Contemporary English Version Three Things Make Me Happy 1Three things make me happy and are beautiful to the Lord and to humans: a family that agrees, neighbors who are friends, and a happy marriage. 2But I hate three kinds of people and the way they live: the poor that brag, the rich that tell lies, and the old that are foolish and unfaithful in marriage. 3If you don't start learning when you are young, you will have no wisdom when you grow old. 4Good sense and sound advice are beautiful in those whose hair is now gray. 5Wisdom and understanding are just right for the old and honorable. 6They have seen so many things, but they only boast that they fear the Lord. 7Ten kinds of people can be called truly happy: those who enjoy their children, and those who live long enough to see their enemies fall; 8men who have sensible wives, farmers that do not hitch a donkey and an ox to one plow, people who don't sin by what they say, and servants whose masters have as much ability as the servants do; 9people with common sense, and those who speak to others who are really listening. * 10The person who finds wisdom finds great happiness, but happiest of all is the one who fears the Lord, 11because fearing him is more important than anything else. 12And it is the first step in loving him, just as having faith is the first step in becoming one of his followers. Advice about Women 13The breaking of your heart by an evil woman is the most painful of all injuries. 14No suffering seems worse than when an enemy hates you and takes revenge, 15but a woman's anger is strongest, just as snakes have the strongest poison. 16I would be happier to live with a lion and a dragon than to be married to an evil woman. 17An evil woman's face is changed into something dark, like the face of a bear. 18Her husband is depressed, sighing bitterly even among his friends. 19The sins of men are small compared to those of women, and I pray that women who sin will be severely punished. 20It is easier for an old person to climb a hill of sand than for a quiet man to live with a chattering wife. 21Do not be taken captive by the beauty of a woman, and don't desire her wealth. 22When the wife's possessions support the family, their home will be filled with anger, insults, and shame. 23An evil wife brings no happiness to her husband; instead, she makes him sad and depressed; she breaks his heart, and he is afraid to make any decisions. 24Sin began with the first woman, and because of her we all must die. 25Do not let water leak from your storage jars, and if your wife is evil, don't let her talk in public. 26If she will not obey you, then get a divorce. Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®) © 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved. Bible text from the Contemporary English Version 2nd Edition (CEV®) is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by American Bible Society, 101 North Independence Mall East, Floor 8, Philadelphia, PA 19106-2155 (www.americanbible.org). Learn more at www.cev.bible. Discover .BIBLE resources for your ministry at www.get.bible/cev. |