A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.

He who rebukes a man will later find more favor than one who flatters with his tongue.

Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day.

Do not envy wicked men or desire their company; for their hearts devise violence, and their lips declare trouble. By wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with every precious and beautiful treasure. A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge enhances his strength. . . .

Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children, and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God. But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. . . .

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope.

But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.

So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes, but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight.

Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.

Now I commend you for remembering me in everything and for maintaining the traditions, just as I passed them on to you.

As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness!

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.

Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.

And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.

For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh. The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

As soon as night had fallen, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.

For behold, the Lord GOD of Hosts is about to remove from Jerusalem and Judah both supply and support: the whole supply of food and water, the mighty man and the warrior, the judge and the prophet, the soothsayer and the elder, the commander of fifty and the dignitary, the counselor, the cunning magician, and the clever enchanter. “I will make mere lads their leaders, and children will rule over them.” The people will oppress one another, man against man, neighbor against neighbor; the young will rise up against the old, and the base against the honorable. . . .

But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs You are doing if God were not with him.” Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time to be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. . . .

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.

who testifies to everything he saw. This is the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.