1 A gentle response turns away anger,
but a harsh word stirs up wrath.
2 The tongue of the wise treats knowledge correctly,
but the mouth of the fool spouts out folly.
3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
keeping watch on those who are evil and those who are good.
4 Speech that heals is like a life-giving tree,
but a perverse speech breaks the spirit.
5 A fool rejects his father’s discipline,
but whoever heeds reproof shows good sense.
6 In the house of the righteous is abundant wealth,
but the income of the wicked will be ruined.
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
but not so the heart of fools.
8 The Lord abhors the sacrifice of the wicked,
but the prayer of the upright pleases him.
9 The Lord abhors the way of the wicked,
but he will love those who pursue righteousness.
10 Severe discipline is for the one who abandons the way;
the one who hates reproof will die.
11 Death and Destruction are before the Lord—
how much more the hearts of humans!
12 The scorner will not love one who corrects him;
he will not go to the wise.
13 A joyful heart makes the face cheerful,
but by a painful heart the spirit is broken.
14 The discerning mind seeks knowledge,
but the mouth of fools feeds on folly.
15 All the days of the afflicted are bad,
but one with a cheerful heart has a continual feast.
16 Better is little with the fear of the Lord
than great wealth and turmoil with it.
17 Better a meal of vegetables where there is love
than a fattened ox where there is hatred.
18 A quick-tempered person stirs up dissension,
but one who is slow to anger calms a quarrel.
19 The way of the sluggard is like a hedge of thorns,
but the path of the upright is like a highway.
20 A wise child brings joy to his father,
but a foolish person despises his mother.
21 Folly is a joy to one who lacks sense,
but one who has understanding follows an upright course.
22 Plans fail when there is no counsel,
but with abundant advisers they are established.
23 A person has joy in giving an appropriate answer,
and a word at the right time—how good it is!
24 The path of life is upward for the wise person,
to keep him from going downward to Sheol.
25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud,
but he maintains the boundaries of the widow.
26 The Lord abhors the plans of the wicked,
but pleasant words are pure.
27 The one who is greedy for gain troubles his household,
but whoever hates bribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous considers how to answer,
but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
29 The Lord is far from the wicked,
but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 A bright look brings joy to the heart,
and good news gives health to the body.
31 The person who hears the reproof that leads to life
is at home among the wise.
32 The one who refuses correction despises himself,
but whoever listens to reproof acquires understanding.
33 The fear of the Lord provides wise instruction,
and before honor comes humility.
1 After we had safely reached shore, we learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The local inhabitants showed us extraordinary kindness, for they built a fire and welcomed us all because it had started to rain and was cold. 3 When Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood and was putting it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the local people saw the creature hanging from Paul’s hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer! Although he has escaped from the sea, Justice herself has not allowed him to live!” 5 However, Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 But they were expecting that he was going to swell up or suddenly drop dead. So after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
7 Now in the region around that place were fields belonging to the chief official of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us hospitably as guests for three days. 8 The father of Publius lay sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and after praying, placed his hands on him and healed him. 9 After this had happened, many of the people on the island who were sick also came and were healed. 10 They also bestowed many honors, and when we were preparing to sail, they gave us all the supplies we needed.
11 After three months we put out to sea in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island and had the “Heavenly Twins” as its figurehead. 12 We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. 13 From there we cast off and arrived at Rhegium, and after one day a south wind sprang up and on the second day we came to Puteoli. 14 There we found some brothers and were invited to stay with them seven days. And in this way we came to Rome. 15 The brothers from there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. When he saw them, Paul thanked God and took courage. 16 When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.
17 After three days Paul called the local Jewish leaders together. When they had assembled, he said to them, “Brothers, although I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, from Jerusalem I was handed over as a prisoner to the Romans. 18 When they had heard my case, they wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me. 19 But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar—not that I had some charge to bring against my own people. 20 So for this reason I have asked to see you and speak with you, for I am bound with this chain because of the hope of Israel.” 21 They replied, “We have received no letters from Judea about you, nor have any of the brothers come from there and reported or said anything bad about you. 22 But we would like to hear from you what you think, for regarding this sect we know that people everywhere speak against it.”
23 They set a day to meet with him, and they came to him where he was staying in even greater numbers. From morning until evening he explained things to them, testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets. 24 Some were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe. 25 So they began to leave, unable to agree among themselves, after Paul made one last statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah 26 when he said,
‘Go to this people and say,
“You will keep on hearing, but will never understand,
and you will keep on looking, but will never perceive.
27 For the heart of this people has become dull,
and their ears are hard of hearing,
and they have closed their eyes,
so that they would not see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, and I would heal them.”’
28 “Therefore be advised that this salvation from God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen!”
30 Paul lived there two whole years in his own rented quarters and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with complete boldness and without restriction.