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 9

Proverbs 20 ()

[1] Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler.
Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
[2] The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion.
He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
[3] It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife,
but every fool will be quarreling.
[4] The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter;
therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
[5] Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water,
but a man of understanding will draw it out.
[6] Many men claim to be men of unfailing love,
but who can find a faithful man?
[7] A righteous man walks in integrity.
Blessed are his children after him.
[8] A king who sits on the throne of judgment
scatters away all evil with his eyes.
[9] Who can say, “I have made my heart pure.
I am clean and without sin”?
[10] Differing weights and differing measures,
both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.
[11] Even a child makes himself known by his doings,
whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
[12] The hearing ear, and the seeing eye,
Yahweh has made even both of them.
[13] Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty.
Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
[14] “It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer;
but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
[15] There is gold and abundance of rubies,
but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
[16] Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger;
and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
[17] Fraudulent food is sweet to a man,
but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
[18] Plans are established by advice;
by wise guidance you wage war!
[19] He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets;
therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
[20] Whoever curses his father or his mother,
his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
[21] An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning
won’t be blessed in the end.
[22] Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.”
Wait for Yahweh, and he will save you.
[23] Yahweh detests differing weights,
and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
[24] A man’s steps are from Yahweh;
how then can man understand his way?
[25] It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication,
then later to consider his vows.
[26] A wise king winnows out the wicked,
and drives the threshing wheel over them.
[27] The spirit of man is Yahweh’s lamp,
searching all his innermost parts.
[28] Love and faithfulness keep the king safe.
His throne is sustained by love.
[29] The glory of young men is their strength.
The splendor of old men is their gray hair.
[30] Wounding blows cleanse away evil,
and beatings purge the innermost parts.

Proverbs 21 ()

[1] The king’s heart is in Yahweh’s hand like the watercourses.
He turns it wherever he desires.
[2] Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
but Yahweh weighs the hearts.
[3] To do righteousness and justice
is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.
[4] A high look and a proud heart,
the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
[5] The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit;
and everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.
[6] Getting treasures by a lying tongue
is a fleeting vapor for those who seek death.
[7] The violence of the wicked will drive them away,
because they refuse to do what is right.
[8] The way of the guilty is devious,
but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
[9] It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop
than to share a house with a contentious woman.
[10] The soul of the wicked desires evil;
his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
[11] When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom.
When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
[12] The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked,
and brings the wicked to ruin.
[13] Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor,
he will also cry out, but shall not be heard.
[14] A gift in secret pacifies anger,
and a bribe in the cloak, strong wrath.
[15] It is joy to the righteous to do justice;
but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
[16] The man who wanders out of the way of understanding
shall rest in the assembly of the departed spirits.
[17] He who loves pleasure will be a poor man.
He who loves wine and oil won’t be rich.
[18] The wicked is a ransom for the righteous,
the treacherous for the upright.
[19] It is better to dwell in a desert land,
than with a contentious and fretful woman.
[20] There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise,
but a foolish man swallows it up.
[21] He who follows after righteousness and kindness
finds life, righteousness, and honor.
[22] A wise man scales the city of the mighty,
and brings down the strength of its confidence.
[23] Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue
keeps his soul from troubles.
[24] The proud and arrogant man—“Scoffer” is his name—
he works in the arrogance of pride.
[25] The desire of the sluggard kills him,
for his hands refuse to labor.
[26] There are those who covet greedily all day long;
but the righteous give and don’t withhold.
[27] The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination—
how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind!
[28] A false witness will perish.
A man who listens speaks to eternity.
[29] A wicked man hardens his face;
but as for the upright, he establishes his ways.
[30] There is no wisdom nor understanding
nor counsel against Yahweh.
[31] The horse is prepared for the day of battle;
but victory is with Yahweh.

Proverbs 22 ()

[1] A good name is more desirable than great riches,
and loving favor is better than silver and gold.
[2] The rich and the poor have this in common:
Yahweh is the maker of them all.
[3] A prudent man sees danger and hides himself;
but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
[4] The result of humility and the fear of Yahweh
is wealth, honor, and life.
[5] Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked;
whoever guards his soul stays from them.
[6] Train up a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not depart from it.
[7] The rich rule over the poor.
The borrower is servant to the lender.
[8] He who sows wickedness reaps trouble,
and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
[9] He who has a generous eye will be blessed,
for he shares his food with the poor.
[10] Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out;
yes, quarrels and insults will stop.
[11] He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully
is the king’s friend.
[12] Yahweh’s eyes watch over knowledge,
but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
[13] The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside!
I will be killed in the streets!”
[14] The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit.
He who is under Yahweh’s wrath will fall into it.
[15] Folly is bound up in the heart of a child;
the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
[16] Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich,
both come to poverty.

[17] Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise.
Apply your heart to my teaching.
[18] For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you,
if all of them are ready on your lips.
[19] I teach you today, even you,
so that your trust may be in Yahweh.
[20] Haven’t I written to you thirty excellent things
of counsel and knowledge,
[21] To teach you truth, reliable words,
to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?

[22] Don’t exploit the poor because he is poor;
and don’t crush the needy in court;
[23] for Yahweh will plead their case,
and plunder the life of those who plunder them.

[24] Don’t befriend a hot-tempered man.
Don’t associate with one who harbors anger,
[25] lest you learn his ways
and ensnare your soul.

[26] Don’t you be one of those who strike hands,
of those who are collateral for debts.
[27] If you don’t have means to pay,
why should he take away your bed from under you?

[28] Don’t move the ancient boundary stone
which your fathers have set up.

[29] Do you see a man skilled in his work?
He will serve kings.
He won’t serve obscure men.

Proverbs 23 ()

[1] When you sit to eat with a ruler,
consider diligently what is before you;
[2] put a knife to your throat
if you are a man given to appetite.
[3] Don’t be desirous of his dainties,
since they are deceitful food.
[4] Don’t weary yourself to be rich.
In your wisdom, show restraint.
[5] Why do you set your eyes on that which is not?
For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
[6] Don’t eat the food of him who has a stingy eye,
and don’t crave his delicacies,
[7] for as he thinks about the cost, so he is.
“Eat and drink!” he says to you,
but his heart is not with you.
[8] You will vomit up the morsel which you have eaten
and waste your pleasant words.

[9] Don’t speak in the ears of a fool,
for he will despise the wisdom of your words.

[10] Don’t move the ancient boundary stone.
Don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
[11] for their Defender is strong.
He will plead their case against you.

[12] Apply your heart to instruction,
and your ears to the words of knowledge.
[13] Don’t withhold correction from a child.
If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
[14] Punish him with the rod,
and save his soul from Sheol.

[15] My son, if your heart is wise,
then my heart will be glad, even mine.
[16] Yes, my heart will rejoice
when your lips speak what is right.
[17] Don’t let your heart envy sinners,
but rather fear Yahweh all day long.
[18] Indeed surely there is a future hope,
and your hope will not be cut off.
[19] Listen, my son, and be wise,
and keep your heart on the right path!
[20] Don’t be among ones drinking too much wine,
or those who gorge themselves on meat;
[21] for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor;
and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
[22] Listen to your father who gave you life,
and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
[23] Buy the truth, and don’t sell it.
Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
[24] The father of the righteous has great joy.
Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
[25] Let your father and your mother be glad!
Let her who bore you rejoice!
[26] My son, give me your heart;
and let your eyes keep in my ways.
[27] For a prostitute is a deep pit;
and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
[28] Yes, she lies in wait like a robber,
and increases the unfaithful among men.

[29] Who has woe?
Who has sorrow?
Who has strife?
Who has complaints?
Who has needless bruises?
Who has bloodshot eyes?
[30] Those who stay long at the wine;
those who go to seek out mixed wine.
[31] Don’t look at the wine when it is red,
when it sparkles in the cup,
when it goes down smoothly.
[32] In the end, it bites like a snake,
and poisons like a viper.
[33] Your eyes will see strange things,
and your mind will imagine confusing things.
[34] Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the middle of the sea,
or as he who lies on top of the rigging:
[35] “They hit me, and I was not hurt!
They beat me, and I don’t feel it!
When will I wake up? I can do it again.
I will look for more.”

Proverbs 23:14 Sheol is the place of the dead.