a wildfire.
28 Troublemakers are always causing problems. Their gossip breaks up the closest of friends.
29 Cruel people trick their neighbors and make them do wrong. 30 With a wink of the eye, they plan to trick someone. With a grin, they make plans to hurt their friends.
31 Gray hair is a crown of glory on people who have lived good lives. It is earned by living right.
32 It is better to be patient than to be a strong soldier. It is better to control your anger than to capture a city.
33 People might throw lots to make a decision, but the answer always comes from the Lord.
17 It is better to have nothing but a dry piece of bread to eat in peace than a whole house full of food with everyone arguing.
2 A smart servant will gain control over his master’s foolish son. He will be treated like a son and get a share of the inheritance.
3 Fire is used to make gold and silver pure, but a person’s heart is made pure by the Lord.
4 People who do evil listen to evil ideas. Liars listen to liars.
5 Whoever makes fun of beggars insults their Maker. Whoever laughs at someone else’s trouble will be punished.
6 Grandchildren are the pride and joy of old age, and children take great pride in their parents.
7 You wouldn’t expect to hear a fine speech from a fool, and you shouldn’t expect lies from a ruler.
8 Some people think a bribe is like a lucky charm—it seems to work wherever they go.
9 Forgive someone, and you will strengthen your friendship. Keep reminding them, and you will destroy it.
10 Smart people learn more from a single correction than fools learn from a hundred beatings.
11 Those who are evil only want to cause trouble. In the end, punishment without mercy will be sent to them.
12 It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool who is busy doing foolish things.
13 If you do wrong to those who were good to you, you will have trouble the rest of your life.
14 The start of an argument is like a small leak in a dam. Stop it before a big fight breaks out.
15 The Lord hates these two things: punishing the innocent and letting the guilty go free.
16 Money is wasted on fools. They cannot buy wisdom when they have no sense.
17 A friend loves you all the time, but a brother was born to help in times of trouble.
18 Only a fool would promise to pay for someone else’s debts.
19 A troublemaker loves to start arguments. Anyone who likes to brag is asking for trouble.
20 Crooks will not profit from their crimes, and those who plan to cause trouble will be trapped when it comes.
21 A man who has a fool for a son will be disappointed. A fool brings no joy to his father.
22 Happiness is good medicine, but sorrow is a disease.
23 A wicked judge will accept a bribe, and that keeps justice from being done.
24 Intelligent people think about what needs to be done here and now. Fools are always dreaming about faraway places.
25 Foolish children upset their parents and make them sad.
26 It is wrong to punish an innocent person or attack leaders for doing what is right.
27 Intelligent people choose their words carefully. Those who know what they are doing remain calm.[c]
28 Silent fools seem wise. They say nothing and appear to be smart.
18 Some people like to do things their own way, and they get upset when people give them advice.
2 Fools don’t want to learn from others. They only want to tell their own ideas.
3 Do something evil, and people will hate you. Do something shameful, and they will have no respect for you.
4 Words from wise people are like water bubbling up from a deep well—the well of wisdom.
5 You must be fair in judging others. It is wrong to favor the guilty and rob the innocent of justice.
6 Fools say things to start arguments. They are just asking for a beating.
7 Fools hurt themselves when they speak. Their own words trap them.
8 People love to hear gossip. It is like tasty food on its way to the stomach.
9 Someone who does careless work is as bad as someone who destroys things.
10 The name of the Lord is like a strong tower. Those who do what is right can run to him for protection.
11 The rich think their wealth will protect them. They think it is a strong fortress.
12 A proud person will soon be ruined, but a humble person will be honored.
13 Let people finish speaking before you try to answer them. That way you will not embarrass yourself and look foolish.
14 A good attitude will support you when you are sick, but if you give up, nothing can help.[d]
15 Wise people want to learn more, so they listen closely to gain knowledge.
16 Gifts can open many doors and help you meet important people.
17 The first person to speak always seems right until someone comes and asks the right questions.
18 The best way to settle an argument between two powerful people may be to use lots.
19 An insulted brother is harder to win back than a city with strong walls. Arguments separate people like the strong bars of a palace gate.
20 Your words can be as satisfying as fruit, as pleasing as the food that fills your stomach.
21 The tongue can speak words that bring life or death. Those who love to talk must be ready to accept what it brings.
22 If you find a wife, you have found something good. She shows that the Lord is happy with you.
23 The poor are polite when they beg for help. The rich are rude with their answer.
24 Some friends are fun to be with,[e] but a true friend can be better than a brother.
6 We are workers together with God. So we beg you: Don’t let the grace that you received from God be for nothing. 2 God says,
“I heard you at the right time,
and I gave you help on the day of salvation.” (A)
I tell you that the “right time” is now. The “day of salvation” is now.
3 We don’t want people to find anything wrong with our work. So we do nothing that will be a problem to others. 4 But in every way we show that we are servants of God. We never give up, even though we face troubles, difficulties, and problems of every kind. 5 We are beaten and thrown into prison. People get upset at us and fight against us. We work hard, and sometimes we get no sleep or food. 6 We show that we are God’s servants by our pure lives, by our understanding, by our patience, and by our kindness. We show it by the Holy Spirit, by genuine love, 7 by speaking the truth, and by depending on God’s power. This right way of living has prepared us to defend ourselves against every kind of attack.
8 Some people honor us, but others shame us. Some people say good things about us, but others say bad things. Some people say we are liars, but we speak the truth. 9 To some people we are not known, but we are well known. We seem to be dying, but look! We continue to live. We are punished, but we are not killed. 10 We have much sadness, but we are always rejoicing. We are poor, but we are making many people rich in faith. We have nothing, but really we have everything.
11 We have spoken freely to you people in Corinth. We have opened our hearts to you. 12 Our feelings of love for you have not stopped. It is you who have stopped your feelings of love for us. 13 I speak to you as if you were my children. Do the same as we have done—open your hearts also.
We Are God’s Temple
14 You are not the same as those who don’t believe. So don’t join yourselves to them. Good and evil don’t belong together. Light and darkness cannot share the same room. 15 How can there be any unity between Christ and the devil[a]? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 God’s temple[b] cannot have anything to do with idols, and we are the temple of the living God. As God said,
“I will live with them
and walk with them;
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.” (B)
17 “So come away from those people
and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord.
Don’t touch anything that is not clean,
and I will accept you.” (C)
18 “I will be your father,
and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord All-Powerful.” (D)
Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International