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Today's Devotion - Audio

» A Glorified Body – October 7, 2026

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And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Philippians 3:20-21

A Glorified Body

What do you think about your body? Maybe you appreciate some things about it. Maybe there are things you wish you could change. Perhaps your body reminds you that you are getting older. Your strength isn’t what it used to be. Your eyesight isn’t as sharp. Your joints hurt. Your body gets tired. And eventually, our bodies grow old, become weak, suffer, and return to the dust from which God made us.

But death is not the end of the story. At the end of time, Jesus will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Think about that. The body you may sometimes wish you could change is the body God promises to raise. The body that becomes weak will be made strong. The body that suffers will be freed from pain. The body that grows old will be made new. The body that dies will live again.

And that glorified body will be like the glorious body of Jesus.

Look at Jesus after his resurrection. His disciples could see him. They could touch him. He ate with them. He was truly alive. His resurrection body was real, but it was no longer subject to death. Jesus rose never to die again.

That is the promise for you. Your hope is not that your soul will escape your body and live somewhere forever. Your hope is the resurrection. Jesus will raise your body from the grave and transform it by his almighty power.

Why can you trust that promise? Because Jesus has already done it. He died for your sins and rose from the dead. His empty tomb is God’s guarantee that death does not have the final word. The Savior who conquered death will return, and when he does, he will make all things new, including you. So don’t despair when your body grows weak. Don’t fear the grave. On judgment day, your body will be glorified, perfectly suited for eternal life with Jesus.

Prayer:

Lord, keep my body and soul safe for eternal life with you. Amen.

 

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.



» A Friend of the Cross of Christ – October 6, 2026

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For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven.
Philippians 3:18-20

A Friend of the Cross of Christ

Are you a friend of the cross of Christ? That might seem like an unusual question. After all, who would want to be friends with a cross? The cross was an instrument of suffering and death. Yet for Christians, the cross is the place where we see God’s greatest love.

The apostle Paul warns us about those who are “enemies of the cross of Christ.” They may not look like enemies. They may be religious. They may be successful. Others may admire them. But their lives are centered on themselves. Their god is their appetite. Their glory is found in things of which they should be ashamed. Their minds are fixed on earthly things.

Does that sound familiar? It can be easy for us to become enemies of the cross without realizing it. Whenever we make our own desires more important than God’s Word, we are turning away from the cross. Whenever we measure our worth by possessions, achievements, popularity, or pleasure, our hearts are looking in the wrong direction. Whenever we imagine that we can make ourselves acceptable to God, we have forgotten why Jesus went to the cross.

The cross tells us the truth about our sin. Our sin is serious. We could never make things right with God by ourselves. But the cross also tells us something far greater: Jesus has made things right for us.

At the cross, Jesus took our sin upon himself. He suffered the punishment we deserved. He gave his life in our place. He did not save us because we were good enough. He saved us because he is merciful. That is why Christians are friends of the cross.

We do not love the cross because suffering is good in itself. We love the cross because Jesus was there for us. The cross is where God’s justice and mercy meet. It is where our Savior paid the price for our salvation.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, teach me to look at the cross and see the heaven you won for me. Amen.

 

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.



» Heading Toward the Goal – October 5, 2026

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Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
Philippians 3:12

Heading Toward the Goal

Where are you headed? That may be a simple question, but it is an important one. Every day, we are headed somewhere. We have appointments to keep, work to finish, errands to run, and places to go.

The same is true of our life with Jesus. The apostle Paul wrote, “I press on.” He knew where he was headed. Yet Paul was also honest enough to admit that he had not arrived. He had not already obtained everything God had promised. That is good news for us because we have not arrived either.

Sometimes we may look at our Christian life and become discouraged. We still struggle with the same sins. We still lose our patience. We still worry. We still put ourselves first. We still fail to love God and our neighbor as we should. If our goal were perfection by our own effort, we would have no hope.

But notice Paul’s reason for pressing on: “because Christ Jesus has made me his own.”

Jesus is the reason we keep going. The Christian life is not a race in which we run fast enough to earn God’s love. Jesus has already accomplished what we could never accomplish. He lived the perfect life we have failed to live. He died on the cross to forgive our sins. He rose from the grave to give us the certain hope of eternal life. Through faith, we belong to him.

That changes how we travel toward the goal. We do not press on to become Christ’s own. We press on because we already are Christ’s own.

So today, keep heading toward the goal. When you stumble, hear God’s promise of forgiveness. When you become discouraged, look again to the cross. When you are tempted to turn aside, listen to Jesus’ Word and follow him. When the road seems long, remember where you are going.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, keep my eyes on the finish line as I follow you through life. Amen.

 

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.



Forward in Christ Magazine

WELS Together Newsletter:

» Staff ministers explore how to become all things to all people
“Every minister of the gospel needs encouragement,” says Kevin Walker, director of staff ministry at Martin Luther College (MLC), New Ulm, Minn. “So a once-a-year conference provides the opportunity for […]

» Video update: Missionaries begin work in Senegal
In late August, Daniel Kroll and Stephen Gerling and their families arrived in Dakar, Senegal. They are the first WELS missionaries to serve in this area. As WELS works to […]

» They do not walk alone
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, God has entrusted the young people of our synod to the spiritual care of Christian parents, pastors, teachers, youth leaders, and fellow believers. At […]

» WELS President Karl R. Gurgel home in heaven
Karl R. Gurgel, the tenth man to serve as president of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, was called home to heaven on September 13, surrounded by his wife, Barbara, (pictured […]

» Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary – September 2026 update
Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wis., is investing in a building project for blessings now that have impacts into eternity. Earle Treptow, seminary president, describes why this is the moment […]



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Through My Bible In 3 Years - Audio

» Through My Bible Yr 03 – October 07

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Through My Bible Yr 03 – October 07

Proverbs 19:1 – 20:13

Proverbs 19

1 Better to be a poor person who walks in his integrity
than one with perverse lips who is a fool.
2 Zeal without knowledge is certainly not good,
and a person who acts hastily sins. [1]
3 A person’s own foolishness undermines his way,
but his heart rages against the Lord.
4 Wealth adds many friends,
but a poor person is deserted by his friend.
5 A false witness will not go unpunished.
He breathes lies and will not escape.
6 Many seek the goodwill of a ruler,
and everyone is a friend to a person who gives gifts.
7 A poor person’s brothers all hate him.
Even his friends keep their distance from him!
Though he pursues them with words, they are not there.
8 A person who acquires intelligence [2] loves his life. [3]
A person who guards understanding finds a good thing.
9 A false witness will not go unpunished.
He breathes lies, and he will perish.
10 A life of luxury is not appropriate for a fool.
How much less appropriate for a slave to rule over princes.
11 Good sense makes a person slow to anger,
and it is to his credit when he overlooks an offense.
12 The king’s anger is like a lion’s growl,
but his favor is refreshing like dew on the grass.

Dealing With Fools

13 A foolish son is a disaster to his father,
and a nagging wife is like constantly dripping water.
14 Home and wealth are an inheritance from fathers,
but a wife with good sense is from the Lord.
15 Laziness makes a person fall into a deep sleep,
and an idle person will go hungry.
16 A person who keeps a command preserves his life.
One who despises his ways will die.
17 A person who is gracious to the poor lends to the Lord.
He will repay him in full.
18 Discipline your son while there is hope.
Do not make yourself responsible for his death.
19 Someone who has a lot of anger pays the penalty.
If you rescue him, you will have to do it again.
20 Listen to advice and accept discipline,
so that you will be wise in the future.
21 There are many plans in a man’s heart,
but it is the Lord’s purpose that will prevail.
22 A desirable trait in a person is loyalty. [4]
It is better to be poor than a liar.
23 The fear of the Lord leads to life.
One who has it rests content.
He will not be disturbed by trouble.
24 A lazy person buries his hand in the dish,
but he does not even bring the food up to his mouth.
25 Strike a scoffer, and an undisciplined [5] person may learn caution.
Warn a person with understanding, and he will gain knowledge.
26 A son who attacks his father and chases away his mother
brings shame and disgrace.
27 If you stop listening to discipline, my son,
you will stray from the sayings that give knowledge.
28 A malicious witness mocks justice,
and the mouth of the wicked swallows evil.
29 Punishments have been prepared for scoffers
and beatings for the backs of fools.

More Dealing With Fools

Proverbs 20

1 Wine is a mocker, and beer is a brawler.
Whoever is intoxicated by them is not wise.
2 The king’s rage is like a lion’s growl.
Whoever intrudes on him endangers his life.
3 Avoiding strife brings honor to a man,
but every stubborn fool is always fighting.
4 A lazy person fails to plow when it is the season for planting. [6]
He expects something in the harvest, but nothing will be there.
5 The intentions in a person’s heart are deep water,
but a person with understanding can draw them out.
6 Many people claim to be loyal, [7]
but who can find a trustworthy man?
7 A righteous person walks in his integrity.
How blessed are his children after him!
8 When a king sits on his throne as judge,
he winnows out all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, “I have purified my heart.
I am cleansed from my sinfulness”?
10 Differing weights and differing measures—
both of them are disgusting to the Lord.
11 Even a youth makes himself known by his acts,
by whether his conduct is pure and upright.
12 An ear that hears and an eye that sees—
the Lord has made both of them.
13 Do not love sleep, or you will become poor.
Keep your eyes open, and you will have enough to eat.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:2 Or a person who runs too quickly loses his way
  2. Proverbs 19:8 Literally heart
  3. Proverbs 19:8 Or his soul
  4. Proverbs 19:22 Or what a person desires is loyalty. The word translated loyalty often refers to mercy.
  5. Proverbs 19:25 Or inexperienced
  6. Proverbs 20:4 Literally at the start of the rainy season
  7. Proverbs 20:6 The word translated loyal often means merciful. The line is difficult.


The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.



» Through My Bible Yr 03 – October 06

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Through My Bible Yr 03 – October 06

Proverbs 17 – 18

More Advice for a Son

Proverbs 17

1 Better a piece of dry bread with peace
than a house full of feasting with quarreling.
2 A wise slave will rule over a shameful son.
He will share the inheritance with the brothers.
3 There is a crucible for refining silver and a smelter for gold.
In the same way the Lord examines hearts.
4 An evildoer pays attention to wicked lips.
A liar feeds upon [1] a destructive tongue.
5 Whoever mocks a poor person insults his Maker.
A person who rejoices over calamity will not escape.
6 Grandchildren are a crown for the elderly,
and parents are a source of pride for their children.

Introduction to Fools and Foolishness:
The Consequences of Being a Fool

7 Eloquent lips are [2] not fitting for a fool.
How much less lying lips for a ruler!
8 A bribe works like a charm for the person who gives it.
Wherever he turns, he prospers.
9 A person who covers an offense pursues love,
but one who repeats the matter separates friends.
10 A reprimand impresses a discerning person
    more than receiving a hundred lashes impresses a fool.
11 An evil person promotes only rebellion,
and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
    than to meet a fool in his stupidity.
13 A person who repays evil for good—
evil will never leave his house.
14 Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate,
so stop the dispute before it gets started.
15 Acquitting a guilty person
and convicting an innocent person—
both of these are disgusting [3] to the Lord.
16 Why hand a fool money to buy wisdom,
since he has no aptitude for using it?
17 A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a time of trouble.
18 A person without sense shakes hands
    to guarantee a loan for his neighbor.
19 A person who loves sin loves conflict.
A person who builds his gate high invites destruction.
20 A crooked mind does not find good.
A perverted tongue will fall into disaster.
21 The man who fathers a fool has grief,
and the father of an arrogant fool will have no joy.
22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
23 A wicked person secretly accepts a bribe
to pervert the ways of justice.
24 Wisdom is right in front of a discerning person,
but a fool’s eyes wander to the end of the earth.

Avoiding Fools and Foolishness

25 A foolish son is an aggravation to his father
and bitterness to the woman who bore him.
26 It is not good to impose a fine on a righteous person
nor to flog officials because of their uprightness.
27 A person with knowledge restrains his words.
A person with understanding is even-tempered.
28 Even a stubborn fool who keeps silent will be considered wise.
He is considered to be perceptive if he keeps his lips shut.

Proverbs 18

1 A person who is a loner seeks his own desires.
He fights against all sound judgment.
2 A fool finds no pleasure in understanding,
but only in revealing his own opinions.
3 When a wicked person comes, contempt comes with him,
and with dishonor comes disgrace.
4 The words from a man’s mouth are deep waters.
The fountain of wisdom is a flowing stream.
5 It is not good to show favoritism to a wicked person
    in order to deprive a righteous person of justice.
6 A fool’s lips enter a fight,
and his mouth invites a beating.
7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction,
and his lips are a trap for his soul. [4]
8 The words of a gossip are like delicious food.
People gobble them right down. [5]
9 A person who fails to do his work
    is a brother to a vandal.
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower.
A righteous person runs inside and is protected.
11 A rich person’s wealth is his strong city.
In his imagination it is like a high wall.
12 Before destruction a man’s heart is proud,
but humility comes before honor.
13 If a person answers before he listens,
that is foolishness that brings disgrace.
14 A man’s spirit can endure illness,
but who can bear a broken spirit?
15 A discerning heart acquires knowledge,
and the ears of the wise seek knowledge.
16 A person’s gift opens doors [6] for him.
It leads him into the presence of great people.
17 The first person to state his case appears to be right.
Then his neighbor comes and cross-examines him.
18 Casting lots [7] ends disputes and decides between powerful people.
19 A brother who has been wronged is harder to regain than a strong city,
and disputes are like a bar across the gate of a citadel.
20 From the fruit of a man’s mouth, his stomach is satisfied.
He is satisfied with the harvest of his lips.
21 Life and death lie in the power of a tongue,
and those who love to use it will eat its fruit.
22 The man who finds a wife finds a good thing,
and he obtains favor from the Lord.
23 A poor man pleads for mercy,
but a rich man answers harshly.
24 A man with many acquaintances may suffer harm,
but there is a loving friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:4 Hebrew variant listens to
  2. Proverbs 17:7 Or excessive chatter is
  3. Proverbs 17:15 Or repulsive
  4. Proverbs 18:7 Or his life
  5. Proverbs 18:8 Literally they go down to the rooms of the belly
  6. Proverbs 18:16 Or makes room
  7. Proverbs 18:18 This probably does not refer to the Urim and Thummim but to ordinary ways of making a choice, like a coin toss.


The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.



» Through My Bible Yr 03 – October 05

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Through My Bible Yr 03 – October 05

Proverbs 15:24 – 16:33

Proverbs 15

24 The path of life leads upward for a person with insight,
so that he may turn away from hell [1] below.
25 The Lord tears down the house of the arrogant,
but he maintains the property line of a widow.
26 The plans of the wicked are disgusting [2] to the Lord,
but pleasant words are pure to him.
27 Someone who is greedy for gain brings trouble to his own household,
but a person who hates bribes will live.
28 The heart of a righteous person ponders his answer,
but the mouth of a wicked person gushes evil.
29 The Lord is far away from the wicked,
but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 A twinkle in the eyes delights the heart,
and good news gives health to the bones.
31 An ear that listens to a life-giving warning
    will find a home among the wise.
32 A person who ignores discipline despises himself,
but a person who listens to a warning acquires good sense.
33 The fear of the Lord gives discipline and wisdom,
and humility comes before honor.

More Advice for a Wise Son

Proverbs 16

1 A person may have thought things through in his heart,
but an apt answer from his tongue comes from the Lord.
2 All of a person’s ways are pure in his own eyes,
but the Lord weighs motives.
3 Commit what you do to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.
4 The Lord has made everything for his [3] own purpose,
even a wicked person for a day of trouble.
5 Anyone with an arrogant attitude is disgusting to the Lord.
Be sure of this: That person will not go unpunished.
6 Through mercy and truth, guilt is atoned for,
and through the fear of the Lord, one turns away from evil.
7 When the Lord is pleased with a man’s ways,
he causes even his enemies to live at peace with him.

Wisdom for a King and His Subjects

8 Better a little with righteousness
    than a large income without justice.
9 A person’s heart plans his way,
but the Lord makes his steps secure.
10 The king’s lips speak for God,
so his mouth should not betray justice.
11 An accurate balance and scales belong to the Lord.
He has made all the weights in the bag.
12 It is disgusting for kings to commit wickedness,
because a throne is established by righteousness.
13 Kings approve of righteous lips.
They love a person who speaks upright things.
14 The king’s anger is a messenger of death,
but a wise person can appease it.
15 There is life in the light from a king’s face,
and his favor is like a cloud that brings spring rain.
16 How much better to acquire wisdom rather than gold,
and to acquire understanding is more desirable than silver.
17 The highway followed by upright people turns away from evil.
The person who guards his way preserves his life.
18 Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit precedes a fall.
19 Better to share a humble spirit with the oppressed
    than to share stolen goods with the haughty.
20 Whoever gives careful consideration to a matter [4] will succeed,
and the person who trusts the Lord will be blessed.
21 A wise heart will be called discerning,
and appealing speech increases learning.
22 Good sense is a fountain of life for the person who possesses it,
but the instruction given by stubborn fools is stupidity.
23 A wise heart produces edifying speech.
It makes a person’s lips more persuasive.
24 Pleasant speech is honey from a honeycomb,
sweet to the spirit and healing for the bones.

Advice for a Wise Son

25 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but it ends up being the road to death.
26 A laborer’s appetite labors for him,
because the hunger of his mouth drives him on.
27 A worthless scoundrel constantly plots evil,
and from his lips comes a scorching fire.
28 A perverse [5] man spreads conflict,
and a gossip separates intimate friends.
29 A violent man entices his neighbor.
He leads him on a way that is not good.
30 A person who squints his eyes is plotting something perverse.
One who purses his lips has completed some evil plot.
31 Gray hair is a beautiful crown.
It is found on the way to righteousness.
32 Better to be patient than to be a hero,
better to control your temper than to capture a city.
33 Lots are cast into the pouch, [6]
but the Lord determines all their decisions.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:24 Or the grave. The Hebrew word is sheol.
  2. Proverbs 15:26 Or are an abomination
  3. Proverbs 16:4 Or its
  4. Proverbs 16:20 Or to a word or to God’s word
  5. Proverbs 16:28 Or twisted
  6. Proverbs 16:33 Or lap. It is not clear what this line means. It may allude to the pouch containing the Urim and Thummim, which the high priest wore on his chest.


The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.



» Through My Bible Yr 03 – October 04

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Through My Bible Yr 03 – October 04

Proverbs 14:22 – 15:23

Proverbs 14

22 Don’t those who plan evil go astray?
But those who plan to do good find mercy and truth.
23 In all hard work there is gain,
but empty talk leads only to poverty.
24 Their wealth is a crown for the wise,
but the stupidity of fools is just stupidity.
25 A truthful witness saves lives,
but a liar breathes deceit.
26 In the fear of the Lord a person gains strong confidence,
and his children will have a refuge.
27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life.
It turns a person away from the snares of death.
28 A large population brings glory to a king.
Without people a ruler is ruined.
29 A patient person has great understanding,
but an impatient person exalts foolishness.
30 A contented heart [1] gives life to the flesh,
but envy rots the bones.
31 A person who oppresses the poor insults his Maker,
but one who is gracious to the needy honors him.
32 A wicked person is brought down by his own evil,
but a righteous person finds refuge even at his death.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning.
It can be recognized even among fools.
34 Righteousness lifts up a nation,
but sin brings shame to a people.
35 A king favors a servant who acts wisely,
but he is furious with one who acts shamefully.

More Wise Ways to Live

Proverbs 15

1 A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise enhances knowledge,
but the mouths of fools spout stupidity.
3 The eyes of the Lord are everywhere,
    watching evil people as well as the good.
4 A healing tongue is a tree of life,
but a perverse tongue shatters the spirit.
5 A stubborn fool despises his father’s discipline,
but whoever heeds correction is sensible.
6 The house of the righteous contains great wealth,
but the income of the wicked brings trouble.
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
but the heart of fools—not so.
8 A sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination [2] to the Lord,
but a prayer of the upright gains his favor.
9 The way of a wicked person is repulsive [3] to the Lord,
but he loves those who pursue righteousness.
10 Harsh discipline waits for anyone who leaves the path,
and a person who hates correction will die.
11 Death and Destruction [4] lie open before the Lord—
how much more human hearts!
12 A scoffer does not love anyone who corrects him.
He will not go to wise people.
13 A joyful heart makes a cheerful face,
but a sorrowful heart crushes the spirit.
14 The heart of a discerning person seeks knowledge,
but the mouths of fools feed on stupidity.
15 All the days of an oppressed person are evil,
but a cheerful heart enjoys a continuous celebration. [5]
16 Better a little with the fear of the Lord
    than great wealth with turmoil.
17 Better a meal of vegetables where there is love
    than a fattened calf with hatred.
18 A hothead stirs up a fight,
but a patient person calms a dispute.
19 The way of a lazy person is like a thorny hedge,
but the path of upright people is a highway.

Advice for a Wise Son

20 A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish person despises his mother.
21 Stupidity delights a person who lacks sense,
but one who has understanding stays on course.
22 Plans fail without advice,
but where there are many advisors they succeed.
23 Giving an apt response with his own mouth makes a person happy,
and a word at the right time—oh how good!

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:30 Literally a healing heart
  2. Proverbs 15:8 Or is disgusting or is repulsive
  3. Proverbs 15:9 Or is an abomination
  4. Proverbs 15:11 Hebrew Sheol and Abaddon
  5. Proverbs 15:15 The word celebration refers to a feast which includes drinking.


The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.



» Through My Bible Yr 03 – October 03

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Through My Bible Yr 03 – October 03

Proverbs 13:1 – 14:21

Wise Ways to Live

Proverbs 13

1 A wise son accepts his father’s discipline,
but a scornful son does not listen to a reprimand.
2 From the fruit of his mouth a person eats well,
but treacherous people have an appetite for violence.
3 Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life.
Whoever opens his lips carelessly ruins himself.
4 The appetite of a lazy person craves things, but he gets nothing.
The appetite of hardworking people is fully satisfied.
5 A righteous person hates everything false,
but a wicked person causes disgrace and shame.
6 Righteousness guards a person who has integrity,
but wickedness perverts a sinner.
7 One person pretends to be rich but has nothing.
Another pretends to be poor but has great wealth.
8 A man’s riches may ransom his life,
but a poor man does not hear a threat.
9 The light of the righteous brings joy,
but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
10 Insolence produces only strife,
but wisdom resides with those who take advice.
11 Wealth gained out of thin air [1] shrinks,
but wealth accumulated by steady work grows.
12 Hope delayed makes a heart sick,
but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
13 The person who despises a word of instruction will pay the price,
but the person who respects a command will be rewarded.
14 The teaching of a wise person is a fountain of life.
It can turn someone away from the snares of death.
15 Good sense yields grace,
but the way of the treacherous is unchanging. [2]
16 Every sensible person acts with knowledge,
but a fool displays stupidity.
17 A wicked [3] messenger falls into trouble,
but a trustworthy envoy brings healing.
18 A person who ignores discipline ends up with poverty and shame,
but one who conforms to correction will be honored.
19 A desire that is fulfilled tastes sweet to the soul,
but to fools it is disgusting [4] to turn from evil.
20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
but a companion of fools suffers harm.
21 Trouble pursues sinners,
but goodness repays the righteous.
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.
23 The farmland of the poor may produce much food,
but it may be swept away by injustice.
24 A person who withholds his rod hates his son,
but one who loves him administers discipline promptly.
25 A righteous person eats until his appetite is satisfied,
but the stomach of the wicked is always empty.

More Wise Ways to Live

Proverbs 14

1 A wise woman builds her house,
but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
2 Whoever walks in the right way fears the Lord,
but a person who is devious in his ways despises him.
3 In the mouth of a stubborn fool there is a proud rod, [5]
but the lips of the wise protect them.
4 Without cattle the manger is empty,
but a great harvest is gained by the strength of an ox.
5 A faithful witness does not lie,
but a false witness breathes lies.
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom yet finds none,
but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.
7 Keep away from a foolish person,
since you will not learn anything from his lips.
8 The wisdom of a sensible [6] person is that he understands his way,
but the stupidity of fools is deceptive. [7]
9 Fools scoff at the idea of guilt, [8]
but favor is found among the upright.
10 A heart knows its own bitterness,
and no stranger can share its joy.
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will thrive.
12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but in the end it is the road to death.
13 Even in laughter a heart can ache,
and the end of joy may be grief.
14 A backslider [9] will be satisfied with his ways, [10]
and a good man will be satisfied with his.
15 A gullible person trusts anything,
but a sensible person considers his steps.
16 A wise person fears and turns from evil,
but a fool is rash and overconfident.
17 A short-tempered person acts foolishly,
and a schemer is hated.
18 Gullible people inherit stupidity,
but sensible people embrace knowledge.
19 Evil people will bow down to good people,
and wicked people will bow at the gates of the righteous.
20 A poor person is hated even by his neighbor,
but those who love a rich person are many.
21 A person who despises his neighbor is sinning,
but one who is kind to the oppressed is blessed.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:11 Or dishonestly. A variant in the versions is too quickly.
  2. Proverbs 13:15 Or inescapable. The Hebrew reads the way of the treacherous always flows (that is, it is enduring). The translation above attempts to make sense of this difficult reading without emendation. Common emendations are to add the word not to the sentence (the way of the treacherous does not endure) or to change enduring to hard.
  3. Proverbs 13:17 Or an unreliable
  4. Proverbs 13:19 Or an abomination
  5. Proverbs 14:3 The meaning of a proud rod is uncertain, but there is no textual support for the common emendation, a rod for his back.
  6. Proverbs 14:8 Or prudent
  7. Proverbs 14:8 Or deceives them
  8. Proverbs 14:9 Or the need for a guilt offering
  9. Proverbs 14:14 Or a person who deserts God
  10. Proverbs 14:14 Or will be repaid for his ways


The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.