Our Father in heaven

Hallowed be Your name

Your kingdom come,

Your will be done,

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation

But deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are Yours

Now and for ever. Amen

Ecclesiastes 9:13-10:1

¹³ I also saw under the sun this example of wisdom that greatly impressed me: ¹⁴There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siege works against it. ¹⁵Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man. ¹⁶So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.

¹⁷ The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded

than the shouts of a ruler of fools.

¹⁸ Wisdom is better than weapons of war,

but one sinner destroys much good.

^10:1 As dead flies give perfume a bad smell,

so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

Ecclesiastes 10:8-11

⁸ Whoever digs a pit may fall into it;

whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.

⁹ Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them;

whoever splits logs may be endangered by them.

¹⁰ If the axe is dull

and its edge unsharpened,

more strength is needed,

but skill will bring success.

¹¹ If a snake bites before it is charmed,

the charmer receives no fee.

Ecclesiastes 11:1-6

11:1 Ship your grain across the sea;

after many days you may receive a return.

² Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight;

you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.

³ If clouds are full of water,

they pour rain on the earth.

Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north,

in the place where it falls, there it will lie.

⁴ Whoever watches the wind will not plant;

whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.

⁵ As you do not know the path of the wind,

or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb,

so you cannot understand the work of God,

the Maker of all things.

⁶ Sow your seed in the morning,

and at evening let your hands not be idle,

for you do not know which will succeed,

whether this or that,

or whether both will do equally well.

1 Timothy 6:17-19

¹⁷ Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. ¹⁸Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. ¹⁹In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.