Contemporary English Version Medicine 1The Lord chose some people to be doctors, so honor them for helping others get well. 2God Most High gave them the ability to heal, and they are rewarded by the king. 3Their skills make them important, and they are admired by powerful people. 4Medicines are part of the Lord's creation, and if you are sensible, you will use them. 5 One time even a piece of wood made water fit to drink, and this showed God's power. 6He gives knowledge to humans so that we will praise him for his amazing creations. * 7Doctors relieve pain and bring healing by mixing medicines from things that God created. 8God will always be at work bringing health to everyone on earth. 9Students, if you get sick, quickly pray to the Lord, and you will be healed. 10Give up all your sins and decide to do right. 11Offer a sacrifice of fine flour and as much olive oil as you can afford, and the smell of the smoke will be pleasing to God. 12But God also created doctors, and you need their help, so don't reject them. 13Someday your life will be in their hands, 14and they will ask the Lord how to make you well and relieve your pain. 15Those who sin against God, their Creator, will also reject doctors. Mourning 16 When someone dies, you should mourn and weep as though you were in pain. Prepare the body to be buried, and attend the funeral. 17Weep bitterly to show respect for the dead. If you don't grieve at all, you will be criticized, but don't mourn for longer than a day or two. 18If you don't stop grieving, you will grow weak and die. 19After a funeral, sorrow remains, but don't let it drag you down into poverty. 20Put away your grief and enjoy what is left of your own life. 21You cannot bring back those who have died. Grieving won't help them, and it can harm you. 22Just remember that in the past, death caught up with them, and in the future, it will catch up with you. 23The dead are at rest, so be strong and stop thinking about them all the time. Teachers of Wisdom 24If teachers are to become wise, they need lots of time to study and freedom from other work. * 25Who has time to study wisdom? Not farmers! All day long they guide oxen to plow 26in straight lines. Then they work at night feeding their livestock. Farmers talk about cattle, not wisdom. 27Who has time to study wisdom? Not artists who carve designs on rings and other jewelry. These artists work with care night and day, making sure each design is different and leaves a perfect pattern when pressed in soft wax. 28Who has time to study wisdom? Not the blacksmith, soaked in sweat from the heat of the furnace, going deaf from the noise as he hammers the red-hot iron, shaping it on his anvil. He wants to finish this piece, and will work late to see all its decorations completed. 29Who has time to study wisdom? A potter doesn't. His feet must always move to spin the pottery wheel. He keeps his mind on his work-- so many pieces to make, 30and so much to do. He works the clay with his feet to make it soft, then shapes it with his hands before baking it. And then at night, he cleans out the furnace. 31All these are skilled people who work with their hands. 32Without them in a town, no one would live there or even visit. But they are not asked to serve on public committees, 33and they don't become leaders in the town council. They are not judges and cannot explain the decisions of the court. They cannot even tell stories that teach lessons. 34But they do pray about their work, and they keep life going for everyone else. Teachers who study the Law of God Most High are different. 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. |