Proverbs 20:1–30 (NIV84)

¹ Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise. ² A king’s wrath is like the roar of a lion; he who angers him forfeits his life. ³ It is to a man’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. ⁴ A sluggard does not plow in season; so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing. ⁵ The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out. ⁶ Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find? ⁷ The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him. ⁸ When a king sits on his throne to judge, he winnows out all evil with his eyes. ⁹ Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin”? ¹⁰Differing weights and differing measures— the Lord detests them both. ¹¹ Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right. ¹² Ears that hear and eyes that see— the Lord has made them both. ¹³ Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare. ¹⁴ “It’s no good, it’s no good!” says the buyer; then off he goes and boasts about his purchase. ¹⁵ Gold there is, and rubies in abundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel. ¹⁶ Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger; hold it in pledge if he does it for a wayward woman. ¹⁷ Food gained by fraud tastes sweet to a man, but he ends up with a mouth full of gravel. ¹⁸ Make plans by seeking advice; if you wage war, obtain guidance. ¹⁹ A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much. ²⁰ If a man curses his father or mother, his lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness. ²¹ An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning will not be blessed at the end. ²² Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you. ²³ The Lord detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him. ²⁴ A man’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand his own way? ²⁵ It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider his vows. ²⁶ A wise king winnows out the wicked; he drives the threshing wheel over them. ²⁷ The lamp of the Lord searches the spirit of a man; it searches out his inmost being. ²⁸ Love and faithfulness keep a king safe; through love his throne is made secure. ²⁹ The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old. ³⁰ Blows and wounds cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the inmost being.

1 John 1:1–2:6 (NIV84)

¹ That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. ² The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. ³ We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. ⁴ We write this to make our joy complete. ⁵ This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. ⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. ⁸ If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. ¹My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. ² He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. ³ We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. ⁴ The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. ⁵ But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: ⁶ Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.