Day 540 of 730

¹Moreover, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia;

²how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their liberality.

³For according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,

⁴begging us with much entreaty to receive this grace and the fellowship in the service to the saints.

⁵This was not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.

⁶So we urged Titus, that as he made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace.

⁷But as you abound in everything, in faith, utterance, knowledge, all earnestness, and in our love toward you, see that you also abound in this grace.

⁸I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love.

⁹For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.

¹⁰I give a judgment in this: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to start a year ago, not only to do, but also to be willing.

¹¹But now complete the doing also, that as there was the readiness to be willing, so there may be the completion also out of your ability.

¹²For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you do not have.

¹³For this is not that others may be eased and you distressed,

¹⁴but for equality. Your abundance at this present time supplies their lack, that their abundance also may become a supply for your lack; that there may be equality.

¹⁵As it is written, "He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack."

¹⁶But thanks be to God, who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.

¹⁷For he indeed accepted our exhortation, but being himself very earnest, he went out to you of his own accord.

¹⁸We have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the Good News is known through all the churches.

¹⁹Not only so, but who was also appointed by the churches to travel with us in this grace, which is served by us to the glory of the Lord himself, and to show our readiness.

²⁰We are avoiding this, that any man should blame us concerning this abundance which is administered by us.

²¹Having regard for honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

²²We have sent with them our brother, whom we have many times proved earnest in many things, but now much more earnest, by reason of the great confidence which he has in you.

²³As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you. As for our brothers, they are the apostles of the churches, the glory of Christ.

²⁴Therefore show the proof of your love to them in front of the churches, and of our boasting on your behalf.

¹Lord, you have been our dwelling place for all generations.

²Before the mountains were brought forth, before you had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, you are God.

³You turn man to destruction, saying, "Return, you children of men."

⁴For a thousand years in your sight are just like yesterday when it is past, like a watch in the night.

⁵You sweep them away as they sleep. In the morning they sprout like new grass.

⁶In the morning it sprouts and springs up. By evening, it is withered and dry.

⁷For we are consumed in your anger. We are troubled in your wrath.

⁸You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.

⁹For all our days have passed away in your wrath. We bring our years to an end as a sigh.

¹⁰The days of our years are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty years; yet their pride is but labor and sorrow, for it passes quickly, and we fly away.

¹¹Who knows the power of your anger, your wrath according to the fear that is due to you?

¹²So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

¹³Relent, Lord! How long? Have compassion on your servants!

¹⁴Satisfy us in the morning with your loving kindness, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

¹⁵Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen evil.

¹⁶Let your work appear to your servants; your glory to their children.

¹⁷Let the favor of the Lord our God be on us; establish the work of our hands for us; yes, establish the work of our hands.

¹A wise son listens to his father's instruction, but a scoffer doesn't listen to rebuke.

²By the fruit of his lips, a man enjoys good things; but the unfaithful crave violence.

³He who guards his mouth guards his soul. One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

⁴The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing, but the desire of the diligent shall be fully satisfied.

⁵A righteous man hates lies, but a wicked man brings shame and disgrace.

⁶Righteousness guards the way of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.

⁷There are some who pretend to be rich, yet have nothing. There are some who pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth.

⁸The ransom of a man's life is his riches, but the poor hear no threats.

⁹The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.

¹⁰Pride only breeds quarrels, but with ones who take advice is wisdom.

¹¹Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away, but he who gathers by hand makes it grow.

¹²Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when longing is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.

¹³Whoever despises instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command will be rewarded.

¹⁴The teaching of the wise is a spring of life, to turn from the snares of death.

¹⁵Good understanding wins favor; but the way of the unfaithful is hard.

¹⁶Every prudent man acts from knowledge, but a fool exposes folly.

¹⁷A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy gains healing.

¹⁸Poverty and shame come to him who refuses discipline, but he who heeds correction shall be honored.

¹⁹Longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil.

²⁰One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.

²¹Misfortune pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous.

²²A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored for the righteous.

²³An abundance of food is in poor people's fields, but injustice sweeps it away.

²⁴One who spares the rod hates his son, but one who loves him is careful to discipline him.

²⁵The righteous one eats to the satisfying of his soul, but the belly of the wicked goes hungry.