Let the whole world bless our God and loudly sing his praises. Our lives are in his hands, and he keeps our feet from stumbling. You have tested us, O God; you have purified us like silver. You captured us in your net and laid the burden of slavery on our backs. Then you put a leader over us. We went through fire and flood, but you brought us to a place of great abundance.
Now I come to your Temple with burnt offerings to fulfill the vows I made to you - yes, the sacred vows that I made when I was in deep trouble. That is why I am sacrificing burnt offerings to you - the best of my rams as a pleasing aroma, and a sacrifice of bulls and male goats. Interlude
To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction.
The Lord approves of those who are good, but he condemns those who plan wickedness.
Wickedness never brings stability, but the godly have deep roots.
A worthy wife is a crown for her husband, but a disgraceful woman is like cancer in his bones.
The plans of the godly are just; the advice of the wicked is treacherous.
The words of the wicked are like a murderous ambush, but the words of the godly save lives.
The wicked die and disappear, but the family of the godly stands firm.
A sensible person wins admiration, but a warped mind is despised.
Better to be an ordinary person with a servant than to be self-important but have no food.
The godly care for their animals, but the wicked are always cruel.
A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies has no sense.
Thieves are jealous of each other's loot, but the godly are well rooted and bear their own fruit.
The wicked are trapped by their own words, but the godly escape such trouble.
Wise words bring many benefits, and hard work brings rewards.
Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.
A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted.
An honest witness tells the truth; a false witness tells lies.
Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.
Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed.
Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil; joy fills hearts that are planning peace!
No harm comes to the godly, but the wicked have their fill of trouble.
The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth.
The wise don't make a show of their knowledge, but fools broadcast their foolishness.
Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave.
Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.
The godly give good advice to their friends; the wicked lead them astray.
Lazy people don't even cook the game they catch, but the diligent make use of everything they find.
The way of the godly leads to life; that path does not lead to death.
If the dead will not be raised, what point is there in people being baptized for those who are dead? Why do it unless the dead will someday rise again?
And why should we ourselves risk our lives hour by hour? For I swear, dear brothers and sisters, that I face death daily. This is as certain as my pride in what Christ Jesus our Lord has done in you. And what value was there in fighting wild beasts - those people of Ephesus - if there will be no resurrection from the dead? And if there is no resurrection, "Let's feast and drink, for tomorrow we die!" Don't be fooled by those who say such things, for"bad company corrupts good character." Think carefully about what is right, and stop sinning. For to your shame I say that some of you don't know God at all.
But someone may ask, "How will the dead be raised? What kind of bodies will they have?" What a foolish question! When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn't grow into a plant unless it dies first. And what you put in the ground is not the plant that will grow, but only a bare seed of wheat or whatever you are planting. Then God gives it the new body he wants it to have. A different plant grows from each kind of seed. Similarly there are different kinds of flesh - one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish.
There are also bodies in the heavens and bodies on the earth. The glory of the heavenly bodies is different from the glory of the earthly bodies. The sun has one kind of glory, while the moon and stars each have another kind. And even the stars differ from each other in their glory.