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Proverbs 16, 17, 18, 19

16The plans of the mind belong to mortals,
   but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All one’s ways may be pure in one’s own eyes,
   but the Lord weighs the spirit.
3 Commit your work to the Lord,
   and your plans will be established.
4 The Lord has made everything for its purpose,
   even the wicked for the day of trouble.
5 All those who are arrogant are an abomination to the Lord;
   be assured, they will not go unpunished.
6 By loyalty and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
   and by the fear of the Lord one avoids evil.
7 When the ways of people please the Lord,
   he causes even their enemies to be at peace with them.
8 Better is a little with righteousness
   than large income with injustice.
9 The human mind plans the way,
   but the Lord directs the steps.
10 Inspired decisions are on the lips of a king;
   his mouth does not sin in judgement.
11 Honest balances and scales are the Lord’s;
   all the weights in the bag are his work.
12 It is an abomination to kings to do evil,
   for the throne is established by righteousness.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of a king,
   and he loves those who speak what is right.
14 A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,
   and whoever is wise will appease it.
15 In the light of a king’s face there is life,
   and his favour is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.
16 How much better to get wisdom than gold!
   To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
   those who guard their way preserve their lives.
18 Pride goes before destruction,
   and a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit among the poor
   than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 Those who are attentive to a matter will prosper,
   and happy are those who trust in the Lord.
21 The wise of heart is called perceptive,
   and pleasant speech increases persuasiveness.
22 Wisdom is a fountain of life to one who has it,
   but folly is the punishment of fools.
23 The mind of the wise makes their speech judicious,
   and adds persuasiveness to their lips.
24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
   sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
25 Sometimes there is a way that seems to be right,
   but in the end it is the way to death.
26 The appetite of workers works for them;
   their hunger urges them on.
27 Scoundrels concoct evil,
   and their speech is like a scorching fire.
28 A perverse person spreads strife,
   and a whisperer separates close friends.
29 The violent entice their neighbours,
   and lead them in a way that is not good.
30 One who winks the eyes plans* perverse things;
   one who compresses the lips brings evil to pass.
31 Grey hair is a crown of glory;
   it is gained in a righteous life.
32 One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
   and one whose temper is controlled than one who captures a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap,
   but the decision is the Lord’s alone.

17Better is a dry morsel with quiet
   than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 A slave who deals wisely will rule over a child who acts shamefully,
   and will share the inheritance as one of the family.
3 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
   but the Lord tests the heart.
4 An evildoer listens to wicked lips;
   and a liar gives heed to a mischievous tongue.
5 Those who mock the poor insult their Maker;
   those who are glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
   and the glory of children is their parents.
7 Fine speech is not becoming to a fool;
   still less is false speech to a ruler.*
8 A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of those who give it;
   wherever they turn they prosper.
9 One who forgives an affront fosters friendship,
   but one who dwells on disputes will alienate a friend.
10 A rebuke strikes deeper into a discerning person
   than a hundred blows into a fool.
11 Evil people seek only rebellion,
   but a cruel messenger will be sent against them.
12 Better to meet a she-bear robbed of its cubs
   than to confront a fool immersed in folly.
13 Evil will not depart from the house
   of one who returns evil for good.
14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water;
   so stop before the quarrel breaks out.
15 One who justifies the wicked and one who condemns the righteous
   are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
16 Why should fools have a price in hand
   to buy wisdom, when they have no mind to learn?
17 A friend loves at all times,
   and kinsfolk are born to share adversity.
18 It is senseless to give a pledge,
   to become surety for a neighbour.
19 One who loves transgression loves strife;
   one who builds a high threshold invites broken bones.
20 The crooked of mind do not prosper,
   and the perverse of tongue fall into calamity.
21 The one who begets a fool gets trouble;
   the parent of a fool has no joy.
22 A cheerful heart is a good medicine,
   but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.
23 The wicked accept a concealed bribe
   to pervert the ways of justice.
24 The discerning person looks to wisdom,
   but the eyes of a fool to the ends of the earth.
25 Foolish children are a grief to their father
   and bitterness to her who bore them.
26 To impose a fine on the innocent is not right,
   or to flog the noble for their integrity.
27 One who spares words is knowledgeable;
   one who is cool in spirit has understanding.
28 Even fools who keep silent are considered wise;
   when they close their lips, they are deemed intelligent.

18The one who lives alone is self-indulgent,
   showing contempt for all who have sound judgement.*
2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
   but only in expressing personal opinion.
3 When wickedness comes, contempt comes also;
   and with dishonour comes disgrace.
4 The words of the mouth are deep waters;
   the fountain of wisdom is a gushing stream.
5 It is not right to be partial to the guilty,
   or to subvert the innocent in judgement.
6 A fool’s lips bring strife,
   and a fool’s mouth invites a flogging.
7 The mouths of fools are their ruin,
   and their lips a snare to themselves.
8 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
   they go down into the inner parts of the body.
9 One who is slack in work
   is close kin to a vandal.
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
   the righteous run into it and are safe.
11 The wealth of the rich is their strong city;
   in their imagination it is like a high wall.
12 Before destruction one’s heart is haughty,
   but humility goes before honour.
13 If one gives answer before hearing,
   it is folly and shame.
14 The human spirit will endure sickness;
   but a broken spirit—who can bear?
15 An intelligent mind acquires knowledge,
   and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 A gift opens doors;
   it gives access to the great.
17 The one who first states a case seems right,
   until the other comes and cross-examines.
18 Casting the lot puts an end to disputes
   and decides between powerful contenders.
19 An ally offended is stronger than a city;*
   such quarrelling is like the bars of a castle.
20 From the fruit of the mouth one’s stomach is satisfied;
   the yield of the lips brings satisfaction.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
   and those who love it will eat its fruits.
22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing,
   and obtains favour from the Lord.
23 The poor use entreaties,
   but the rich answer roughly.
24 Some* friends play at friendship*
   but a true friend sticks closer than one’s nearest kin.

19Better the poor walking in integrity
   than one perverse of speech who is a fool.
2 Desire without knowledge is not good,
   and one who moves too hurriedly misses the way.
3 One’s own folly leads to ruin,
   yet the heart rages against the Lord.
4 Wealth brings many friends,
   but the poor are left friendless.
5 A false witness will not go unpunished,
   and a liar will not escape.
6 Many seek the favour of the generous,
   and everyone is a friend to a giver of gifts.
7 If the poor are hated even by their kin,
   how much more are they shunned by their friends!
When they call after them, they are not there.*
8 To get wisdom is to love oneself;
   to keep understanding is to prosper.
9 A false witness will not go unpunished,
   and the liar will perish.
10 It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury,
   much less for a slave to rule over princes.
11 Those with good sense are slow to anger,
   and it is their glory to overlook an offence.
12 A king’s anger is like the growling of a lion,
   but his favour is like dew on the grass.
13 A stupid child is ruin to a father,
   and a wife’s quarrelling is a continual dripping of rain.
14 House and wealth are inherited from parents,
   but a prudent wife is from the Lord.
15 Laziness brings on deep sleep;
   an idle person will suffer hunger.
16 Those who keep the commandment will live;
   those who are heedless of their ways will die.
17 Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,
   and will be repaid in full.
18 Discipline your children while there is hope;
   do not set your heart on their destruction.
19 A violent-tempered person will pay the penalty;
   if you effect a rescue, you will only have to do it again.*
20 Listen to advice and accept instruction,
   that you may gain wisdom for the future.
21 The human mind may devise many plans,
   but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established.
22 What is desirable in a person is loyalty,
   and it is better to be poor than a liar.
23 The fear of the Lord is life indeed;
   filled with it one rests secure
   and suffers no harm.
24 The lazy person buries a hand in the dish,
   and will not even bring it back to the mouth.
25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence;
   reprove the intelligent, and they will gain knowledge.
26 Those who do violence to their father and chase away their mother
   are children who cause shame and bring reproach.
27 Cease straying, my child, from the words of knowledge,
   in order that you may hear instruction.
28 A worthless witness mocks at justice,
   and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.
29 Condemnation is ready for scoffers,
   and flogging for the backs of fools.

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Psalm 15

Who Shall Abide in God’s Sanctuary?

A Psalm of David.
1Lord, who may abide in your tent?
   Who may dwell on your holy hill?


2 Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right,
   and speak the truth from their heart;
3 who do not slander with their tongue,
   and do no evil to their friends,
   nor take up a reproach against their neighbours;
4 in whose eyes the wicked are despised,
   but who honour those who fear the Lord;
who stand by their oath even to their hurt;
5 who do not lend money at interest,
   and do not take a bribe against the innocent.


Those who do these things shall never be moved.

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Ephesians 5

51Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2and live in love, as Christ loved us* and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Renounce Pagan Ways

But fornication and impurity of any kind, or greed, must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints. 4Entirely out of place is obscene, silly, and vulgar talk; but instead, let there be thanksgiving. 5Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure person, or one who is greedy (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient. 7Therefore do not be associated with them. 8For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light— 9for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. 10Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. 11Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; 13but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
‘Sleeper, awake!
   Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.’

15 Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, 16making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, 19as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, 20giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Christian Household

21 Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.

22 Wives, be subject to your husbands as you are to the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church, the body of which he is the Saviour. 24Just as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives ought to be, in everything, to their husbands.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26in order to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word, 27so as to present the church to himself in splendour, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind—yes, so that she may be holy and without blemish. 28In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they do their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29For no one ever hates his own body, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, 30because we are members of his body.* 31‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ 32This is a great mystery, and I am applying it to Christ and the church. 33Each of you, however, should love his wife as himself, and a wife should respect her husband.

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From the oremus Bible Browser https://bible.oremus.org v2.9.2 30 June 2021.