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Today's Devotion - Audio

» The Tears – October 14, 2026

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The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces.
Isaiah 25:8

The Tears

Tears of grief are an extraordinary gift of God. The more researchers have studied tears of grief, the more extraordinary we recognize them to be. When someone close to you dies, your brain undergoes trauma. After all, up to this moment the wiring of your brain has included this person in the very fabric of your life. Death tears that piece of fabric away.

To help deal with such trauma, God equipped your body to shed tears of grief. These tears arise for a very different reason from the tears you shed when, for instance, you get a bit of sawdust in your eye. Scientists are still learning exactly how emotional crying affects the body, but it appears to be connected with the body’s natural response to stress and emotional pain. Crying can be part of the process by which the body gradually settles after intense distress. It’s no accident, therefore, that individuals grappling with grief often report feeling calmer or experiencing a measure of relief after they’ve had “a good cry.”

As helpful as tears of grief are, however, the Lord gives us far more than a temporary fix. He addresses death itself – the cause of our grief. He points us ahead to the moment when there will be “no more death, or mourning, or crying, or pain” (Revelation 21:4).

Enter Jesus. He is the one who, according to Isaiah, “has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows” (Isaiah 53:4). God the Son became one of us. He lived among us. He wept with us. And through it all, he lived a life of perfect faithfulness on our behalf. Then he set his sights on the very cause of death. He set his sights on our sin. He took up our sin. He carried our sin to the cross. And through his suffering and death, he paid for our sin in full.

And now he lives. And because he does, the tears of our grief are temporary. Eternal life awaits. The tears of grief will soon give way to the tears of joy.

Prayer:

In my tears of grief, Lord, remind me that they will not last. Eternal joy awaits. 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.



» The Shroud – October 13, 2026

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On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations.
Isaiah 25:7

The Shroud

For thousands of years, people have used a shroud to bury their dead. A shroud is a type of cloth that covers the body. There are practical reasons for using a shroud. Wrapping a body in one helps stabilize it, making it easier to carry. A shrouded body is more sanitary to handle. Most important, however, is that the shroud is a way by which family members could give the body of their loved one a level of dignity and respect.

From time immemorial, therefore, the shroud has been a symbol for death. In paintings, literature, poetry, and song, artists have used the word “shroud” to describe things that are dark, foreboding, tragic, inevitable.

But then along comes the Lord Almighty, through the prophet Isaiah. He sees our world—the world our sin has ruined. He sees our world of decay, our world of disease, our world of injury and broken bones and violence and accidents and natural disasters and old age and decline and death. He sees it all. Then he makes a stunning promise. He promises to destroy the shroud. He promises to ensure that the shroud of death does not have the final word.

Seven centuries after Isaiah’s words, God himself came to this earth in the person of Jesus Christ. He came to destroy the power of death. To do so, he lived a sinless life on our behalf. Then he took the cause of death—our sin—and paid for it on the cross. Then he died.

After his death, loving hands covered his body in a shroud and placed it in a tomb. But the cross, the tomb, and the shroud did not have the final word. Three days later, the tomb was empty, and so was the shroud.

And so let the world around us continue to speak of the finality of the shroud, the casket, and the cremation urn. You and I know better. Jesus lives. And in him, we will too.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, you are the death of death. Praise be to your holy name. 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.



» For All – October 12, 2026

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On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples…the best of meats and the finest of wines.
Isaiah 25:6

For All

In the world of fine dining, few writers have been more influential than restaurant reviewer Ruth Reichl. She is so respected that a single restaurant review from her can make or break a restaurant.

Her most famous review was written in 1993 for a high-end dining establishment in New York. Because the restaurant community knew her well, however, Ruth decided to go in disguise. Instead of a sophisticated New Yorker, she dressed in a modest coat and went by the name “Molly.”

“Molly” quickly found out what the restaurant thought of her. The staff ignored her. Then they made her wait for an hour. Finally, they seated her at a table right next to the coat rack. And her meal? It was cold and bland. A few nights later, Ruth went to the same restaurant, only this time she went as herself. And, of course, this time she received the royal treatment—truffles, champagne, the best of culinary mastery; and no coat rack.

Armed with these two radically different experiences, Ruth Reichl wrote her review, and she did not hold back. She made clear the painful fact that the staff did not wish to serve everyone with the same level of excellence; that if you were not the right kind of person, this restaurant was not going to give you its best.

In Isaiah chapter 25, God the Holy Spirit communicates that our delivery from sin is not just a doctrinal bullet point; it is an event for us to savor. He describes it as an exquisite meal: “A feast of rich food,” he says— “the best of meats and the finest of wines.” In addition, the Lord makes clear that this joyful reunion with him is “for all peoples”—for all who trust in the promised Savior.

In this world, there will be times when we will feel ignored, dismissed, or out of place. But not in the great meal to come. There, in Christ, you belong.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank you for securing a place for me at your banquet. 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:

» Examining WELS at 175: a video series discussing WELS’ 2025 statistical report
“The 2025 Statistical Summary & Analysis does not tell a simple story,” says Jonathan Hein, director of WELS Congregational Services. “There is good news. There is hard news. And there […]

» Fall 2026 meeting update from WELS Conference of Presidents
The Conference of Presidents (COP) met at the WELS Center for Mission and Ministry in Waukesha, Wis., October 6-9, for its annual fall meeting. Although the COP met virtually during […]

» Home Missions faces $2 million reduction in spending
The work of WELS Home Missions has always involved balancing aggressive efforts to plant new churches and reach the lost with wise and diligent stewardship of the resources God provides. […]

» Fifty writers begin work on theology curriculum: video update
In the fall 2026 video update, Melanie Giddings, WELS Lutheran Schools curriculum coordinator, shares progress on the theology curriculum project. Watch the video to learn more about the four writing […]

» Luther Preparatory School – October 2026 update
Luther Preparatory School in Watertown, Wis., is investing in building a new music center. Matt Crass, president, describes what the “Magnify” project entails and how it will help enhance the […]



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Through My Bible In 3 Years - Audio

» Through My Bible Yr 03 – October 14

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Through My Bible Yr 03 – October 14

Proverbs 30

The Oracle of Agur

1 The words of Agur son of Jakeh. An oracle. [1]
This man declares:
I am weary, God. I am weary, God, and worn out, [2]
2 because I am too unreasoning to be a man.
I do not even possess human understanding.
3 I have not learned wisdom.
I do not have knowledge of the Holy One.

4 Who has gone up to heaven and come down?
Who has gathered the wind in the palms of his hands?
Who has wrapped the water in a garment?
Who has set up all the ends of the earth?
What is his name and the name of his son?
Tell me if you know!

5 Every word of God has been refined.
He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6 Do not add to his words.
If you do, he will correct you,
and you will be shown to be a liar.

7 Two things I have asked from you.
Do not keep them from me before I die:
8 Keep worthless speech and lies far from me.
Do not give me poverty or riches.
Give me food in the amount that is right for me.
9 Too much, and I may feel satisfied and deny you
and say, “Who is the Lord?”
Too little, and I may become poor and steal
and profane the name of my God.

10 Do not slander a servant to his master.
If you do, he will curse you,
and you will be found guilty.
11 There is a type of person who curses his father
and does not bless his mother.
12 This person is pure in his own eyes,
but he is not washed from his filth.
13 This person—how lofty his eyes, how high his eyelids!
14 This person—his teeth are swords,
and his fangs are knives.
He uses them to devour oppressed people from the earth
and poor people from among humanity.

15 The leech has two daughters: Give! Give!
Three things are never satisfied.
Four never say, “Enough!”:
16 the grave,
    a closed womb,
    land that is never satisfied with water,
    and fire that never says, “Enough!”

17 An eye that mocks its father
and despises the obedience due its mother—
ravens of the valley will peck it out,
and young vultures will eat it.

18 Three things are too wonderful for me,
and four I cannot understand:
19 the way of an eagle in the sky,
    the way of a snake on a rock,
    the way of a ship on the high seas,
    and the way of a man with a virgin.

20 This is the way of a woman who commits adultery:
She eats and wipes her mouth,
and she says, “I haven’t done anything wrong.”

21 Three things make the earth tremble.
There are four things it cannot endure:
22 a servant when he becomes king,
    an arrogant fool when he is filled with food,
23 a woman who is hated when she is married,
    and a slave girl when she replaces her master’s wife.

24 Four things are small on the earth,
yet they are wiser than the wisest people:
25 Ants are a species without strength,
    but they store their food in summer.
26 Rock badgers are a species without power,
    but they make their home in a cliff.
27 Locusts have no king,
    but they all march ahead in ranks.
28 Lizards can be caught in your hands,
    but they live in kings’ palaces.

29 Three things strut impressively.
Four walk with dignity:
30 a lion, which is the mightiest among the animals,
    does not turn away from anything,
31 a strutting rooster, [3]
    a male goat,
    and a king reviewing his troops. [4]

32 If you have acted like a fool by exalting yourself,
or if you have been scheming,
put your hand over your mouth,
33 because just as pressing milk produces cheese, [5]
and pressing a nose brings forth blood,
so pressing one’s anger produces a fight.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 30:1 Or of Massa
  2. Proverbs 30:1 The main Hebrew text seems to read the words translated I am weary and worn out as proper names, to Ithiel and Ucal.
  3. Proverbs 30:31 The meaning of the Hebrew phrase girt of loins is uncertain. It may refer to a strutting animal, such as a rooster, or to a dandy, decked out in fine clothes.
  4. Proverbs 30:31 The meaning of the last phrase is uncertain.
  5. Proverbs 30:33 Or churning milk produces butter


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



» Through My Bible Yr 03 – October 13

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Through My Bible Yr 03 – October 13

Proverbs 28 – 29

Proverbs 28

1 The wicked flee even though no one is pursuing them,
but the righteous are bold like a lion.
2 A rebellious land has many rulers,
but one man with understanding and knowledge provides stability.
3 A poor man who oppresses the poor
    is a driving rain that leaves no food.
4 Those who abandon the law [1] praise the wicked,
but those who keep the law oppose them.
5 Evil men do not understand justice,
but those who seek the Lord understand everything.
6 Better a poor person who walks in his integrity
    than a rich person who is hypocritical. [2]
7 The son who keeps the law has understanding,
but a companion of gluttons brings shame upon his father.
8 A person who increases his wealth by piling up interest
    gathers it for someone who is generous to the needy.
9 A person who turns his ear away from the law—
    even his prayer is an abomination.
10 A person who leads the upright along an evil way
will fall into his own pit,
but people of integrity will inherit good.
11 A wealthy person is wise in his own eyes,
but a needy person with understanding will expose him.
12 When the righteous triumph, there is much celebration, [3]
but when the wicked rise to power, people hide.
13 A person who conceals his sins will not prosper,
but one who confesses and abandons them will receive mercy.
14 Blessed is the person who always is afraid of sin,
but one who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
15 A wicked ruler over a poor people
    is a growling lion or a charging bear.
16 When a ruler lacks understanding, there will be much oppression,
but one who hates ill-gotten gain prolongs his days.
17 A person haunted by the guilt of bloodshed
    will be a fugitive until he goes down to the pit.
No one should offer him support.
18 A person who walks with integrity will be saved,
but a person whose ways are crooked will fall all at once.
19 A person who works his land will have plenty of food,
but whoever pursues fantasies will have plenty of poverty.
20 A trustworthy person has many blessings,
but a person in a hurry to get rich will not go unpunished.
21 Showing favoritism is not good,
but a man may sin for a piece of bread.
22 A tightfisted person is in a hurry to get rich,
but he does not know that poverty is coming his way.
23 In the end a person who corrects someone will find more favor
    than a person with a flattering tongue.
24 A person who robs his father and his mother
and says, “It’s not a sin,” is no better than [4] a vandal.
25 A greedy person stirs up strife,
but a person who trusts in the Lord will prosper.
26 A person who trusts in his own ideas is a fool,
but a person who walks in wisdom will be kept safe.
27 A person who gives to the poor will lack nothing,
but a person who closes his eyes to them will receive many curses.
28 When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding,
but when the wicked perish, the righteous increase.

Proverbs 29

1 A person who remains stiff-necked [5] after many rebukes
    will be broken suddenly, and there will be no cure.
2 When the righteous increase, the people rejoice,
but when a wicked man rules, the people groan.
3 A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,
but one who visits prostitutes destroys his wealth.
4 A king brings stability to a land by justice,
but one who accepts bribes tears it down.
5 A man who flatters his neighbor
    is spreading a net for his steps. [6]
6 An evil man sets a trap with his sin,
but a righteous person sings and rejoices.
7 A righteous person acknowledges the rights of the poor,
but a wicked person does not understand such knowledge.
8 Scoffers stir up a city,
but wise people turn away anger.
9 When a wise person seeks justice from a stubborn fool,
the fool rants and laughs, and there is no peace.
10 Bloodthirsty people hate anyone with integrity,
but upright people seek to save his life. [7]
11 A fool vents all his emotions,
but a wise person calmly restrains them.
12 If a ruler listens to lies,
all his officials become wicked.
13 A poor person and an oppressor have this in common:
The Lord gives light to the eyes of both.
14 If a king judges poor people with truth,
his throne will be established permanently.
15 A rod used for discipline gives wisdom,
but an undisciplined child disgraces his mother.
16 When the wicked increase, sin increases,
but the righteous will see their downfall.
17 Discipline your son, and he will give you rest.
He will give delight to your soul.
18 Without prophetic vision, a people is unrestrained,
but a people which follows the law is blessed.
19 A servant cannot be disciplined with words.
Although he understands, he shows no response.
20 Have you seen a person who is hasty with his words?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
21 If someone pampers his servant from the time he is young,
later on he will have grief.
22 A hothead stirs up a fight,
and a quick-tempered person commits many sins.
23 A person’s arrogance will humble him,
but a humble spirit will attain honor.
24 The partner of a thief hates his own life.
He hears the oath, [8] but he does not reveal anything.
25 Being afraid of a man sets a trap,
but a person who trusts in the Lord will be secure.
26 Many people seek a ruler’s favor,
but a person gets justice from the Lord.
27 An unjust person is disgusting to righteous people,
but one whose way is upright is disgusting to the wicked.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:4 Or instruction or teaching
  2. Proverbs 28:6 Or twisted in his two ways
  3. Proverbs 28:12 Or confidence. Literally splendor.
  4. Proverbs 28:24 Or a partner to
  5. Proverbs 29:1 Or stubborn
  6. Proverbs 29:5 Or his own steps
  7. Proverbs 29:10 Or and they seek the life of the upright
  8. Proverbs 29:24 Or curse. He cannot testify for fear of reprisal or self-incrimination.


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



» Through My Bible Yr 03 – October 12

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Through My Bible Yr 03 – October 12

Proverbs 26:13 – 27:27

Proverbs 26

13 A lazy person says, “There’s a ferocious lion in the street.
There’s a lion in the public square!”
14 A door turns on its hinges,
and a lazy person turns on his bed.
15 A lazy person buries his hand in a dish,
but he is too tired to return it to his mouth.
16 A lazy person considers himself wiser
than seven people who answer sensibly.

17 A passerby who meddles in a quarrel that is not his
is like a person who grabs a dog by the ears.
18 A person who deceives his neighbor and then says, “I was only joking,”
19 is like a madman who shoots firebrands and deadly arrows. [1]

20 When there is no more wood, a fire goes out,
and without gossip, a quarrel dies down.
21 As charcoal is to hot embers and as wood is to fire,
so a quarrelsome person is to igniting a fight.

22 Words of a gossip are like food that is easy to swallow.
They go down to the depths of one’s heart. [2]
23 Fervent [3] lips and an evil heart
are like a glaze [4] covering a clay pot.
24 With his lips a person hides his hatred,
but he hides deceit inside.
25 When his voice sounds gracious, do not believe him,
because seven abominations are in his heart.
26 His hatred covers itself with deceit,
but his evil will be revealed in the assembly.

27 The person who digs a pit will fall into it.
The person who rolls away a stone—it will roll back over him.
28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes,
and a smooth mouth causes ruin.

Proverbs 27

1 Do not boast about tomorrow,
because you do not know what a day may produce.
2 Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth—
a stranger, not your own lips.
3 A stone is heavy and sand is a burden,
but aggravation from a stubborn fool is heavier than both.
4 Cruel wrath and a flood of anger are devastating,
but who can stand up against jealousy?
5 Open correction is better than concealed love.
6 Wounds from someone who loves you can be trusted,
but the kisses of someone who hates you are too much. [5]
7 A satisfied appetite refuses honey,
but to a hungry appetite, everything bitter tastes sweet.
8 A person who wanders from his place
    is like a bird that wanders from its nest.
9 Olive oil and incense bring joy to a heart,
and the sweetness of a friend comes from his sincere advice. [6]
10 Do not abandon your friend or your father’s friend,
and do not go to your brother’s house when disaster strikes you.
A neighbor who is near is better than a brother who is far away.
11 Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart,
so that I may answer anyone who taunts me.
12 A sensible person sees trouble and hides,
but naïve people keep going and pay the penalty.
13 Take the garment of someone who guarantees a loan for a stranger.
Keep it when someone pledges it on behalf of an immoral woman.
14 When someone blesses his neighbor in a loud voice early in the morning,
    it will be regarded as a curse.
15 Constantly dripping water on a rainy day
and a nagging wife are alike.
16 Trying to hold her back is like holding back the wind,
like grasping oil with your right hand. [7]
17 Iron sharpens iron,
and a man sharpens the insight of his friend.
18 A person who tends a fig tree eats its fruit,
and a person who takes care of his master will be honored.
19 As water reflects a person’s face,
so a person’s heart reflects the person.
20 Death and Destruction [8] are never satisfied,
and a person’s eyes are never satisfied.
21 A crucible is for refining silver and a smelter is for gold,
and a person is tested by his praise. [9]
22 Even if you grind a stubborn fool
    like grain with a mortar and pestle,
his stupidity will not leave him.

23 Be certain that you know the condition of your flock very well.
Pay attention to your herds,
24 because wealth is not forever,
nor does a crown pass from generation to generation.
25 The hay is removed and new growth appears,
and grass from the mountains is gathered in.
26 Lambs provide wool for your clothing,
and the price of the field can be earned from the goats.
27 What’s more, there will be enough goats’ milk for your food,
for your household’s food,
and to maintain the life of your servant girls.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 26:19 Elements of verses 18 and 19 were rearranged to get smooth English word order.
  2. Proverbs 26:22 Literally the innermost rooms of the belly
  3. Proverbs 26:23 The translation follows the Hebrew. The Greek Old Testament reads smooth.
  4. Proverbs 26:23 The Hebrew text reads silver dross. Combining two Hebrew words into one word yields the translation glaze.
  5. Proverbs 27:6 Or are deceitful
  6. Proverbs 27:9 Or is better than your own advice
  7. Proverbs 27:16 The verse is difficult. Literally it reads those who hide her hide the wind, and he calls his right hand oil.
  8. Proverbs 27:20 Hebrew Sheol and Abaddon
  9. Proverbs 27:21 His praise is either the praise he gives or the praise he receives


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



» Through My Bible Yr 03 – October 11

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Through My Bible Yr 03 – October 11

Proverbs 25:1 – 26:12

More Proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs 25

1 These also are the proverbs of Solomon,
which the men of King Hezekiah of Judah compiled. [1]

2 It brings glory to God to hide a matter,
but it brings glory to kings to investigate a matter.
3 As heaven is high and earth is deep,
so there is no searching the heart of kings.

4 Remove impurities from silver,
and a vessel can be cast by a silversmith.
5 Remove a wicked person from a king’s presence,
and his throne will be established with righteousness.

6 Do not honor yourself in a king’s presence.
Do not stand in a place reserved for great people,
7 because it is better to be told, “Come up here,”
than for you to be humiliated before a ruler
    whom your eyes have seen. [2]

8 Do not be in a hurry to go to court.
Otherwise, what will you do afterward,
when your neighbor humiliates you?
9 Argue your case with your neighbor,
but do not reveal someone else’s secret.
10 If you do, the person who hears it will shame you,
and your bad reputation will never leave you.

11 A word spoken at the right time
    is like golden apples in silver settings.
12 To ears that listen, a wise person’s correction
    is like a gold ring or like jewelry made of pure gold.
13 To those who send him, a trustworthy messenger
    is like cooling snow on a warm day during harvest.
He refreshes his masters’ spirits.
14 A person who brags about a gift that is never given
    is like clouds and wind that bring no rain.
15 By patience a ruler can be persuaded,
and a soft tongue can break a bone.
16 When you find honey, eat only what you need.
Otherwise you will be filled with it and vomit it up.
17 Do not set foot in your neighbor’s house too often.
If you do, he will have too much of you and hate you.
18 A person who gives false testimony against his neighbor
    is a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow.
19 Confidence in an unfaithful person during a time of crisis
    is like a broken tooth or a lame foot.
20 Singing songs to a despondent heart
    is like taking off a coat on a cold day
    or like vinegar on baking soda.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him something to eat.
If he is thirsty, give him something to drink,
22 because you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the Lord will repay you.
23 A north wind gives birth to rain,
and a whispering tongue gives birth to angry faces.
24 Better to live on the corner of a roof
than in a home shared with a nagging wife.
25 Good news from a distant country is
like cold water for a weary soul.
26 A righteous person who is swayed by the wicked
is a muddied spring or a polluted fountain.
27 Eating too much honey is not good,
and people seeking their own glory is not glorious. [3]
28 A person who lacks self-control
is like a broken-down city without a wall.

Assorted Fools

Proverbs 26

1 Like snow during summer and rain during the harvest,
so honor is not appropriate for a fool.
2 Like a migrating bird or a flying swallow,
so an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3 A whip is for horses, a bridle for donkeys,
and a rod for the backs of fools.

4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly.
If you do, you yourself will become like him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly.
If you do not, he will consider himself wise.

6 It is like cutting off your own feet or drinking violence [4]
when a person sends messages in the hand of a fool.
7 The legs of a lame person dangle.
So does a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Giving honor to a fool is
    like tying a stone in a slingshot.
9 A proverb in the mouth of a fool
    is like a thorn in a drunkard’s hand.
10 One who hires a fool or someone just passing by
    is like an archer who wounds at random. [5]
11 As a dog returns to his vomit,
so a fool repeats his stupidity.
12 Have you seen a person who is wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:1 Or transcribed
  2. Proverbs 25:7 Many translations associate this line with verse 8: What you have seen with your eye do not bring quickly into court. Manuscript evidence supports a connection with verse 7, but sense seems to favor including it with verse 8.
  3. Proverbs 25:27 The line is cryptic.
  4. Proverbs 26:6 Or poison
  5. Proverbs 26:10 The meaning of this verse is uncertain.


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



» Through My Bible Yr 03 – October 10

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Through My Bible Yr 03 – October 10

Proverbs 24

1 Do not envy evil people,
and do not wish to be with them,
2 because their hearts plan violence,
and their lips speak trouble.

3 With wisdom a house is built.
With understanding it is established.
4 With knowledge its rooms are filled with every kind of riches,
both valuable and appealing.

5 A wise person grows strong,
and a knowledgeable man becomes more powerful,
6 because advice prepares you for battle,
and many advisors bring victory.

7 Wise decisions are out of reach [1] for a stubborn fool.
In court [2] he cannot open his mouth.

8 Whoever plans evil will be called a master schemer.
9 A foolish scheme is a sin,
and a mocker is disgusting to people.

10 If you fail to act in the day of trouble,
your strength is too little.
11 Rescue captives condemned to death,
and spare those staggering toward slaughter.
12 If you say, “We did not know about this,”
won’t the one who weighs motives notice?
Won’t the one who guards your life know about it,
and won’t he repay people according to what each one has done?

13 My son, eat honey, because it is good.
Flowing honey is sweet on your palate.
14 Know also that wisdom is sweet for your soul.
If you find it, then there is a future for you,
and your hope will never be cut off.

15 Do not be like the wicked who attack the home of the righteous.
Do not destroy his resting place,
16 because a righteous person may fall seven times, but he will get up,
while wicked people will stumble into misfortune.

17 Do not be happy when your enemy falls.
Do not let your heart celebrate when he stumbles.
18 If you do, the Lord will see it and consider it evil,
and he will turn his anger away from him.

19 Do not fret about evildoers.
Do not be jealous of wicked people,
20 because an evil person has no future.
The lamp of the wicked will be put out.

21 Fear the Lord, my son, and also the king.
Do not associate with those who are rebellious,
22 because their disaster will take place suddenly.
Who knows what ruin the Lord and the king will cause?

More Words of the Wise

23 These sayings also are by the wise:
To show partiality when administering justice is not good.
24 If anyone says to a guilty person, “You are innocent,”
people will curse him. Nations will denounce him.
25 However, it will be pleasant for those who convict the guilty.
A wonderful blessing will come upon them.

26 Someone who gives a straight answer gives a kiss on the lips.

27 Prepare your work outside,
and get things ready for yourself in the fields.
Afterward, build your house.

28 Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause.
Do not practice deception with your lips.
29 Do not think, “I will do to him what he did to me.
I will pay the man back for what he did.”

30 I passed by a lazy man’s field
and by a vineyard that belonged to a senseless man.
31 It was overgrown with thistles
and covered with weeds.
Its stone wall was broken down.
32 When I saw this, I took it to heart.
I observed and learned a lesson:
33 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest—
34 and poverty will come on you like a prowler,
and scarcity will come like a warrior.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 24:7 The translation follows an altered spelling of the Hebrew. The main Hebrew reading seems to be corals.
  2. Proverbs 24:7 Literally the city gate


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