Daily Devotions · May 30
Reading for May 30
Read the whole Bible in a year, a few chapters a day.
Proverbs 13–15 · Romans 11
Proverbs 13–15 · Romans 11, Berean Standard Bible
Proverbs 13
A wise son heeds his father’s discipline, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke. 2 From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, but the desire of the faithless is violence. 3 He who guards his mouth protects his life, but the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin. 4 The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied. 5 The righteous hate falsehood, but the wicked bring shame and disgrace. 6 Righteousness guards the man of integrity, but wickedness undermines the sinner. 7 One pretends to be rich, but has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth. 8 Riches may ransom a man’s life, but a poor man hears no threat. 9 The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is extinguished. 10 Arrogance leads only to strife, but wisdom is with the well-advised. 11 Dishonest wealth will dwindle, but what is earned through hard work will be multiplied. 12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life. 13 He who despises instruction will pay the penalty, but the one who respects a command will be rewarded. 14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning one from the snares of death. 15 Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the faithless is difficult. 16 Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly. 17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing. 18 Poverty and shame come to him who ignores discipline, but whoever heeds correction is honored. 19 Desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but turning from evil is detestable to fools. 20 He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed. 21 Disaster pursues sinners, but prosperity is the reward of the righteous. 22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is passed to the righteous. 23 Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor, but without justice it is swept away. 24 He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently. 25 A righteous man eats to his heart’s content, but the stomach of the wicked is empty.
Proverbs 14
Every wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands. 2 He who walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but the one who is devious in his ways despises Him. 3 The proud speech of a fool brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them. 4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of the ox. 5 An honest witness does not deceive, but a dishonest witness pours forth lies. 6 A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning. 7 Stay away from a foolish man; you will gain no knowledge from his speech. 8 The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools deceives them. 9 Fools mock the making of amends, but goodwill is found among the upright. 10 The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares in its joy. 11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish. 12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. 13 Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in sorrow. 14 The backslider in heart receives the fill of his own ways, but a good man is rewarded for his ways. 15 The simple man believes every word, but the prudent man watches his steps. 16 A wise man fears and turns from evil, but a fool is careless and reckless. 17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, and a devious man is hated. 18 The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. 19 The evil bow before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous. 20 The poor man is hated even by his neighbor, but many are those who love the rich. 21 He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor. 22 Do not those who contrive evil go astray? But those who plan goodness find loving devotion and faithfulness. 23 There is profit in all labor, but mere talk leads only to poverty. 24 The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the effort of fools is folly. 25 A truthful witness saves lives, but one who utters lies is deceitful. 26 He who fears the LORD is secure in confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge. 27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death. 28 A large population is a king’s splendor, but a lack of subjects is a prince’s ruin. 29 A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly. 30 A tranquil heart is life to the body, but envy rots the bones. 31 Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him. 32 The wicked man is thrown down by his own sin, but the righteous man has a refuge even in death. 33 Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning; even among fools she is known. 34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people. 35 A king delights in a wise servant, but his anger falls on the shameful.
Proverbs 15
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. 2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool spouts folly. 3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, observing the evil and the good. 4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit. 5 A fool rejects his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction is prudent. 6 The house of the righteous has great treasure, but the income of the wicked is trouble. 7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but not so the hearts of fools. 8 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight. 9 The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but He loves those who pursue righteousness. 10 Discipline is harsh for him who leaves the path; he who hates correction will die. 11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD—how much more the hearts of men! 12 A mocker does not love to be reproved, nor will he consult the wise. 13 A joyful heart makes a cheerful countenance, but sorrow of the heart crushes the spirit. 14 A discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly. 15 All the days of the oppressed are bad, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast. 16 Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil. 17 Better a dish of vegetables where there is love than a fattened ox with hatred. 18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger calms dispute. 19 The way of the slacker is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway. 20 A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother. 21 Folly is joy to one who lacks judgment, but a man of understanding walks a straight path. 22 Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. 23 A man takes joy in a fitting reply—and how good is a timely word! 24 The path of life leads upward for the wise, that he may avoid going down to Sheol. 25 The LORD tears down the house of the proud, but He protects the boundaries of the widow. 26 The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but the words of the pure are pleasant to Him. 27 He who is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble on his household, but he who hates bribes will live. 28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil. 29 The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous. 30 The light of the eyes cheers the heart, and good news nourishes the bones. 31 He who listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. 32 He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding. 33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
Romans 11
I ask then, did God reject His people? Certainly not! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God did not reject His people, whom He foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says about Elijah, how he appealed to God against Israel: 3 “Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well”? 4 And what was the divine reply to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 In the same way, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 6 And if it is by grace, then it is no longer by works. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace. 7 What then? What Israel was seeking, it failed to obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened, 8 as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see, and ears that could not hear, to this very day.” 9 And David says: “May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution to them. 10 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.” 11 I ask then, did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Certainly not! However, because of their trespass, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous. 12 But if their trespass means riches for the world, and their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring! 13 I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry 14 in the hope that I may provoke my own people to jealousy and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 If the first part of the dough is holy, so is the whole batch; if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 Now if some branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others to share in the nourishment of the olive root, 18 do not boast over those branches. If you do, remember this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20 That is correct: They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He will certainly not spare you either. 22 Take notice, therefore, of the kindness and severity of God: severity to those who fell, but kindness to you, if you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut from a wild olive tree, and contrary to nature were grafted into one that is cultivated, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree! 25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you will not be conceited: A hardening in part has come to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come from Zion; He will remove godlessness from Jacob. 27 And this is My covenant with them when I take away their sins.” 28 Regarding the gospel, they are enemies on your account; but regarding election, they are loved on account of the patriarchs. 29 For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. 30 Just as you who formerly disobeyed God have now received mercy through their disobedience, 31 so they too have now disobeyed, in order that they too may now receive mercy through the mercy shown to you. 32 For God has consigned everyone to disobedience so that He may have mercy on everyone. 33 O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways! 34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?” 35 “Who has first given to God, that God should repay him?” 36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.
Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain.
How to SOAP
Grab a journal and a pen. Read the chapters above and watch for the verse that stops you. Then take it through four steps.
-
Scripture
Write out the verse that stood out to you.
-
Observation
What is it saying? Who is speaking, and to whom?
-
Application
What does it mean for your life today? Be specific.
-
Prayer
Talk to God about it. Ask Him to help you live it.
Your SOAP journal
Write your SOAP here. Tap any verse in the reading to add it to Scripture. Your journal saves on this device only, so no one else sees it.
Added to your journal. Go to journal
Why daily devotions?
Devotions are time set aside each day to read God's Word and let Him speak. The point isn't checking off chapters. It's meeting with Him.
Ten or fifteen minutes is enough to start. Pick a time and a place and keep the appointment. Mornings work well for a lot of us, before the phone and the day start talking.
Missed a day? Don't start over. Read today's chapters and keep going.