1 The one who stiffens his neck after numerous rebukes
will suddenly be destroyed without remedy.
2 When the righteous become numerous, the people rejoice;
when the wicked rule, the people groan.
3 The man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,
but whoever associates with prostitutes wastes his wealth.
4 A king brings stability to a land by justice,
but one who exacts tribute tears it down.
5 The one who flatters his neighbor
spreads a net for his steps.
6 In the transgression of an evil person there is a snare,
but a righteous person can sing and rejoice.
7 The righteous person cares for the legal rights of the poor;
the wicked person does not understand such knowledge.
8 Scornful people inflame a city,
but those who are wise turn away wrath.
9 When a wise person goes to court with a foolish person,
there is no peace whether he is angry or laughs.
10 Bloodthirsty people hate someone with integrity;
as for the upright, they seek his life.
11 A fool lets fly with all his temper,
but a wise person keeps it back.
12 If a ruler listens to lies,
all his ministers will be wicked.
13 The poor person and the oppressor have this in common:
the Lord gives light to the eyes of them both.
14 If a king judges the poor in truth,
his throne will be established forever.
15 A rod and reproof impart wisdom,
but a child who is unrestrained brings shame to his mother.
16 When the wicked increase, transgression increases,
but the righteous will see their downfall.
17 Discipline your child, and he will give you rest;
he will bring you happiness.
18 When there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint,
but the one who keeps the law, blessed is he!
19 A servant cannot be corrected by words,
for although he understands, there is no answer.
20 You have seen someone who is hasty in his words—
there is more hope for a fool than for him.
21 If someone pampers his servant from youth,
he will be a weakling in the end.
22 An angry person stirs up dissension,
and a wrathful person is abounding in transgression.
23 A person’s pride will bring him low,
but one who has a lowly spirit will gain honor.
24 Whoever shares with a thief is his own enemy;
he hears the oath to testify, but does not talk.
25 The fear of people becomes a snare,
but whoever trusts in the Lord will be set on high.
26 Many people seek the face of a ruler,
but it is from the Lord that one receives justice.
27 An unjust person is an abomination to the righteous,
and the one who lives an upright life is an abomination to the wicked.
1 Now receive the one who is weak in the faith, and do not have disputes over differing opinions. 2 One person believes in eating everything, but the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 The one who eats everything must not despise the one who does not, and the one who abstains must not judge the one who eats everything, for God has accepted him. 4 Who are you to pass judgment on another’s servant? Before his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
5 One person regards one day holier than other days, and another regards them all alike. Each must be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes the day does it for the Lord. The one who eats, eats for the Lord because he gives thanks to God, and the one who abstains from eating abstains for the Lord, and he gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives for himself and none dies for himself. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For this reason Christ died and returned to life, so that he may be the Lord of both the dead and the living.
10 But you who eat vegetables only—why do you judge your brother or sister? And you who eat everything—why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will give praise to God.” 12 Therefore, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
13 Therefore we must not pass judgment on one another, but rather determine never to place an obstacle or a trap before a brother or sister. 14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean in itself; still, it is unclean to the one who considers it unclean. 15 For if your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy by your food someone for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what you consider good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God does not consist of food and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For the one who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by people.
19 So then, let us pursue what makes for peace and for building up one another. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. For although all things are clean, it is wrong to cause anyone to stumble by what you eat. 21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything that causes your brother to stumble. 22 The faith you have, keep to yourself before God. Blessed is the one who does not judge himself by what he approves. 23 But the man who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not do so from faith, and whatever is not from faith is sin.