The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
The Message Bible MSG
1 My son, don't forget my teaching, keep my commands in your heart;
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Good friend, don't forget all I've taught you; take to heart my commands.
2 for they will add to you many days, years of life and peace.
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They'll help you live a long, long time, a long life lived full and well.
3 Do not let grace and truth leave you -bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.
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Don't lose your grip on Love and Loyalty. Tie them around your neck; carve their initials on your heart.
4 Then you will win favor and esteem in the sight of God and of people.
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Earn a reputation for living well in God's eyes and the eyes of the people.
5 Trust in ADONAI with all your heart; do not rely on your own understanding.
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Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him; then he will level your paths.
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Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track.
7 Don't be conceited about your own wisdom; but fear ADONAI, and turn from evil.
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Don't assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil!
8 This will bring health to your body and give strength to your bones.
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Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life!
9 Honor ADONAI with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your income.
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Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best.
10 Then your granaries will be filled and your vats overflow with new wine.
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Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over.
11 My son, don't despise ADONAI's discipline or resent his reproof;
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But don't, dear friend, resent God's discipline; don't sulk under his loving correction.
12 for ADONAI corrects those he loves like a father who delights in his son.
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It's the child he loves that God corrects; a father's delight is behind all this. The Very Tree of Life
13 Happy the person who finds wisdom, the person who acquires understanding;
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You're blessed when you meet Lady Wisdom, when you make friends with Madame Insight.
14 for her profit exceeds that of silver, gaining her is better than gold,
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She's worth far more than money in the bank; her friendship is better than a big salary.
15 she is more precious than pearls -nothing you want can compare with her.
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Her value exceeds all the trappings of wealth; nothing you could wish for holds a candle to her.
16 Long life is in her right hand, riches and honor in her left.
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With one hand she gives long life, with the other she confers recognition.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.
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Her manner is beautiful, her life wonderfully complete.
18 She is a tree of life to those who grasp her; whoever holds fast to her will be made happy.
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She's the very Tree of Life to those who embrace her. Hold her tight - and be blessed!
19 ADONAI by wisdom founded the earth, by understanding he established the heavens,
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With Lady Wisdom, God formed Earth; with Madame Insight, he raised Heaven.
20 by his knowledge the deep [springs] burst open and the dew condenses from the sky.
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They knew when to signal rivers and springs to the surface, and dew to descend from the night skies. Never Walk Away
21 My son, don't let these slip from your sight; preserve common sense and discretion;
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Dear friend, guard Clear Thinking and Common Sense with your life; don't for a minute lose sight of them.
22 they will be life for your being and grace for your neck.
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They'll keep your soul alive and well, they'll keep you fit and attractive.
23 Then you will walk your way securely, without hurting your foot.
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You'll travel safely, you'll neither tire nor trip.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
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You'll take afternoon naps without a worry, you'll enjoy a good night's sleep.
25 Don't be afraid of sudden terror or destruction caused by the wicked, when it comes;
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No need to panic over alarms or surprises, or predictions that doomsday's just around the corner,
26 for you can rely on ADONAI; he will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.
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Because God will be right there with you; he'll keep you safe and sound.
27 Don't withhold good from someone entitled to it when you have in hand the power to do it.
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Never walk away from someone who deserves help; your hand is God's hand for that person.
28 Don't tell your neighbor, "Go away! Come another time; I'll give it to you tomorrow," when you have it now.
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Don't tell your neighbor, "Maybe some other time," or, "Try me tomorrow," when the money's right there in your pocket.
29 Don't plan harm against your neighbor who lives beside you trustingly.
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Don't figure ways of taking advantage of your neighbor when he's sitting there trusting and unsuspecting.
30 Don't quarrel with someone for no reason, if he has done you no harm.
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Don't walk around with a chip on your shoulder, always spoiling for a fight.
31 Don't envy a man of violence, don't choose any of his ways;
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Don't try to be like those who shoulder their way through life. Why be a bully?
32 for the perverse is an abomination to ADONAI, but he shares his secret counsel with the upright.
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"Why not?" you say. Because God can't stand twisted souls. It's the straightforward who get his respect.
33 ADONAI's curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous.
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God's curse blights the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous.
34 The scornful he scorns, but gives grace to the humble.
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He gives proud skeptics a cold shoulder, but if you're down on your luck, he's right there to help.
35 The wise win honor, but fools win shame.
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Wise living gets rewarded with honor; stupid living gets the booby prize.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.