Day 542 of 730

¹Now I Paul, myself, entreat you by the humility and gentleness of Christ; I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you.

²Yes, I beg you that I may not, when present, show courage with the confidence with which I intend to be bold against some, who consider us to be walking according to the flesh.

³For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh;

⁴for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds,

⁵throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;

⁶and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience will be made full.

⁷Do you look at things only as they appear in front of your face? If anyone trusts in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is Christ's, so also we are Christ's.

⁸For though I should boast somewhat abundantly concerning our authority, (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down) I will not be disappointed,

⁹that I may not seem as if I desire to terrify you by my letters.

¹⁰For, "His letters," they say, "are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is despised."

¹¹Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are present.

¹²For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.

¹³But we will not boast beyond proper limits, but within the boundaries with which God appointed to us, which reach even to you.

¹⁴For we do not stretch ourselves too much, as though we did not reach to you. For we came even as far as to you with the Good News of Christ,

¹⁵not boasting beyond proper limits in other men's labors, but having hope that as your faith grows, we will be abundantly enlarged by you in our sphere of influence,

¹⁶so as to proclaim the Good News even to the parts beyond you, not to boast in what someone else has already done.

¹⁷But "he who boasts, let him boast in the Lord."

¹⁸For it is not he who commends himself who is approved, but whom the Lord commends.

¹It is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, Most High;

²to proclaim your loving kindness in the morning, and your faithfulness every night,

³with the ten-stringed lute, with the harp, and with the melody of the lyre.

⁴For you, Lord, have made me glad through your work. I will triumph in the works of your hands.

⁵How great are your works, Lord! Your thoughts are very deep.

⁶A senseless man doesn't know, neither does a fool understand this:

⁷though the wicked spring up as the grass, and all the evildoers flourish, they will be destroyed forever.

⁸But you, Lord, are on high forevermore.

⁹For, behold, your enemies, Lord, for, behold, your enemies shall perish. All the evildoers will be scattered.

¹⁰But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox. I am anointed with fresh oil.

¹¹My eye has also seen my enemies. My ears have heard of the wicked enemies who rise up against me.

¹²The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree. He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

¹³They are planted in the Lord's house. They will flourish in our God's courts.

¹⁴They will still bring forth fruit in old age. They will be full of sap and green,

¹⁵to show that the Lord is upright. He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

¹A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

²The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of fools gush out folly.

³The Lord's eyes are everywhere, keeping watch on the evil and the good.

⁴A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but deceit in it crushes the spirit.

⁵A fool despises his father's correction, but he who heeds reproof shows prudence.

⁶In the house of the righteous is much treasure, but the income of the wicked brings trouble.

⁷The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so with the heart of fools.

⁸The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

⁹The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but he loves him who follows after righteousness.

¹⁰There is stern discipline for one who forsakes the way: whoever hates reproof shall die.

¹¹Sheol and Abaddon are before the Lord- how much more then the hearts of the children of men!

¹²A scoffer doesn't love to be reproved; he will not go to the wise.

¹³A glad heart makes a cheerful face; but an aching heart breaks the spirit.

¹⁴The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

¹⁵All the days of the afflicted are wretched, but one who has a cheerful heart enjoys a continual feast.

¹⁶Better is little, with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure with trouble.

¹⁷Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, than a fattened calf with hatred.

¹⁸A wrathful man stirs up contention, but one who is slow to anger appeases strife.

¹⁹The way of the sluggard is like a thorn patch, but the path of the upright is a highway.

²⁰A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises his mother.

²¹Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding keeps his way straight.

²²Where there is no counsel, plans fail; but in a multitude of counselors they are established.

²³Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth. How good is a word at the right time!

²⁴The path of life leads upward for the wise, to keep him from going downward to Sheol.

²⁵The Lord will uproot the house of the proud, but he will keep the widow's borders intact.

²⁶The Lord detests the thoughts of the wicked, but the thoughts of the pure are pleasing.

²⁷He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes will live.

²⁸The heart of the righteous weighs answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil.

²⁹The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

³⁰The light of the eyes rejoices the heart. Good news gives health to the bones.

³¹The ear that listens to reproof lives, and will be at home among the wise.

³²He who refuses correction despises his own soul, but he who listens to reproof gets understanding.

³³The fear of the Lord teaches wisdom. Before honor is humility.