Bible in a Year - Day 229

T¹he wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion. ² For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged. ³ A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food. ⁴ They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them. ⁵ Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things. ⁶ Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich. ⁷ Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father. ⁸ He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor. ⁹ He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination. ¹⁰ Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession. ¹¹ The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out. ¹² When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden. ¹³ He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. ¹⁴ Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief. ¹⁵ As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people. ¹⁶ The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days. ¹⁷ A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him. ¹⁸ Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once. ¹⁹ He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough. ²⁰ A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent. ²¹ To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress. ²² He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him. ²³ He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue. ²⁴ Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer. ²⁵ He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat. ²⁶ He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered. ²⁷ He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse. ²⁸ When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.

¹ But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. ² And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. ³ And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. ⁴ For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; ⁵ And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; ⁶ And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; ⁷ And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: ⁸ (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) ⁹ The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: ¹⁰ But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. ¹¹ Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. ¹² But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; ¹³ And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; ¹⁴ Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: ¹⁵ Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; ¹⁶ But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet. ¹⁷ These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. ¹⁸ For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. ¹⁹ While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. ²⁰ For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. ²¹ For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. ²² But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.