Shout joyful praises to God, all the earth! Sing about the glory of his name! Tell the world how glorious he is. Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! Your enemies cringe before your mighty power. Everything on earth will worship you; they will sing your praises, shouting your name in glorious songs.” Interlude
Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people! He made a dry path through the Red Sea, and his people went across on foot. There we rejoiced in him. For by his great power he rules forever. He watches every movement of the nations; let no rebel rise in defiance. Interlude
Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return. Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt. So don’t bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you. Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more.
Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.
Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life. If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.
The woman named Folly is brash. She is ignorant and doesn’t know it. She sits in her doorway on the heights overlooking the city. She calls out to men going by who are minding their own business. “Come in with me,” she urges the simple. To those who lack good judgment, she says, “Stolen water is refreshing; food eaten in secret tastes the best!” But little do they know that the dead are there. Her guests are in the depths of the grave.
The proverbs of Solomon:
A wise child brings joy to a father; a foolish child brings grief to a mother.
Tainted wealth has no lasting value, but right living can save your life.
The Lord will not let the godly go hungry, but he refuses to satisfy the craving of the wicked.
Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich.
A wise youth harvests in the summer, but one who sleeps during harvest is a disgrace.
The godly are showered with blessings; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.
We have happy memories of the godly, but the name of a wicked person rots away.
The wise are glad to be instructed, but babbling fools fall flat on their faces.
People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed.
People who wink at wrong cause trouble, but a bold reproof promotes peace.
The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.
Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses.
Wise words come from the lips of people with understanding, but those lacking sense will be beaten with a rod.
Wise people treasure knowledge, but the babbling of a fool invites disaster.
The wealth of the rich is their fortress; the poverty of the poor is their destruction.
The earnings of the godly enhance their lives, but evil people squander their money on sin.
People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray.
Hiding hatred makes you a liar; slandering others makes you a fool.
Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.
The words of the godly are like sterling silver; the heart of a fool is worthless.
The words of the godly encourage many, but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense.
The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.
Doing wrong is fun for a fool, but living wisely brings pleasure to the sensible.
The fears of the wicked will be fulfilled; the hopes of the godly will be granted.
When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation.
Lazy people irritate their employers, like vinegar to the teeth or smoke in the eyes.
Fear of the Lord lengthens one’s life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.
The hopes of the godly result in happiness, but the expectations of the wicked come to nothing.
The way of the Lord is a stronghold to those with integrity, but it destroys the wicked.
The godly will never be disturbed, but the wicked will be removed from the land.
The mouth of the godly person gives wise advice, but the tongue that deceives will be cut off.
The lips of the godly speak helpful words, but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words.
I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him. For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church.
But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace. So it makes no difference whether I preach or they preach, for we all preach the same message you have already believed.
But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised.