Day 532 of 730

¹Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I commanded the churches of Galatia, you do likewise.

²On the first day of the week, let each one of you save, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come.

³When I arrive, I will send whoever you approve with letters to carry your gracious gift to Jerusalem.

⁴If it is appropriate for me to go also, they will go with me.

⁵But I will come to you when I have passed through Macedonia, for I am passing through Macedonia.

⁶But with you it may be that I will stay, or even winter, that you may send me on my journey wherever I go.

⁷For I do not wish to see you now in passing, but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits.

⁸But I will stay at Ephesus until Pentecost,

⁹for a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

¹⁰Now if Timothy comes, see that he is with you without fear, for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do.

¹¹Therefore 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.

¹²Now 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.

¹³Watch! Stand firm in the faith! Be courageous! Be strong!

¹⁴Let all that you do be done in love.

¹⁵Now 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),

¹⁶that you also be in subjection to such, and to everyone who helps in the work and labors.

¹⁷I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus; for that which was lacking on your part, they supplied.

¹⁸For they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge those who are like that.

¹⁹The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you much in the Lord, together with the church that is in their house.

²⁰All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

²¹This greeting is by me, Paul, with my own hand.

²²If any man does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. Come, Lord!

²³The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

²⁴My love to all of you in Christ Jesus.

¹God presides in the great assembly. He judges among the gods.

²"How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked?" Selah.

³"Defend the weak, the poor, and the fatherless. Maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.

⁴Rescue the weak and needy. Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked."

⁵They do not know, neither do they understand. They walk back and forth in darkness. All the foundations of the earth are shaken.

⁶I said, "You are gods, all of you are sons of the Most High.

⁷Nevertheless you shall die like men, and fall like one of the rulers."

⁸Arise, God, judge the earth, for you inherit all of the nations.

¹My son, pay attention to my wisdom. Turn your ear to my understanding:

²that you may maintain discretion, that your lips may preserve knowledge.

³For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. Her mouth is smoother than oil,

⁴But in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, and as sharp as a two-edged sword.

⁵Her feet go down to death. Her steps lead straight to Sheol.

⁶She gives no thought to the way of life. Her ways are crooked, and she doesn't know it.

⁷Now therefore, my sons, listen to me. Do not depart from the words of my mouth.

⁸Remove your way far from her. Do not come near the door of her house,

⁹lest you give your honor to others, and your years to the cruel one;

¹⁰lest strangers feast on your wealth, and your labors enrich another man's house.

¹¹You will groan at your latter end, when your flesh and your body are consumed,

¹²and say, "How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;

¹³neither have I obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor turned my ear to those who instructed me!

¹⁴I have come to the brink of utter ruin, in the midst of the gathered assembly."

¹⁵Drink water out of your own cistern, running water out of your own well.

¹⁶Should your springs overflow in the streets, streams of water in the public squares?

¹⁷Let them be for yourself alone, not for strangers with you.

¹⁸Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.

¹⁹A loving doe and a graceful deer- let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be captivated always with her love.

²⁰For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another?

²¹For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord. He examines all his paths.

²²The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare him. The cords of his sin hold him firmly.

²³He will die for lack of instruction. In the greatness of his folly, he will go astray.