Bible Reading October 22, 23
World English Bible
Oct. 22
Ecclesiastes 8-10
Ecc 8:1 Who is like the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.
Ecc 8:2 I say, "Keep the king's command!" because of the oath to God.
Ecc 8:3 Don't be hasty to go out of his presence. Don't persist in an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him,
Ecc 8:4 for the king's word is supreme. Who can say to him, "What are you doing?"
Ecc 8:5 Whoever keeps the commandment shall not come to harm, and his wise heart will know the time and procedure.
Ecc 8:6 For there is a time and procedure for every purpose, although the misery of man is heavy on him.
Ecc 8:7 For he doesn't know that which will be; for who can tell him how it will be?
Ecc 8:8 There is no man who has power over the spirit to contain the spirit; neither does he have power over the day of death. There is no discharge in war; neither shall wickedness deliver those who practice it.
Ecc 8:9 All this have I seen, and applied my mind to every work that is done under the sun. There is a time in which one man has power over another to his hurt.
Ecc 8:10 So I saw the wicked buried. Indeed they came also from holiness. They went and were forgotten in the city where they did this. This also is vanity.
Ecc 8:11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
Ecc 8:12 Though a sinner commits crimes a hundred times, and lives long, yet surely I know that it will be better with those who fear God, who are reverent before him.
Ecc 8:13 But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he lengthen days like a shadow; because he doesn't fear God.
Ecc 8:14 There is a vanity which is done on the earth, that there are righteous men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked. Again, there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.
Ecc 8:15 Then I commended mirth, because a man has no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be joyful: for that will accompany him in his labor all the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.
Ecc 8:16 When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on the earth (for also there is that neither day nor night sees sleep with his eyes),
Ecc 8:17 then I saw all the work of God, that man can't find out the work that is done under the sun, because however much a man labors to seek it out, yet he won't find it. Yes even though a wise man thinks he can comprehend it, he won't be able to find it.
Ecc 9:1 For all this I laid to my heart, even to explore all this: that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God; whether it is love or hatred, man doesn't know it; all is before them.
Ecc 9:2 All things come alike to all. There is one event to the righteous and to the wicked; to the good, to the clean, to the unclean, to him who sacrifices, and to him who doesn't sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner; he who takes an oath, as he who fears an oath.
Ecc 9:3 This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one event to all: yes also, the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.
Ecc 9:4 For to him who is joined with all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
Ecc 9:5 For the living know that they will die, but the dead don't know anything, neither do they have any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
Ecc 9:6 Also their love, their hatred, and their envy has perished long ago; neither have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun.
Ecc 9:7 Go your way--eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has already accepted your works.
Ecc 9:8 Let your garments be always white, and don't let your head lack oil.
Ecc 9:9 Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your life of vanity, which he has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity: for that is your portion in life, and in your labor in which you labor under the sun.
Ecc 9:10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, where you are going.
Ecc 9:11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.
Ecc 9:12 For man also doesn't know his time. As the fish that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare, even so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly on them.
Ecc 9:13 I have also seen wisdom under the sun in this way, and it seemed great to me.
Ecc 9:14 There was a little city, and few men within it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it.
Ecc 9:15 Now a poor wise man was found in it, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.
Ecc 9:16 Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.
Ecc 9:17 The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the cry of him who rules among fools.
Ecc 9:18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroys much good.
Ecc 10:1 Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
Ecc 10:2 A wise man's heart is at his right hand, but a fool's heart at his left.
Ecc 10:3 Yes also, when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
Ecc 10:4 If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don't leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.
Ecc 10:5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.
Ecc 10:6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
Ecc 10:7 I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.
Ecc 10:8 He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
Ecc 10:9 Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered thereby.
Ecc 10:10 If the axe is blunt, and one doesn't sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
Ecc 10:11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer's tongue.
Ecc 10:12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
Ecc 10:13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
Ecc 10:14 A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn't know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?
Ecc 10:15 The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn't know how to go to the city.
Ecc 10:16 Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!
Ecc 10:17 Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
Ecc 10:18 By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
Ecc 10:19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.
Ecc 10:20 Don't curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; and don't curse the rich in your bedchamber: for a bird of the sky may carry your voice, and that which has wings may tell the matter.
Ecclesiastes 11, 12
Ecc 11:1 Cast your bread on the waters; for you shall find it after many days.
Ecc 11:2 Give a portion to seven, yes, even to eight; for you don't know what evil will be on the earth.
Ecc 11:3 If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth; and if a tree falls toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falls, there shall it be.
Ecc 11:4 He who observes the wind won't sow; and he who regards the clouds won't reap.
Ecc 11:5 As you don't know what is the way of the wind, nor how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child; even so you don't know the work of God who does all.
Ecc 11:6 In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening don't withhold your hand; for you don't know which will prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both will be equally good.
Ecc 11:7 Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to see the sun.
Ecc 11:8 Yes, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that comes is vanity.
Ecc 11:9 Rejoice, young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth, and walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.
Ecc 11:10 Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.
Ecc 12:1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw near, when you will say, "I have no pleasure in them;"
Ecc 12:2 Before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are darkened, and the clouds return after the rain;
Ecc 12:3 in the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look out of the windows are darkened,
Ecc 12:4 and the doors shall be shut in the street; when the sound of the grinding is low, and one shall rise up at the voice of a bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low;
Ecc 12:5 yes, they shall be afraid of heights, and terrors will be in the way; and the almond tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goes to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets:
Ecc 12:6 before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the spring, or the wheel broken at the cistern,
Ecc 12:7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
Ecc 12:8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher. All is vanity!
Ecc 12:9 Further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
Ecc 12:10 The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth.
Ecc 12:11 The words of the wise are like goads; and like nails well fastened are words from the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
Ecc 12:12 Furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
Ecc 12:13 This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.
Ecc 12:14 For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.
Oct. 22
Colossians 3
Col 3:1 If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.
Col 3:2 Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.
Col 3:3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Col 3:4 When Christ, our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory.
Col 3:5 Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry;
Col 3:6 for which things' sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.
Col 3:7 You also once walked in those, when you lived in them;
Col 3:8 but now you also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth.
Col 3:9 Don't lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings,
Col 3:10 and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator,
Col 3:11 where there can't be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.
Col 3:12 Put on therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance;
Col 3:13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.
Col 3:14 Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.
Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.
Col 3:17 Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through him.
Col 3:18 Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Col 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and don't be bitter against them.
Col 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this pleases the Lord.
Col 3:21 Fathers, don't provoke your children, so that they won't be discouraged.
Col 3:22 Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.
Col 3:23 And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men,
Col 3:24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
Col 3:25 But he who does wrong will receive again for the wrong that he has done, and there is no partiality.
Colossians 4
Col 4:1 Masters, give to your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
Col 4:2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving;
Col 4:3 praying together for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds;
Col 4:4 that I may reveal it as I ought to speak.
Col 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.
Col 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
Col 4:7 All my affairs will be made known to you by Tychicus, the beloved brother, faithful servant, and fellow bondservant in the Lord.
Col 4:8 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts,
Col 4:9 together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you everything that is going on here.
Col 4:10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you received commandments, "if he comes to you, receive him"),
Col 4:11 and Jesus who is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These are my only fellow workers for the Kingdom of God, men who have been a comfort to me.
Col 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, salutes you, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
Col 4:13 For I testify about him, that he has great zeal for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis.
Col 4:14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you.
Col 4:15 Greet the brothers who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the assembly that is in his house.
Col 4:16 When this letter has been read among you, cause it to be read also in the assembly of the Laodiceans; and that you also read the letter from Laodicea.
Col 4:17 Tell Archippus, "Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you fulfill it."
Col 4:18 The salutation of me, Paul, with my own hand: remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.
