Day 573 of 730

¹Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, even as also with you;

²and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and evil men; for not all have faith.

³But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you, and guard you from the evil one.

⁴We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you both do and will do the things we command.

⁵May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patience of Christ.

⁶Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother who walks in rebellion, and not after the tradition which they received from us.

⁷For you know how you ought to imitate us. For we did not behave ourselves rebelliously among you,

⁸neither did we eat bread from anyone's hand without paying for it, but in labor and travail worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you;

⁹not because we do not have the right, but to make ourselves an example to you, that you should imitate us.

¹⁰For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: "If anyone will not work, neither let him eat."

¹¹For we hear of some who walk among you in rebellion, who do not work at all, but are busybodies.

¹²Now those who are that way, we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

¹³But you, brothers, do not be weary in doing well.

¹⁴If any man does not obey our word in this letter, note that man, that you have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed.

¹⁵Do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

¹⁶Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with you all.

¹⁷The greeting of me, Paul, with my own hand, which is the sign in every letter: this is how I write.

¹⁸The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

¹To you I do lift up my eyes, you who sit in the heavens.

²Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress; so our eyes look to the Lord, our God, until he has mercy on us.

³Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us, for we have endured much contempt.

⁴Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scoffing of those who are at ease, with the contempt of the proud.

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.