Bible in a Year – read today’s “Bible in a Year” excerpt

This page updates daily, based on the Whole Bible Canonically in a Year Bible reading plan.

reading plan entry for July 6

Proverbs 6 ()

[1] My son, if you have become collateral for your neighbor,
if you have struck your hands in pledge for a stranger,
[2] you are trapped by the words of your mouth;
you are ensnared with the words of your mouth.
[3] Do this now, my son, and deliver yourself,
since you have come into the hand of your neighbor.
Go, humble yourself.
Press your plea with your neighbor.
[4] Give no sleep to your eyes,
nor slumber to your eyelids.
[5] Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
like a bird from the snare of the fowler.

[6] Go to the ant, you sluggard.
Consider her ways, and be wise;
[7] which having no chief, overseer, or ruler,
[8] provides her bread in the summer,
and gathers her food in the harvest.
[9] How long will you sleep, sluggard?
When will you arise out of your sleep?
[10] A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to sleep—
[11] so your poverty will come as a robber,
and your scarcity as an armed man.

[12] A worthless person, a man of iniquity,
is he who walks with a perverse mouth,
[13] who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet,
who motions with his fingers,
[14] in whose heart is perverseness,
who devises evil continually,
who always sows discord.
[15] Therefore his calamity will come suddenly.
He will be broken suddenly, and that without remedy.

[16] There are six things which Yahweh hates;
yes, seven which are an abomination to him:
[17] arrogant eyes, a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
[18] a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are swift in running to mischief,
[19] a false witness who utters lies,
and he who sows discord among brothers.

[20] My son, keep your father’s commandment,
and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching.
[21] Bind them continually on your heart.
Tie them around your neck.
[22] When you walk, it will lead you.
When you sleep, it will watch over you.
When you awake, it will talk with you.
[23] For the commandment is a lamp,
and the law is light.
Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,
[24] to keep you from the immoral woman,
from the flattery of the wayward wife’s tongue.
[25] Don’t lust after her beauty in your heart,
neither let her captivate you with her eyelids.
[26] For a prostitute reduces you to a piece of bread.
The adulteress hunts for your precious life.
[27] Can a man scoop fire into his lap,
and his clothes not be burned?
[28] Or can one walk on hot coals,
and his feet not be scorched?
[29] So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife.
Whoever touches her will not be unpunished.
[30] Men don’t despise a thief
if he steals to satisfy himself when he is hungry,
[31] but if he is found, he shall restore seven times.
He shall give all the wealth of his house.
[32] He who commits adultery with a woman is void of understanding.
He who does it destroys his own soul.
[33] He will get wounds and dishonor.
His reproach will not be wiped away.
[34] For jealousy arouses the fury of the husband.
He won’t spare in the day of vengeance.
[35] He won’t regard any ransom,
neither will he rest content, though you give many gifts.

Proverbs 7 ()

[1] My son, keep my words.
Lay up my commandments within you.
[2] Keep my commandments and live!
Guard my teaching as the apple of your eye.
[3] Bind them on your fingers.
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
[4] Tell wisdom, “You are my sister.”
Call understanding your relative,
[5] that they may keep you from the strange woman,
from the foreigner who flatters with her words.
[6] For at the window of my house,
I looked out through my lattice.
[7] I saw among the simple ones.
I discerned among the youths a young man void of understanding,
[8] passing through the street near her corner,
he went the way to her house,
[9] in the twilight, in the evening of the day,
in the middle of the night and in the darkness.
[10] Behold, there a woman met him with the attire of a prostitute,
and with crafty intent.
[11] She is loud and defiant.
Her feet don’t stay in her house.
[12] Now she is in the streets, now in the squares,
and lurking at every corner.
[13] So she caught him, and kissed him.
With an impudent face she said to him:
[14] “Sacrifices of peace offerings are with me.
Today I have paid my vows.
[15] Therefore I came out to meet you,
to diligently seek your face,
and I have found you.
[16] I have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry,
with striped cloths of the yarn of Egypt.
[17] I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
[18] Come, let’s take our fill of loving until the morning.
Let’s solace ourselves with loving.
[19] For my husband isn’t at home.
He has gone on a long journey.
[20] He has taken a bag of money with him.
He will come home at the full moon.”
[21] With persuasive words, she led him astray.
With the flattering of her lips, she seduced him.
[22] He followed her immediately,
as an ox goes to the slaughter,
as a fool stepping into a noose.
[23] Until an arrow strikes through his liver,
as a bird hurries to the snare,
and doesn’t know that it will cost his life.

[24] Now therefore, sons, listen to me.
Pay attention to the words of my mouth.
[25] Don’t let your heart turn to her ways.
Don’t go astray in her paths,
[26] for she has thrown down many wounded.
Yes, all her slain are a mighty army.
[27] Her house is the way to Sheol,
going down to the rooms of death.

Proverbs 7:27 Sheol is the place of the dead.

Proverbs 8 ()

[1] Doesn’t wisdom cry out?
Doesn’t understanding raise her voice?
[2] On the top of high places by the way,
where the paths meet, she stands.
[3] Beside the gates, at the entry of the city,
at the entry doors, she cries aloud:
[4] “I call to you men!
I send my voice to the sons of mankind.
[5] You simple, understand prudence!
You fools, be of an understanding heart!
[6] Hear, for I will speak excellent things.
The opening of my lips is for right things.
[7] For my mouth speaks truth.
Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
[8] All the words of my mouth are in righteousness.
There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
[9] They are all plain to him who understands,
right to those who find knowledge.
[10] Receive my instruction rather than silver,
knowledge rather than choice gold.
[11] For wisdom is better than rubies.
All the things that may be desired can’t be compared to it.

[12] “I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling.
Find out knowledge and discretion.
[13] The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil.
I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
[14] Counsel and sound knowledge are mine.
I have understanding and power.
[15] By me kings reign,
and princes decree justice.
[16] By me princes rule,
nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.
[17] I love those who love me.
Those who seek me diligently will find me.
[18] With me are riches, honor,
enduring wealth, and prosperity.
[19] My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold,
my yield than choice silver.
[20] I walk in the way of righteousness,
in the middle of the paths of justice,
[21] that I may give wealth to those who love me.
I fill their treasuries.

[22] “Yahweh possessed me in the beginning of his work,
before his deeds of old.
[23] I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning,
before the earth existed.
[24] When there were no depths, I was born,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
[25] Before the mountains were settled in place,
before the hills, I was born;
[26] while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields,
nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
[27] When he established the heavens, I was there.
When he set a circle on the surface of the deep,
[28] when he established the clouds above,
when the springs of the deep became strong,
[29] when he gave to the sea its boundary,
that the waters should not violate his commandment,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
[30] then I was the craftsman by his side.
I was a delight day by day,
always rejoicing before him,
[31] rejoicing in his whole world.
My delight was with the sons of men.

[32] “Now therefore, my sons, listen to me,
for blessed are those who keep my ways.
[33] Hear instruction, and be wise.
Don’t refuse it.
[34] Blessed is the man who hears me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting at my door posts.
[35] For whoever finds me finds life,
and will obtain favor from Yahweh.
[36] But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul.
All those who hate me love death.”

Proverbs 9 ()

[1] Wisdom has built her house.
She has carved out her seven pillars.
[2] She has prepared her meat.
She has mixed her wine.
She has also set her table.
[3] She has sent out her maidens.
She cries from the highest places of the city:
[4] “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
[5] “Come, eat some of my bread,
Drink some of the wine which I have mixed!
[6] Leave your simple ways, and live.
Walk in the way of understanding.”

[7] One who corrects a mocker invites insult.
One who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.
[8] Don’t reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you.
Reprove a wise person, and he will love you.
[9] Instruct a wise person, and he will be still wiser.
Teach a righteous person, and he will increase in learning.
[10] The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom.
The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
[11] For by me your days will be multiplied.
The years of your life will be increased.
[12] If you are wise, you are wise for yourself.
If you mock, you alone will bear it.

[13] The foolish woman is loud,
undisciplined, and knows nothing.
[14] She sits at the door of her house,
on a seat in the high places of the city,
[15] to call to those who pass by,
who go straight on their ways,
[16] “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.”
As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
[17] “Stolen water is sweet.
Food eaten in secret is pleasant.”
[18] But he doesn’t know that the departed spirits are there,
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

Proverbs 9:18 Sheol is the place of the dead.

Proverbs 10 ()

[1] The proverbs of Solomon.
A wise son makes a glad father;
but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.
[2] Treasures of wickedness profit nothing,
but righteousness delivers from death.
[3] Yahweh will not allow the soul of the righteous to go hungry,
but he thrusts away the desire of the wicked.
[4] He becomes poor who works with a lazy hand,
but the hand of the diligent brings wealth.
[5] He who gathers in summer is a wise son,
but he who sleeps during the harvest is a son who causes shame.
[6] Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
[7] The memory of the righteous is blessed,
but the name of the wicked will rot.
[8] The wise in heart accept commandments,
but a chattering fool will fall.
[9] He who walks blamelessly walks surely,
but he who perverts his ways will be found out.
[10] One who winks with the eye causes sorrow,
but a chattering fool will fall.
[11] The mouth of the righteous is a spring of life,
but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
[12] Hatred stirs up strife,
but love covers all wrongs.
[13] Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has discernment,
but a rod is for the back of him who is void of understanding.
[14] Wise men lay up knowledge,
but the mouth of the foolish is near ruin.
[15] The rich man’s wealth is his strong city.
The destruction of the poor is their poverty.
[16] The labor of the righteous leads to life.
The increase of the wicked leads to sin.
[17] He is in the way of life who heeds correction,
but he who forsakes reproof leads others astray.
[18] He who hides hatred has lying lips.
He who utters a slander is a fool.
[19] In the multitude of words there is no lack of disobedience,
but he who restrains his lips does wisely.
[20] The tongue of the righteous is like choice silver.
The heart of the wicked is of little worth.
[21] The lips of the righteous feed many,
but the foolish die for lack of understanding.
[22] Yahweh’s blessing brings wealth,
and he adds no trouble to it.
[23] It is a fool’s pleasure to do wickedness,
but wisdom is a man of understanding’s pleasure.
[24] What the wicked fear will overtake them,
but the desire of the righteous will be granted.
[25] When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more;
but the righteous stand firm forever.
[26] As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes,
so is the sluggard to those who send him.
[27] The fear of Yahweh prolongs days,
but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
[28] The prospect of the righteous is joy,
but the hope of the wicked will perish.
[29] The way of Yahweh is a stronghold to the upright,
but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
[30] The righteous will never be removed,
but the wicked will not dwell in the land.
[31] The mouth of the righteous produces wisdom,
but the perverse tongue will be cut off.
[32] The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,
but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.