Proverbs 17-18; 2 Corinthians 2
[Proverbs 17:1-28 KJV] 1 Better [is] a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices [with] strife. 2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren. 3 The fining pot [is] for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts. 4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; [and] a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue. 5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: [and] he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished. 6 Children’s children [are] the crown of old men; and the glory of children [are] their fathers. 7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince. 8 A gift [is as] a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth. 9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth [very] friends. 10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool. 11 An evil [man] seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. 12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly. 13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house. 14 The beginning of strife [is as] when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with. 15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both [are] abomination to the LORD. 16 Wherefore [is there] a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he hath] no heart [to it]? 17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. 18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, [and] becometh surety in the presence of his friend. 19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: [and] he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction. 20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief. 21 He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy. 22 A merry heart doeth good [like] a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. 23 A wicked [man] taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment. 24 Wisdom [is] before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool [are] in the ends of the earth. 25 A foolish son [is] a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him. 26 Also to punish the just [is] not good, [nor] to strike princes for equity. 27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: [and] a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. 28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: [and] he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
[Proverbs 18:1-24 KJV] 1 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh [and] intermeddleth with all wisdom. 2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself. 3 When the wicked cometh, [then] cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach. 4 The words of a man’s mouth [are as] deep waters, [and] the wellspring of wisdom [as] a flowing brook. 5 [It is] not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment. 6 A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. 7 A fool’s mouth [is] his destruction, and his lips [are] the snare of his soul. 8 The words of a talebearer [are] as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. 9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. 10 The name of the LORD [is] a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. 11 The rich man’s wealth [is] his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit. 12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour [is] humility. 13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth [it], it [is] folly and shame unto him. 14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear? 15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge. 16 A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men. 17 [He that is] first in his own cause [seemeth] just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him. 18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty. 19 A brother offended [is harder to be won] than a strong city: and [their] contentions [are] like the bars of a castle. 20 A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; [and] with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. 21 Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. 22 [Whoso] findeth a wife findeth a good [thing], and obtaineth favour of the LORD. 23 The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly. 24 A man [that hath] friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend [that] sticketh closer than a brother.
[2 Corinthians 2:1-17 KJV] 1 But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness. 2 For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me? 3 And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is [the joy] of you all. 4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. 5 But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all. 6 Sufficient to such a man [is] this punishment, which [was inflicted] of many. 7 So that contrariwise ye [ought] rather to forgive [him], and comfort [him], lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. 8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm [your] love toward him. 9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. 10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I [forgive] also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave [it], for your sakes [forgave I it] in the person of Christ; 11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. 12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to [preach] Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord, 13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia. 14 Now thanks [be] unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. 15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: 16 To the one [we are] the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who [is] sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.