Day 246 The Bible in a Year (Orthodox canon)

Proverbs 23

1 If thou sit to sup at the table of a prince, consider attentively the things set before thee: 2 and apply thine hand, knowing that it behoves thee to prepare such [meats]: but if thou art very insatiable, 3 desire not his provisions; for these belong to a false life. 4 If thou art poor, measure not thyself with a rich man; but refrain thyself in thy wisdom. 5 If thou shouldest fix thine eye upon him, he will disappear; for wings like an eagle's are prepared for him, and he returns to the house of his master. 6 Sup not with an envious man, neither desire thou his meats: 7 so he eats and drinks as if any one should swallow a hair, and do not bring him in to thyself, nor eat thy morsel with him: 8 for he will vomit it up, and spoil thy fair words. 9 Say nothing in the ears of a fool, lest at any time he sneer at thy wise words. 10 Remove not the ancient landmarks; and enter not upon the possession of the fatherless: 11 for the Lord is their redeemer; he is mighty, and will plead their cause with thee. 12 Apply thine heart to instruction, and prepare thine ears for words of discretion. 13 Refrain not from chastening a child; for if thou beat him with the rod, he shall not die. 14 For thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from death. 15 Son, if thy heart be wise, thou shalt also gladden my heart; 16 and thy lips shall converse with my lips, if they be right. 17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day. 18 For if thou shouldest keep these things, thou shalt have posterity; and thine hope shall not be removed. 19 Hear, [my] son, and be wise, and rightly direct the thoughts of thine heart. 20 Be not a wine-bibber, neither continue long at feasts, and purchases of flesh: 21 for every drunkard and whoremonger shall be poor; and every sluggard shall clothe himself with tatters and ragged garments. 22 Hearken, [my] son, to thy father which begot thee, and despise not [thy mother] because she is grown old. 24 A righteous father brings up [his children] well; and his soul rejoices over a wise son. 25 Let thy father and thy mother rejoice over thee, and let her that bore thee be glad. 26 [My] son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways. 27 For a strange house is a vessel full of holes; and a strange well is narrow. 28 For such a one shall perish suddenly; and every transgressor shall be cut off. 29 Who [has] woe? who trouble? who [has] quarrels? and who vexations and disputes? who [has] bruises without a cause? whose eyes are livid? 30 Are not those of them that stay long at wine? [are] not [those] of them that haunt [the places] where banquets are? Be not drunk with wine; but converse with just men, and converse [with them] openly. 31 For if thou shouldest set thine eyes on bowls and cups, thou shalt afterwards go more naked than a pestle. 32 But at last [such a one] stretches himself out as one smitten by a serpent, and venom is diffused through him as by a horned serpent. 33 Whenever thine eyes shall behold a strange woman, then thy mouth shall speak perverse things. 34 And thou shalt lie as in the midst of the sea, and as a pilot in a great storm. 35 And thou shalt say, They smote me, and I was not pained; and they mocked me, and I knew it not: when will it be morning, that I may go and seek those with whom I may go in company?

Proverbs 24

1 [My] son, envy not bad men, nor desire to be with them. 2 For their heart meditates falsehoods, and their lips speak mischiefs. 3 A house is built by wisdom, and is set up by understanding. 4 By discretion the chambers are filled with all precious and excellent wealth. 5 A wise man is better than a strong man; and a man who has prudence than a large estate. 6 War is carried on with generalship, and aid is supplied to the heart of a counsellor. 7 Wisdom and good understanding are in the gates of the wise: the wise turn not aside from the mouth of the Lord, 8 but deliberate in council. Death befalls uninstructed [men]. 9 The fool also dies in sins; and uncleanness [attaches] to a pestilent man. 10 He shall be defiled in the evil day, and in the day of affliction, until he be utterly consumed. 11 Deliver them that are led away to death, and redeem them that are appointed to be slain; spare not [thy help]. 12 But if thou shouldest say, I know not this man; know that the Lord knows the hearts of all; and he that formed breath for all, he knows all things, who renders to every man according to his works. 13 [My] son, eat honey, for the honeycomb is good, that thy throat may be sweetened. 14 Thus shalt thou perceive wisdom in thy soul: for if thou find it, thine end shall be good, and hope shall not fail thee. 15 Bring not an ungodly man into the dwelling of the righteous: neither be deceived by the feeding of the belly. 16 For a righteous man will fall seven times, and rise [again]: but the ungodly shall be without strength in troubles. 17 If thine enemy should fall, rejoice not over him, neither be elated at his overthrow. 18 For the Lord will see [it], and it will not please him, and he will turn away his wrath from him. 19 Rejoice not in evil-doers, neither be envious of sinners. 20 For the evil man shall have no posterity: and the light of the wicked shall be put out. 21 [My] son, fear God and the king; and do not disobey either of them. 22 For they will suddenly punish the ungodly, and who can know the vengeance [inflicted] by both? 22a [A son that keeps the commandment shall escape destruction; for [such an one] has fully received it. 22b Let no falsehood be spoken by the king from the tongue; yea, let no falsehood proceed from his tongue. 22c The king's tongue is a sword, and not one of flesh; and whosoever shall be given up to [it] shall be destroyed: 22d for if his wrath should be provoked, he destroys men with cords, 22e and devours men's bones, and burns them up as a flame, so that they are not [even] fit to be eaten by the young eagles. 22f [My] son, reverence my words, and receive them, and repent.] These things says the man to them that trust in God; and I cease. 22g For I am the most simple of all men, and there is not in me the wisdom of men. 22h God has taught me wisdom, and I know the knowledge of the holy. 22i Who has gone up to heaven, and come down? who has gathered the winds in his bosom? who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? who has dominion of all the ends of the earth? what is his name? or what is the name of his children? 22k For all the words of God are tried in the fire, and he defends those that reverence him. 22l Add not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be made a liar. 22m Two things I ask of thee; take not favour from me before I die. 22n Remove far from me vanity and falsehood: and give me not wealth [or ] poverty; but appoint me what is needful and sufficient: 22o lest I be filled and become false, and say, Who sees me? or be poor and steal, and swear [vainly ] by the name of God. 22p Deliver not a servant into the hands of his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be utterly destroyed. 22q A wicked generation curse their father, and do not bless their mother. 22r A wicked generation judge themselves to be just, but do not cleanse their way. 22s A wicked generation have lofty eyes, and exalt themselves with their eyelids. 22t A wicked generation have swords [for ] teeth and jaw-teeth [as ] knives, so as to destroy and devour the lowly from the earth, and the poor of them from among men. 23 And this thing I say to you that are wise [for you] to learn: It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment. 24 He that says of the ungodly, He is righteous, shall be cursed by peoples, and hateful among the nations. 25 But they that reprove [him] shall appear more excellent, and blessing shall come upon them; 26 and [men] will kiss lips that answer well. 27 Prepare thy works for [thy] going forth, and prepare thyself for the field; and come after me, and thou shalt rebuild thine house. 28 Be not a false witness against thy [fellow] citizen, neither exaggerate with thy lips. 29 Say not, As he has treated me, so will I treat him, and I will avenge myself on him for that wherein he has injured me. 30 A foolish man is like a farm, and a senseless man is like a vineyard. 31 If thou let him alone, he will altogether remain barren and covered with weeds; and he becomes destitute, and his stone walls are broken down. 32 Afterwards I reflected, I looked that I might receive instruction. 33 [The sluggard says], I slumber a little, and I sleep a little, and for a little while I fold my arms across [my] breast. 34 But if thou do this, thy poverty will come speedily; and thy want like a swift courier. 35 The horse-leech had three dearly-beloved daughters: and these three did not satisfy her; and the fourth was not contented so as to say, Enough. 36 The grave, and the love of a woman, and the earth not filled with water; water also and fire will not say, It is enough. 37 The eye that laughs to scorn a father, and dishonours the old age of a mother, let the ravens of the valleys pick it out, and let the young eagles devour it. 38 Moreover there are three things impossible for me to comprehend, and the fourth I know not: 39 the track of a flying eagle; and the ways of a serpent on a rock; and the paths of a ship passing through the sea; and the ways of a man in youth. 40 Such is the way of an adulterous woman, who having washed herself from what she has done, says she has done nothing amiss. 41 By three things the earth is troubled, and the fourth it cannot bear: 42 if a servant reign; or a fool be filled with food; 43 or if a maid-servant should cast out her own mistress; and if a hateful woman should marry a good man. 44 And [there are] four very little things upon the earth, but these are wiser than the wise: 45 the ants which are weak, and [yet ] prepare [their ] food in summer; 46 the rabbits also [are ] a feeble race, who make their houses in the rocks. 47 The locusts have no king, and [yet ] march orderly at one command. 48 And the eft, which supports itself by [its ] hands, and is easily taken, dwells in the fortresses of kings. 49 And there are three things which go well, and a fourth which passes along finely. 50 A lion's whelp, stronger than [all other] beasts, which turns not away, nor fears [any ] beast; 51 and a cock walking in boldly among the hens, and a goat leading the herd; and a king publicly speaking before a nation. 52 If thou abandon thyself to mirth, and stretch forth thine hand in a quarrel, thou shalt be disgraced. 53 Milk out milk, and there shall be butter, and if thou wring [one's ] nostrils there shall come out blood: so if thou extort words, there will come forth quarrels and strifes. 54 My words have been spoken by God—the oracular answer of a king, whom his mother instructed. 55 What wilt thou keep, my son, what? the words of God. My firstborn son, I speak to thee: what? son of my womb? what? son of my vows? 56 Give not thy wealth to women, nor thy mind and living to remorse. Do all things with counsel: drink wine with counsel. 57 Princes are prone to anger: let them then not drink wine: 58 lest they drink, and forget wisdom, and be not able to judge the poor rightly. 59 Give strong drink to those that are in sorrow, and the wine to drink to those in pain: 60 that they may forget their poverty, and may not remember their troubles any more. 61 Open thy mouth with the word of God, and judge all fairly. 62 Open thy mouth and judge justly, and plead the cause of the poor and weak.

Proverbs 25

1 These are the miscellaneous instructions of Solomon, which the friends of Ezekias king of Judea copied out. 2 The glory of God conceals a matter: but the glory of a king honours business. 3 Heaven is high, and earth is deep, and a king's heart is unsearchable. 4 Beat the drossy silver, and it shall be made entirely pure. 5 Slay the ungodly from before the king, and his throne shall prosper in righteousness. 6 Be not boastful in the presence of the king, and remain not in the places of princes; 7 for [it is] better for thee that it should be said, Come up to me, than that [one] should humble thee in the presence of the prince; speak of that which thine eyes have seen. 8 Get not suddenly into a quarrel, lest thou repent at last. 9 Whenever thy friend shall reproach thee, retreat backward, despise [him] not; 10 lest thy friend continue to reproach thee, so thy quarrel and enmity shall not depart, but shall be to thee like death. 10a Favour and friendship set [a man] free, which do thou keep for thyself, lest thou be made liable to reproach; but take heed to thy ways peaceably. 11 [As] a golden apple in a necklace of sardius, so [is it] to speak a [wise] word. 12 In an ear-ring of gold a precious sardius is also set; [so is] a wise word to an obedient ear. 13 As a fall of snow in the time of harvest is good against heat, so a faithful messenger [refreshes] those that send him; for he helps the souls of his employers. 14 As winds and clouds and rains are most evident [objects], so is he that boasts of a false gift. 15 In long-suffering is prosperity to kings, and a soft tongue breaks the bones. 16 Having found honey, eat [only] what is enough, lest haply thou be filled, and vomit it up. 17 Enter sparingly into thy friend's house, lest he be satiated with thy company, and hate thee. 18 [As] a club, and a dagger, and a pointed arrow, so also is a man who bears false witness against his friend. 19 The way of the wicked and the foot of the transgressor shall perish in an evil day. 20 As vinegar is bad for a sore, so trouble befalling the body afflicts the heart. 20a As a moth in a garment, and a worm in wood, so the grief of a man hurts the heart. 21 If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; 22 for so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee [with] good. 23 The north wind raises clouds; so an impudent face provokes the tongue. 24 [It is] better to dwell on a corner of the roof, than with a railing woman in an open house. 25 As cold water is agreeable to a thirsting soul, so is a good message from a land far off. 26 As if one should stop a well, and corrupt a spring of water, so [is it] unseemly for a righteous man to fall before an ungodly man. 27 [It is] not good to eat much honey; but it is right to honour venerable sayings. 28 As a city whose walls are broken down, and which is unfortified, so is a man who does anything without counsel.

2 Corinthians 6

1 Working together, we entreat also that you do not receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says, “At an acceptable time I listened to you. In a day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We give no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our service may not be blamed, 4 but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God: in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, 5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in watchings, in fastings, 6 in pureness, in knowledge, in perseverance, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love, 7 in the word of truth, in the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report, as deceivers and yet true, 9 as unknown and yet well known, as dying and behold—we live, as punished and not killed, 10 as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing and yet possessing all things. 11 Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians. Our heart is enlarged. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. 13 Now in return—I speak as to my children—you also open your hearts. 14 Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship do righteousness and iniquity have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? 15 What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what portion does a believer have with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement does a temple of God have with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk in them. I will be their God and they will be my people.” 17 Therefore “‘Come out from among them, and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you. 18 I will be to you a Father. You will be to me sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty.”