For concerning the ministry to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you;

For I know your eagerness, of which I boast on your behalf to the Macedonians, that  ¹Achaia has been prepared since last year; and your zeal has stirred up the greater number of them.

But I sent the brothers that our boasting on your behalf might not be made void in this respect, that, as I said, you might be prepared;

Lest, if the Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we, not to mention you, be put to shame in this  ¹confidence.

Therefore I thought it necessary to entreat the brothers to go before to you and make ready beforehand your previously promised  ¹blessing, that thus this might be ready as a blessing and not  ²as a matter of covetousness.

But take note of this: He who sows sparingly shall also sparingly reap; and he who sows with  ¹blessings shall also with  ²blessings reap;

Each one as he has purposed in his heart, not out of sorrow or out of  ¹necessity, for  ²God loves a  ³cheerful giver.

And God is able to make  ¹all grace abound unto you, that, in everything always having all sufficiency, you may abound unto every good work;

Even as it is written, “He has  ¹scattered abroad; he has given to the  ²poor; his  ³righteousness abides forever.”

Now  ¹He who bountifully supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and cause the fruits of your righteousness to increase.

You in everything are being enriched unto all  ¹liberality, which works out through us thanksgiving to God,

Because the ministry of this  ¹service is not only filling up the lack of the saints, but is also abounding through many thanksgivings to God.

They, through the  ¹approving of this ministry, are glorifying God based upon the subjection unto the gospel of Christ that issues from your confession, and upon the liberality of the  ²fellowship to them and to all;

While in petition on your behalf they also long after you on account of the  ¹surpassing  ²grace of God upon you.

Thanks be to God for His  ¹indescribable  ²gift!

Do not be envious of evil men,
Nor desire to be with them;

For their heart meditates violence,
And their lips talk of mischief.

Through wisdom a house is built,
And by understanding it is established,

And by knowledge the rooms are filled
With all precious and pleasant riches.

A wise man is strong,
And a man of knowledge increases power.

For by sound counsel you can wage your war,
And in the multitude of counselors there is  ¹victory.

Wisdom is too high for a fool;
He does not open his mouth in the gate.

He who devises to do evil,
Men will call him a mischief-maker.

The devising of folly is sin,
And the scorner is an abomination to men.

If you faint in the day of adversity,
Your strength is limited.

Deliver those who are being taken away to death,
And those who are staggering to be slain, oh, hold back!

If you say, Look, we did not know this —
Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it?
And He who keeps your soul, does He not know it ?
And will He not render to every man according to his work?

My son, eat honey, for it is good,
And the drippings from the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste:

Know that wisdom is such for your soul;
If you find it, then there will be a latter end,
And your hope will not be cut off.

Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous man;
Do not destroy his resting place;

For a righteous man falls seven times and rises up again,
But the wicked are overthrown by calamity.

Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
And do not let your heart exult when he is overthrown;

Lest Jehovah see it, and it displease Him,
And He turn away His anger from him.

Do not be incensed because of evildoers;
Do not be envious of the wicked;

For there will be no future for the evil man;
The lamp of the wicked will be put out.

My son, fear Jehovah and the king,
And do not associate with those who are given to change;

For their calamity will rise suddenly,
And who knows the misfortune of both of them?

These also are sayings of the wise:
It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

He who says to the wicked man, You are righteous,
Peoples will curse him; nations will abhor him.

But those who rebuke the wicked man will have delight,
And a good blessing will come upon them.

He who gives an honest answer
Kisses the lips.

Prepare your work outside,
And make it ready for yourself in the field,
And afterward build your house.

Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause,
And do not deceive with your lips.

Do not say, I will do to him as he has done to me;
I will render to the man according to his work.

I passed by the field of the sluggard,
And by the vineyard of the man lacking sense;

And there it was, all overgrown with thorns;
Its surface was covered with nettles,
And its stone wall was broken down.

When I looked, I considered it;
I saw it and received instruction:

A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to rest,

And your poverty will come upon you like a robber,
And your want, like an armed man.