Day 549 of 730

¹But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a bondservant, though he is lord of all;

²but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father.

³So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world.

⁴But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law,

⁵that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of children.

⁶And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba, Father!"

⁷So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God.

⁸However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods.

⁹But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, why do you turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental principles, to which you desire to be in bondage all over again?

¹⁰You observe days, months, seasons, and years.

¹¹I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you.

¹²I beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong,

¹³but you know that because of weakness of the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time;

¹⁴and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not despise nor reject; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

¹⁵Where was the blessing you enjoyed? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.

¹⁶So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?

¹⁷They zealously seek you, but for no good purpose; they desire to alienate you, that you may be zealous for them.

¹⁸But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I am present with you.

¹⁹My children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you-

²⁰but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

²¹Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law?

²²For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the free woman.

²³However, the son by the handmaid was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise.

²⁴These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar.

²⁵For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children.

²⁶But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.

²⁷For it is written, "Rejoice, you barren who do not bear. Break forth and shout, you that do not travail. For more are the children of the desolate than of her who has a husband."

²⁸Now you, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise.

²⁹But as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.

³⁰However what does the Scripture say? "Throw out the handmaid and her son, for the son of the handmaid will not inherit with the son of the free woman."

³¹So then, brothers, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the free woman.

¹The Lord reigns! Let the peoples tremble. He sits enthroned among the cherubim. Let the earth be moved.

²The Lord is great in Zion. He is high above all the peoples.

³Let them praise your great and awesome name. He is Holy!

⁴The King's strength also loves justice. You do establish equity. You execute justice and righteousness in Jacob.

⁵Exalt the Lord our God. Worship at his footstool. He is Holy!

⁶Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel among those who call on his name; they called on the Lord, and he answered them.

⁷He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud. They kept his testimonies, the statute that he gave them.

⁸You answered them, Lord our God. You are a God who forgave them, although you took vengeance for their doings.

⁹Exalt the Lord, our God. Worship at his holy hill, for the Lord, our God, is holy!

¹A good name is more desirable than great riches, and loving favor is better than silver and gold.

²The rich and the poor have this in common: The Lord is the maker of them all.

³A prudent man sees danger, and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.

⁴The result of humility and the fear of the Lord is wealth, honor, and life.

⁵Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked: whoever guards his soul stays from them.

⁶Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

⁷The rich rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender.

⁸He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.

⁹He who has a generous eye will be blessed; for he shares his food with the poor.

¹⁰Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out; yes, quarrels and insults will stop.

¹¹He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king's friend.

¹²The eyes of the Lord watch over knowledge; but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.

¹³The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the streets!"

¹⁴The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit: he who is under the Lord's wrath will fall into it.

¹⁵Folly is bound up in the heart of a child: the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

¹⁶Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.

¹⁷Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Apply your heart to my teaching.

¹⁸For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.

¹⁹That your trust may be in the Lord, I teach you today, even you.

²⁰Haven't I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel and knowledge,

²¹To teach you truth, reliable words, to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?

²²Do not exploit the poor, because he is poor; and do not crush the needy in court;

²³for the Lord will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them.

²⁴Do not befriend a hot-tempered man, and do not associate with one who harbors anger:

²⁵lest you learn his ways, and ensnare your soul.

²⁶Do not be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts.

²⁷If you do not have means to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?

²⁸Do not move the ancient boundary stone, which your fathers have set up.

²⁹Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won't serve obscure men.