Proverbs 13-15
The Voice
13 A wise child is attentive to his parents’ instruction,
but the mocker is deaf to correction.
2 A person eats well when he speaks wisely,
but the treacherous crave violence.
3 Those who guard their speech insure they will take another breath,
but those who talk without thinking guarantee their demise.
4 Slackers crave but have their fill of nothing,
but the hardworking desire and are completely satisfied.
5 The right-living will not tolerate any lie,
but wrongdoers come to shame and embarrassment.
6 Doing right keeps the innocent on the path of life,
but doing wrong is the downfall of the wicked.
7 One pretends he is wealthy but has nothing,
while another seems to be poor but has great wealth.
8 The rich are targeted and must ransom their lives,
but no one bothers to threaten the poor.
9 The light of the right-living brings joy as it burns brightly;
the lamp of a wrongdoer will be snuffed out.
10 Arrogance only produces arguments,
but wisdom accompanies those well advised.
11 Money earned hastily is easily lost,
but hard-earned money continues to grow.
12 Hope postponed grieves the heart;
but when a dream comes true, life is full and sweet.
13 The one who hates good counsel will reap failure and ruin,
but the one who reveres God’s instruction will be rewarded.
14 Wise instruction is a spring yielding a satisfied life;
those who follow it avoid the traps that lead to death.
15 Good sense brings blessing,
but the road of the treacherous is long and rough.
16 A clever person acquires knowledge and then acts on it;
but a fool advertises his folly for all to see.
17 An untrustworthy messenger stirs up trouble,
but a faithful emissary is curative balm.
18 A person who turns from correction faces poverty and shame,
but one who regards constructive criticism is well respected.
19 A dream fulfilled is the sweetness of life,
but abandoning evil is repulsive to fools.
20 One who walks with the wise becomes wise,
but whoever keeps company with fools only hurts himself.
21 Trouble eagerly pursues the sinner,
but success rewards the right-living.
22 A good person leaves an inheritance for his grandchildren,
but the wealth of the sinner is eventually passed on to the right-living.
23 Though the fields of the poor yield a bumper crop
in a land without justice, it is stolen out from under them.
24 Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children,
but those who are quick to correct them show true love.
25 Those who do right have plenty to eat,
while those who do wrong go hungry.
14 A wise woman builds her house,
but a foolish one picks it to splinters with her own hands.
2 Whoever travels through life with integrity respects the Eternal,
but whoever turns from it hates Him.
3 A fool’s words betray his pride and invite punishment,
but the humble speech of the wise will spare them.
4 A farm without oxen has a manger without grain;
there’s a good return in the strength of an ox.
5 An honest witness can always be trusted,
but a false witness breathes out nothing but lies.
6 Wisdom eludes mockers, though they seek it,
but insight comes quickly to those with understanding.
7 Walk away from the company of fools,
for you cannot find insight in their words.
8 It takes wisdom for the clever to understand the path they are on,
but the fool is deceived by his own foolishness.
9 Fools make a mockery of guilt and repentance,
but those who do what is right receive special standing.[a]
10 Only the heart can know its own resentment;
likewise no stranger can experience its joy.
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
while the tent of the upright will prosper.
12 Before every person lies a road that seems to be right,
but the end of that road is death and destruction.
13 Laughter can mask heartache,
and joy often gives way to grief.
14 A disloyal heart has its fill of disloyal ways,
but a good person will be satisfied from above.
15 The gullible believe anything they are told,
but clever people know to question every step.
16 The wise are cautious and stay far from evil,
but fools are hotheaded and careless.
17 Quick-tempered people make fools of themselves,
and evil schemers make many enemies.
18 The naive are heirs to foolishness,
but the clever are honored with insight.
19 Evil people will be humbled before the good;
the wicked will stoop at the doorstep of the righteous.
20 The poor are hated even by their own neighbors,
but the rich are loved by many friends.
21 Those who have contempt for their neighbors are sinners,
but those who are kind to the poor are happy.
22 Don’t those who work evil stray from the truth?
Those who plan goodness experience unfailing love and faithfulness.
23 Prosperity comes from hard work,
but talking too much leads to great scarcity.
24 The wise are honored for their wealth;
the reward of fools is more foolishness.
25 A truthful witness protects lives by not allowing evil to triumph,
but a deceitful witness speaks lies and puts the innocent in jeopardy.
26 Reverence for the Eternal brings bold confidence,
and one’s offspring will have hope of protection.
27 Respect and honor for Him is the basis of a satisfied life,
which guards a person from being trapped in the snares of death.
28 A king’s splendor is in his many people,
but a declining population will lead to his ruin.
29 Whoever is patient and slow to anger shows great understanding,
but whoever has a quick temper magnifies his foolishness.
30 A serene heart can add years to one’s life;
but jealous passion rots the bones.
The wrong kind of passion can be a dangerous thing. Too often people are ruled by strong emotions, thoughts that cannot be checked, and actions that cannot be controlled. If that’s the case, then you are putting your life and well-being in jeopardy. Peace of mind, tranquility of soul, and serenity of heart become the recipe for a long, happy life.
31 Whoever oppresses the poor insults his Maker,
but anyone who is gracious to the needy honors Him.
32 The wicked are waylaid by their evil actions,
but the right-living find hope’s sanctuary even in their death.[b]
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of one with insight
and can even be experienced by fools.
34 Living according to God’s instructions makes a nation great,
but sin colors those who commit it with disgrace.
35 The king shows kindness to a servant who acts wisely,
but his anger burns toward one who brings shame.
15 A tender answer turns away rage,
but a prickly reply spikes anger.
2 The words of the wise extend knowledge,
but foolish people utter nonsense.
3 The Eternal can see all things;
His gaze is fixed on both the evil and the good.
4 A word of encouragement heals the one who receives it,
but a deceitful word breaks the spirit.
5 Fools refuse their parents’ guidance,
but sensible children accept correction.
6 Great treasure may be found where the right-living make their home,
but trouble awaits the wicked at every turn.
7 When the wise speak, knowledge spreads far and wide,
but fools care nothing about such matters.
8 When the wicked offer sacrifices, they disgust the Eternal,
but the prayers of those who do right are a pleasure to Him.
9 The lifestyle of the wicked is repulsive to Him,
while those who do right delight Him.
10 Harsh punishment is waiting for those who reject the path of life,
and those who hate correction will die.
11 The grave and destruction are fully exposed before the Eternal;
how much more does He know the thoughts of Adam’s children!
12 Those who mock others don’t like being corrected,
so they keep their distance from the wise.
13 A warm, smiling face reveals a joy-filled heart,
but heartache crushes the spirit and darkens the appearance.
14 Those who have understanding hearts hunger after knowledge,
but those with no understanding feast on foolishness.
15 The poor and oppressed suffer hardship day after day,
but those with kind hearts continually feast.
16 It is better to live with less and honor the Eternal
than to have riches and carry the burdens that come with them.
17 Better to eat only vegetables served lovingly
than a fattened ox served hatefully.
18 A hot-headed person stirs up trouble,
but one with patience settles a fight.
19 Lazy people walk a path overgrown with thornbushes,
but those with integrity travel a wide, level road.
20 A wise child makes his father happy,
but a foolish man despises his mother.
21 Foolishness brings sheer joy to those who have no sense,
but people with insight steer a straight course through life.
22 Plans fall apart without proper advice;
but with the right guidance, they come together nicely.
23 There is great joy in having the right answer,
and how sweet is the right word at the right time!
24 For the wise the road of life climbs up steep grades
in order to avoid the slide down to the grave.
25 The Eternal splinters the house of the haughty,
but He secures the property of widows.
It is ironic that we may have more to fear from the proud and powerful than from the poor and needy. Those who have want more, and so they take it. Oh, maybe they won’t pick your pocket or break into your home. Their ways are more subtle and more effective. As James, Jesus’ brother, wrote, “Isn’t it the rich who step on you while climbing the ladder of success? And isn’t it the rich who take advantage of you and drag you into court?” (James 2:6b). James isn’t describing all the rich, of course, but many have made their fortunes off the backs of others. God is the One who can protect the poor, the One who can reduce the grand houses of the haughty to splinters.
26 The thoughts of the wrongdoers repulse the Eternal,
but kind words are pure pleasure for Him.
27 Those who take illegal gains injure their families,
but those who refuse a bribe will live in peace.
28 The right-living think before they speak,
but wrongdoers simply spew evil.
29 The Eternal stays far from the wrongdoers,
but He listens to the prayer of the right-living.
30 Bright eyes and a cheerful expression bring joy to the heart,
and good news revives the spirit and renews health.
31 Those who learn from the lessons of life
will join the others who are wise.
32 Those who disregard discipline sabotage themselves,
but those who are open to correction gain understanding.
33 Reverence for the Eternal is the first lesson of wisdom,
and humility always precedes honor.
2 Corinthians 5
The Voice
In chapter 3, Paul explains how the Spirit transforms believers so they are conformed to the image of Jesus. He now clarifies that this change means believers embody Jesus’ death through suffering and participate in His present, risen life. This life is ultimately experienced through the resurrection of the body in the future, but it also consists of an inward renewal in the midst of the challenges and troubles of daily existence. Our hope is, therefore, not a release from our bodies but a resurrection of our bodies so that the life inside us now will show outside as well. While we still suffer, this hope of bodily resurrection is a matter of faith.
5 We know that if our earthly house—a mere tent that can easily be taken down—is destroyed, we will then live in an eternal home in the heavens, a building crafted by divine—not human—hands. 2 Currently, in this tent of a house, we continue to groan and ache with a deep desire to be sheltered in our permanent home 3 because then we will be truly clothed and comfortable, protected by a covering for our current nakedness. 4 The fact is that in this tent we anxiously moan, fearing the naked truth of our reality. What we crave above all is to be clothed so that what is temporary and mortal can be wrapped completely in life. 5 The One who has worked and tailored us for this is God Himself, who has gifted His Spirit to us as a pledge toward our permanent home.
6 In light of this, we live with a daring passion and know that our time spent in this body is also time we are not present with the Lord. 7 The path we walk is charted by faith, not by what we see with our eyes. 8 There is no doubt that we live with a daring passion, but in the end we prefer to be gone from this body so that we can be at home with the Lord. 9 Ultimately it does not matter whether we are here or gone; our purpose stays fixed, and that is to please Him. 10 In time we will all stand in judgment before the throne of the Anointed, the Liberating King, to receive what is just for our conduct (whether it be good or bad) while we lived in this temporary body.
11 So because we stand in awe of the one true Lord, we make it our aim to convince all people of the truth of the gospel; God sees who we really are, and I hope in some way that you’ll look deeply into your consciences to see us as well. 12 But we hope you understand that we are not trying to prove ourselves to you or pull together a résumé that will impress you. We are simply hoping that you will find a sense of joy in connecting with us. And when you are approached by others (who may value appearances more than the heart) asking questions about us, you will be able to offer an answer for them. 13 If we seem out of control or act like fanatics, it is for God. But if we act in a coherent and reasonable way, it is for you. 14 You see, the controlling force in our lives is the love of the Anointed One. And our confession is this: One died for all; therefore, all have died. 15 He died for us so that we will all live, not for ourselves, but for Him who died and rose from the dead. 16 Because of all that God has done, we now have a new perspective. We used to show regard for people based on worldly standards and interests. No longer. We used to think of the Anointed the same way. No longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is united with the Anointed One, that person is a new creation. The old life is gone—and see—a new life has begun! 18 All of this is a gift from our Creator God, who has pursued us and brought us into a restored and healthy relationship with Him through the Anointed. And He has given us the same mission, the ministry of reconciliation, to bring others back to Him. 19 It is central to our good news that God was in the Anointed making things right between Himself and the world. This means He does not hold their sins against them. But it also means He charges us to proclaim the message that heals and restores our broken relationships with God and each other.
20 So we are now representatives of the Anointed One, the Liberating King; God has given us a charge to carry through our lives—urging all people on behalf of the Anointed to become reconciled to the Creator God. 21 He orchestrated this: the Anointed One, who had never experienced sin, became sin for us so that in Him we might embody the very righteousness of God.
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
