11 The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel: 2 to know wisdom and instruction;
to discern the words of understanding; 3 to receive instruction in wise dealing,
in righteousness, justice, and equity; 4 to give prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young man: 5 that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning;
that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel: 6 to understand a proverb, and parables,
the words and riddles of the wise.
7 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge;
but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
8 My son, listen to your father’s instruction,
and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching: 9 for they will be a garland to grace your head,
and chains around your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice you, don’t consent. 11 If they say, “Come with us,
Let’s lay in wait for blood;
let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause; 12 let’s swallow them up alive like Sheol,
and whole, like those who go down into the pit. 13 We’ll find all valuable wealth.
We’ll fill our houses with spoil. 14 You shall cast your lot among us.
We’ll all have one purse.” 15 My son, don’t walk in the way with them.
Keep your foot from their path, 16 for their feet run to evil.
They hurry to shed blood. 17 For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird: 18 but these lay wait for their own blood.
They lurk secretly for their own lives. 19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain.
It takes away the life of its owners.
20 Wisdom calls aloud in the street.
She utters her voice in the public squares. 21 She calls at the head of noisy places.
At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words: 22 “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?
How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery,
and fools hate knowledge? 23 Turn at my reproof.
Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you.
I will make known my words to you. 24 Because I have called, and you have refused;
I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention; 25 but you have ignored all my counsel,
and wanted none of my reproof; 26 I also will laugh at your disaster.
I will mock when calamity overtakes you; 27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind;
when distress and anguish come on you. 28 Then will they call on me, but I will not answer.
They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me; 29 because they hated knowledge,
and didn’t choose the fear of Yahweh. 30 They wanted none of my counsel.
They despised all my reproof. 31 Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way,
and be filled with their own schemes. 32 For the backsliding of the simple will kill them.
The careless ease of fools will destroy them. 33 But whoever listens to me will dwell securely,
and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”
21 My son, if you will receive my words,
and store up my commandments within you; 2 So as to turn your ear to wisdom,
and apply your heart to understanding; 3 Yes, if you call out for discernment,
and lift up your voice for understanding; 4 If you seek her as silver,
and search for her as for hidden treasures: 5 then you will understand the fear of Yahweh,
and find the knowledge of God. 6 For Yahweh gives wisdom.
Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding. 7 He lays up sound wisdom for the upright.
He is a shield to those who walk in integrity; 8 that he may guard the paths of justice,
and preserve the way of his saints. 9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice,
equity and every good path.
10 For wisdom will enter into your heart.
Knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. 11 Discretion will watch over you.
Understanding will keep you, 12 to deliver you from the way of evil,
from the men who speak perverse things; 13 who forsake the paths of uprightness,
to walk in the ways of darkness; 14 who rejoice to do evil,
and delight in the perverseness of evil; 15 who are crooked in their ways,
and wayward in their paths: 16 To deliver you from the strange woman,
even from the foreigner who flatters with her words; 17 who forsakes the friend of her youth,
and forgets the covenant of her God: 18 for her house leads down to death,
her paths to the dead. 19 None who go to her return again,
neither do they attain to the paths of life: 20 that you may walk in the way of good men,
and keep the paths of the righteous. 21 For the upright will dwell in the land.
The perfect will remain in it. 22 But the wicked will be cut off from the land.
The treacherous will be rooted out of it.
161 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I commanded the assemblies of Galatia, you do likewise. 2 On the first day of the week, let each one of you save, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come. 3 When I arrive, I will send whoever you approve with letters to carry your gracious gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it is appropriate for me to go also, they will go with me.
5 But I will come to you when I have passed through Macedonia, for I am passing through Macedonia. 6 But with you it may be that I will stay, or even winter, that you may send me on my journey wherever I go. 7 For I do not wish to see you now in passing, but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits. 8 But I will stay at Ephesus until Pentecost, 9 for a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
10 Now if Timothy comes, see that he is with you without fear, for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do. 11 Therefore let no one despise him. But set him forward on his journey in peace, that he may come to me; for I expect him with the brothers. 12 Now concerning Apollos, the brother, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brothers; and it was not at all his desire to come now; but he will come when he has an opportunity.
13 Watch! Stand firm in the faith! Be courageous! Be strong! 14 Let all that you do be done in love. 15 Now I beg you, brothers (you know the house of Stephanas, that it is the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have set themselves to serve the saints), 16 that you also be in subjection to such, and to everyone who helps in the work and labors. 17 I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus; for that which was lacking on your part, they supplied. 18 For they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge those who are like that.
19 The assemblies of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you much in the Lord, together with the assembly that is in their house. 20 All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. 21 This greeting is by me, Paul, with my own hand. 22 If any man doesn’t love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed [1]. Come, Lord! [2] 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 24 My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.
