Proverbs 31:30

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

Proverbs 31:1-31

Sayings of King Lemuel

1.  The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.
   
2. Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb!
   Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!
3. Do not spend your strength on women,
   your vigor on those who ruin kings.
   
4. It is not for kings, Lemuel—
   it is not for kings to drink wine,
   not for rulers to crave beer,
5. lest they drink and forget what has been decreed,
   and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
6. Let beer be for those who are perishing,
   wine for those who are in anguish!
7. Let them drink and forget their poverty
   and remember their misery no more.
   
8. Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
   for the rights of all who are destitute.
9. Speak up and judge fairly;
   defend the rights of the poor and needy.
   
   Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character
10. A wife of noble character who can find?
    She is worth far more than rubies.
11. Her husband has full confidence in her
    and lacks nothing of value.
12. She brings him good, not harm,
    all the days of her life.
13. She selects wool and flax
    and works with eager hands.
14. She is like the merchant ships,
    bringing her food from afar.
15. She gets up while it is still night;
    she provides food for her family
    and portions for her female servants.
16. She considers a field and buys it;
    out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17. She sets about her work vigorously;
    her arms are strong for her tasks.
18. She sees that her trading is profitable,
    and her lamp does not go out at night.
19. In her hand she holds the distaff
    and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20. She opens her arms to the poor
    and extends her hands to the needy.
21. When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
    for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22. She makes coverings for her bed;
    she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23. Her husband is respected at the city gate,
    where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24. She makes linen garments and sells them,
    and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25. She is clothed with strength and dignity;
    she can laugh at the days to come.
26. She speaks with wisdom,
    and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27. She watches over the affairs of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28. Her children arise and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
29. “Many women do noble things,
    but you surpass them all.”
30. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31. Honor her for all that her hands have done,
    and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
    

John 14:1-30

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Jesus the Way to the Father
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”

23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30 I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, 31 but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.

“Come now; let us leave.