1 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God vin vain. 2 For he says,
w“In a favorable time I listened to you,
and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, xnow is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We put no yobstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God zwe commend ourselves in every way: aby great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the bpower of God; with the cweapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as ddying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet ealways rejoicing; as poor, yet making many frich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
11 We have spoken freely to you,1 Corinthians; our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but gyou are restricted in your own affections. 13 In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.
The Temple of the Living God
14 Do not be hunequally yoked with unbelievers. For iwhat partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or jwhat fellowship has light with darkness? 15 kWhat accord has Christ with Belial?2 Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For lwe are the temple of the living God; as God said,
m“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
17 Therefore ngo out from their midst,
and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;
then I will welcome you,
18 and oI will be a father to you,
and you shall be psons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.”
Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart
1 hMy son, ido not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments,
2 for jlength of days and years of life
and peace they will add to you.
3 Let not ksteadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
lbind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will find favor and mgood success1
in the sight of God and man.
5 nTrust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will omake straight your paths.
7 Be not pwise in your own eyes;
qfear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be rhealing to your flesh2
and refreshment3 to your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
10 then your sbarns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine.
11 tMy son, do not udespise the Lord’s vdiscipline
or be weary of his reproof,
12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,
was a father the son in whom he delights.
Blessed Is the One Who Finds Wisdom
13 xBlessed is the one who finds wisdom,
and the one who gets understanding,
14 for the gain from her is ybetter than gain from zsilver
and her profit better than gold.
15 She is more precious than jewels,
and anothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a btree of life to those who clay hold of her;
those who hold her fast are called blessed.
19 The Lord dby wisdom founded the earth;
by understanding he established the heavens;
20 by his knowledge ethe deeps broke open,
and the clouds drop down the dew.
21 My son, fdo not lose sight of these—
keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 and they will be glife for your soul
and adornment hfor your neck.
23 Then you will iwalk on your way securely,
and your foot will not stumble.
24 jIf you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror
or of the ruin4 of the wicked, kwhen it comes,
26 for the Lord will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from being caught.
27 lDo not withhold good from those to whom it is due,5
when it is in your power to do it.
28 mDo not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,
tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.
29 Do not nplan evil against your neighbor,
who dwells trustingly beside you.
30 Do not contend with a man for no reason,
when he has done you no harm.
31 Do not oenvy a man of violence
and do not choose any of his ways,
32 for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord,
but the upright are in his confidence.
33 The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
34 pToward the scorners he is scornful,
but to the humble he gives favor.6
35 The wise will inherit honor,
