the Fourth Week after Easter
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Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading
June 19 - Old & New Testament
niv
Proverbs 25,26
More Proverbs of Solomon
1 These are more proverbs(a) of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:(b)
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;
to search out a matter is the glory of kings.(c)
3 As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,
so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
4 Remove the dross from the silver,
and a silversmith can produce a vessel;
5 remove wicked officials from the king's presence,(d)
and his throne will be established(e) through righteousness.(f)
6 Do not exalt yourself in the king's presence,
and do not claim a place among his great men;
7 it is better for him to say to you, "Come up here,"(g)
than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.
What you have seen with your eyes
8
do not bring[a] hastily to court,
for what will you do in the end
if your neighbor puts you to shame?(h)
9 If you take your neighbor to court,
do not betray another's confidence,
10 or the one who hears it may shame you
and the charge against you will stand.
11 Like apples[b] of gold in settings of silver(i)
is a ruling rightly given.
12 Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold
is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.(j)
13 Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time
is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him;
he refreshes the spirit of his master.(k)
14 Like clouds and wind without rain
is one who boasts of gifts never given.
15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,(l)
and a gentle tongue can break a bone.(m)
16 If you find honey, eat just enough—
too much of it, and you will vomit.(n)
17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house—
too much of you, and they will hate you.
18 Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow
is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.(o)
19 Like a broken tooth or a lame foot
is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.
20 Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day,
or like vinegar poured on a wound,
is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals(p) on his head,
and the
Lord
will reward you.(q)
23 Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain
is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.
24 Better to live on a corner of the roof
than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.(r)
25 Like cold water to a weary soul
is good news from a distant land.(s)
26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted well
are the righteous who give way to the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat too much honey,(t)
nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.(u)
28 Like a city whose walls are broken through
is a person who lacks self-control.
1 Like snow in summer or rain(a) in harvest,
honor is not fitting for a fool.(b)
2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,
an undeserved curse does not come to rest.(c)
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,(d)
and a rod for the backs of fools!(e)
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
or you yourself will be just like him.(f)
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
or he will be wise in his own eyes.(g)
6 Sending a message by the hands of a fool(h)
is like cutting off one's feet or drinking poison.
7 Like the useless legs of one who is lame
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(i)
8 Like tying a stone in a sling
is the giving of honor to a fool.(j)
9 Like a thornbush in a drunkard's hand
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(k)
10 Like an archer who wounds at random
is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit,(l)
so fools repeat their folly.(m)
12 Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?(n)
There is more hope for a fool than for them.(o)
13 A sluggard says,(p) "There's a lion in the road,
a fierce lion roaming the streets!"(q)
14 As a door turns on its hinges,
so a sluggard turns on his bed.(r)
15 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.(s)
16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
than seven people who answer discreetly.
17 Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears
is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.
18 Like a maniac shooting
flaming arrows of death
19 is one who deceives their neighbor
and says, "I was only joking!"
20 Without wood a fire goes out;
without a gossip a quarrel dies down.(t)
21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,
so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.(u)
22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down to the inmost parts.(v)
23 Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware
are fervent[a] lips with an evil heart.
24 Enemies disguise themselves with their lips,(w)
but in their hearts they harbor deceit.(x)
25 Though their speech is charming,(y) do not believe them,
for seven abominations fill their hearts.(z)
26 Their malice may be concealed by deception,
but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Whoever digs a pit(aa) will fall into it;(ab)
if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.(ac)
28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts,
and a flattering mouth(ad) works ruin.
Acts 4:23-37
Chapter 4
23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God.(aa) "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.(ab) 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:(ac)
"‘Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord
and against his anointed one.[b]'[c](ad)
27 Indeed Herod(ae) and Pontius Pilate(af) met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus,(ag) whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.(ah) 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.(ai) 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders(aj) through the name of your holy servant Jesus."(ak)
31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken.(al) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit(am) and spoke the word of God(an) boldly.(ao)
The Believers Share Their Possessions
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.(ap) 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify(aq) to the resurrection(ar) of the Lord Jesus. And God's grace(as) was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them,(at) brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles' feet,(au) and it was distributed to anyone who had need.(av)
36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas(aw) (which means "son of encouragement"), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.(ax)
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