Today’s Reading :  Proverbs  24 – 27  and  James 2  (KJV)

 

 

 Proverbs 24

Pro 24:1  Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.

Pro 24:2  For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

Pro 24:3  Through wisdom is a house built; and by understanding it is established:

Pro 24:4  And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

Pro 24:5  A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.

Pro 24:6  For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Pro 24:7  Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.

Pro 24:8  He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.

Pro 24:9  The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.

Pro 24:10  If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.

Pro 24:11  If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;

Pro 24:12  If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?

Pro 24:13  My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:

Pro 24:14  So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.

Pro 24:15  Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:

Pro 24:16  For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

Pro 24:17  Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:

Pro 24:18  Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

Pro 24:19  Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;

Pro 24:20  For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.

Pro 24:21  My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:

Pro 24:22  For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?

Pro 24:23  These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

Pro 24:24  He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:

Pro 24:25  But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.

Pro 24:26  Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.

Pro 24:27  Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.

Pro 24:28  Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.

Pro 24:29  Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.

Pro 24:30  I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

Pro 24:31  And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.

Pro 24:32  Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.

Pro 24:33  Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

Pro 24:34  So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

 

 

Proverbs 25

Pro 25:1  These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

Pro 25:2  It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

Pro 25:3  The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

Pro 25:4  Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the refiner.

Pro 25:5  Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

Pro 25:6  Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:

Pro 25:7  For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.

Pro 25:8  Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

Pro 25:9  Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:

Pro 25:10  Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.

Pro 25:11  A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

Pro 25:12  As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

Pro 25:13  As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.

Pro 25:14  Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.

Pro 25:15  By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

Pro 25:16  Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

Pro 25:17  Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.

Pro 25:18  A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

Pro 25:19  Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

Pro 25:20  As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon niter, so is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.

Pro 25:21  If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

Pro 25:22  For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.

Pro 25:23  The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.

Pro 25:24  It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.

Pro 25:25  As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

Pro 25:26  A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.

Pro 25:27  It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

Pro 25:28  He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

 

Proverbs 26

Pro 26:1  As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.

Pro 26:2  As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

Pro 26:3  A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.

Pro 26:4  Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

Pro 26:5  Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

Pro 26:6  He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.

Pro 26:7  The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

Pro 26:8  As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.

Pro 26:9  As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

Pro 26:10  The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.

Pro 26:11  As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

Pro 26:12  Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

Pro 26:13  The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

Pro 26:14  As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.

Pro 26:15  The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

Pro 26:16  The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

Pro 26:17  He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

Pro 26:18  As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,

Pro 26:19  So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

Pro 26:20  Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

Pro 26:21  As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.

Pro 26:22  The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

Pro 26:23  Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.

Pro 26:24  He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;

Pro 26:25  When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.

Pro 26:26  Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be showed before the whole congregation.

Pro 26:27  Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.

Pro 26:28  A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

 

 

Proverbs 27

Pro 27:1  Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

Pro 27:2  Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.

Pro 27:3  A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both.

Pro 27:4  Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?

Pro 27:5  Open rebuke is better than secret love.

Pro 27:6  Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Pro 27:7  The full soul loatheth a honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

Pro 27:8  As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.

Pro 27:9  Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.

Pro 27:10  Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.

Pro 27:11  My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.

Pro 27:12  A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.

Pro 27:13  Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

Pro 27:14  He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.

Pro 27:15  A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.

Pro 27:16  Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which betrayeth itself.

Pro 27:17  Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

Pro 27:18  Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.

Pro 27:19  As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.

Pro 27:20  Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

Pro 27:21  As the refining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to to his praise.

Pro 27:22  Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.

Pro 27:23  Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.

Pro 27:24  For riches are not forever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?

Pro 27:25  The hay appeareth, and the tender grass showeth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.

Pro 27:26  The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.

Pro 27:27  And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.

 

James 2

Jas 2:1  My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

Jas 2:2  For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;

Jas 2:3  And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:

Jas 2:4  Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

Jas 2:5  Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

Jas 2:6  But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

Jas 2:7  Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

Jas 2:8  If ye fulfil the royal law according to the Scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

Jas 2:9  But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

Jas 2:10  For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Jas 2:11  For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

Jas 2:12  So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

Jas 2:13  For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath showed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

Jas 2:14  What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

Jas 2:15  If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

Jas 2:16  And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

Jas 2:17  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Jas 2:18  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.

Jas 2:19  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Jas 2:20  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Jas 2:21  Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

Jas 2:22  Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

Jas 2:23  And the Scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Jas 2:24  Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Jas 2:25  Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

Jas 2:26  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.