Bible Reading: September 13, 2024

Proverbs 25-27; 2 Corinthians 6

[Proverbs 25:1-28 KJV] 1 These [are] also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out. 2 [It is] the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings [is] to search out a matter. 3 The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings [is] unsearchable. 4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer. 5 Take away the wicked [from] before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness. 6 Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great [men]: 7 For better [it is] that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen. 8 Go not forth hastily to strive, lest [thou know not] what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame. 9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour [himself]; and discover not a secret to another: 10 Lest he that heareth [it] put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away. 11 A word fitly spoken [is like] apples of gold in pictures of silver. 12 [As] an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, [so is] a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. 13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, [so is] a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters. 14 Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift [is like] clouds and wind without rain. 15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone. 16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it. 17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and [so] hate thee. 18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour [is] a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow. 19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble [is like] a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint. 20 [As] he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, [and as] vinegar upon nitre, so [is] he that singeth songs to an heavy heart. 21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: 22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee. 23 The north wind driveth away rain: so [doth] an angry countenance a backbiting tongue. 24 [It is] better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house. 25 [As] cold waters to a thirsty soul, so [is] good news from a far country. 26 A righteous man falling down before the wicked [is as] a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring. 27 [It is] not good to eat much honey: so [for men] to search their own glory [is not] glory. 28 He that [hath] no rule over his own spirit [is like] a city [that is] broken down, [and] without walls.

[Proverbs 26:1-28 KJV] 1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool. 2 As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come. 3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back. 4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. 6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, [and] drinketh damage. 7 The legs of the lame are not equal: so [is] a parable in the mouth of fools. 8 As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so [is] he that giveth honour to a fool. 9 [As] a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so [is] a parable in the mouth of fools. 10 The great [God] that formed all [things] both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors. 11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, [so] a fool returneth to his folly. 12 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? [there is] more hope of a fool than of him. 13 The slothful [man] saith, [There is] a lion in the way; a lion [is] in the streets. 14 [As] the door turneth upon his hinges, so [doth] the slothful upon his bed. 15 The slothful hideth his hand in [his] bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. 16 The sluggard [is] wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason. 17 He that passeth by, [and] meddleth with strife [belonging] not to him, [is like] one that taketh a dog by the ears. 18 As a mad [man] who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, 19 So [is] the man [that] deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport? 20 Where no wood is, [there] the fire goeth out: so where [there is] no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. 21 [As] coals [are] to burning coals, and wood to fire; so [is] a contentious man to kindle strife. 22 The words of a talebearer [are] as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. 23 Burning lips and a wicked heart [are like] a potsherd covered with silver dross. 24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; 25 When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for [there are] seven abominations in his heart. 26 [Whose] hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the [whole] congregation. 27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him. 28 A lying tongue hateth [those that are] afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

[Proverbs 27:1-27 KJV] 1 Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. 2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips. 3 A stone [is] heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool’s wrath [is] heavier than them both. 4 Wrath [is] cruel, and anger [is] outrageous; but who [is] able to stand before envy? 5 Open rebuke [is] better than secret love. 6 Faithful [are] the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy [are] deceitful. 7 The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. 8 As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so [is] a man that wandereth from his place. 9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so [doth] the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel. 10 Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: [for] better [is] a neighbour [that is] near than a brother far off. 11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me. 12 A prudent [man] foreseeth the evil, [and] hideth himself; [but] the simple pass on, [and] are punished. 13 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman. 14 He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him. 15 A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike. 16 Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, [which] bewrayeth [itself]. 17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. 18 Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured. 19 As in water face [answereth] to face, so the heart of man to man. 20 Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied. 21 [As] the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so [is] a man to his praise. 22 Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, [yet] will not his foolishness depart from him. 23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, [and] look well to thy herds. 24 For riches [are] not for ever: and doth the crown [endure] to every generation? 25 The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered. 26 The lambs [are] for thy clothing, and the goats [are] the price of the field. 27 And [thou shalt have] goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and [for] the maintenance for thy maidens.

[2 Corinthians 6:1-18 KJV] 1 We then, [as] workers together [with him], beseech [you] also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now [is] the accepted time; behold, now [is] the day of salvation.) 3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: 4 But in all [things] approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; 6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, 7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and [yet] true; 9 As unknown, and [yet] well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and [yet] possessing all things. 11 O [ye] Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged. 12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. 13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto [my] children,) be ye also enlarged. 14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in [them]; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

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