The Upright and the Wicked Contrasted

101 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise child makes a glad father, but a foolish child is a mother's grief.

2 Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death. 3 The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.

4 A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

5 A child who gathers in summer is prudent, but a child who sleeps in harvest brings shame.

6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

7 The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.

8 The wise of heart will heed commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.

9 Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever follows perverse ways will be found out.

10 Whoever winks the eye causes trouble, but the one who rebukes boldly makes peace.

11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

12 Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.

13 On the lips of one who has understanding wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of one who lacks sense.

14 The wise lay up knowledge, but the babbling of a fool brings ruin near.

15 The wealth of the rich is their fortress; the poverty of the poor is their ruin.

16 The wage of the righteous leads to life, the gain of the wicked to sin.

17 Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but one who rejects a rebuke goes astray.

18 Lying lips conceal hatred, and whoever utters slander is a fool.

19 When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but the prudent are restrained in speech.

20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the mind of the wicked is of little worth. 21 The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense.

22 The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.

23 Doing wrong is like sport to a fool, but wise conduct is pleasure to a person of understanding.

24 What the wicked dread will come upon them, but the desire of the righteous will be granted. 25 When the tempest passes, the wicked are no more, but the righteous are established forever.

26 Like vinegar to the teeth, and smoke to the eyes, so are the lazy to their employers.

27 The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short. 28 The hope of the righteous ends in gladness, but the expectation of the wicked comes to nothing.

29 The way of the Lord is a stronghold for the upright, but destruction for evildoers. 30 The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not remain in the land.

31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off. 32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.

111 A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but an accurate weight is his delight.

2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace; but wisdom is with the humble.

3 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.

4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.

5 The righteousness of the blameless keeps their ways straight, but the wicked fall by their own wickedness. 6 The righteousness of the upright saves them, but the treacherous are taken captive by their schemes.

7 When the wicked die, their hope perishes, and the expectation of the godless comes to nothing.

8 The righteous are delivered from trouble, and the wicked get into it instead.

9 With their mouths the godless would destroy their neighbors, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.

10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices; and when the wicked perish, there is jubilation. 11 By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

12 Whoever belittles another lacks sense, but an intelligent person remains silent. 13 A gossip goes about telling secrets, but one who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a confidence.

14 Where there is no guidance, a nation falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

15 To guarantee loans for a stranger brings trouble, but there is safety in refusing to do so.

16 A gracious woman gets honor, but she who hates virtue is covered with shame. The timid become destitute, but the aggressive gain riches.

17 Those who are kind reward themselves, but the cruel do themselves harm.

18 The wicked earn no real gain, but those who sow righteousness get a true reward.

19 Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live, but whoever pursues evil will die.

20 Crooked minds are an abomination to the Lord, but those of blameless ways are his delight.

21 Be assured, the wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will escape.

22 Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman without good sense.

23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good; the expectation of the wicked in wrath.

24 Some give freely, yet grow all the richer; others withhold what is due, and only suffer want.

25 A generous person will be enriched, and one who gives water will get water.

26 The people curse those who hold back grain, but a blessing is on the head of those who sell it.

27 Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to the one who searches for it.

28 Those who trust in their riches will wither, but the righteous will flourish like green leaves.

29 Those who trouble their households will inherit wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise.

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, but violence takes lives away.

31 If the righteous are repaid on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!

121 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but those who hate to be rebuked are stupid.

2 The good obtain favor from the Lord, but those who devise evil he condemns.

3 No one finds security by wickedness, but the root of the righteous will never be moved.

4 A good wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.

5 The thoughts of the righteous are just; the advice of the wicked is treacherous.

6 The words of the wicked are a deadly ambush, but the speech of the upright delivers them.

7 The wicked are overthrown and are no more, but the house of the righteous will stand.

8 One is commended for good sense, but a perverse mind is despised.

9 Better to be despised and have a servant, than to be self-important and lack food.

10 The righteous know the needs of their animals, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.

11 Those who till their land will have plenty of food, but those who follow worthless pursuits have no sense.

12 The wicked covet the proceeds of wickedness, but the root of the righteous bears fruit.

13 The evil are ensnared by the transgression of their lips, but the righteous escape from trouble.

14 From the fruit of the mouth one is filled with good things, and manual labor has its reward.

15 Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to advice.

16 Fools show their anger at once, but the prudent ignore an insult.

17 Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness speaks deceitfully.

18 Rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

19 Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.

20 Deceit is in the mind of those who plan evil, but those who counsel peace have joy.

21 No harm happens to the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble.

22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.

23 One who is clever conceals knowledge, but the mind of a fool broadcasts folly.

24 The hand of the diligent will rule, while the lazy will be put to forced labor.

25 Anxiety weighs down the human heart, but a good word cheers it up.

26 The righteous gives good advice to friends, but the way of the wicked leads astray.

27 The lazy do not roast their game, but the diligent obtain precious wealth.

28 In the path of righteousness there is life, in walking its path there is no death.

41 Therefore, since it is by God's mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God's word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus' sake. 6 For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Living by Faith

7 But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.

8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. 11 For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you. 13 But just as we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance with scripture-"I believed, and so I spoke"-we also believe, and so we speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will bring us with you into his presence. 15 Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. 16 So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. 17 For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, 18 because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.