Contemporary English Version 1In their search for wisdom, they study the old writings, especially those of the prophets. 2These teachers learn the sayings of famous people and understand the meaning of stories, 3even those parts that are difficult. And they look for the meaning hidden in a proverb. 4They give advice to leaders, and they travel in other countries to see the good and the bad done there. 5These teachers get up early to pray to the Lord Most High, their Creator-- they tell him what they need and ask that their sins be forgiven. 6The great Lord may choose to give special understanding to a teacher's mind. Such teachers will pray and thank the Lord for the wise advice that they now can give. 7They will study those things the Lord has kept secret. He will help them learn and tell them what to say, 8and they will teach what they have learned. They will be proud of the Lord's Law and agreement with Israel. 9Their understanding will be praised by many, and their names remembered for all time. 10Israel will honor them, and other nations will admire their wisdom. 11If they live to old age, they will be famous, and if not, they will be content to be at rest. A Song of Praise 12I have hardly begun to tell you all the things I want to say. 13You, my students, are faithful to God, so listen, and you will blossom like rose bushes planted beside a stream. 14You will grow faster than lilies, and your songs praising the Lord for what he has done will be a pleasant smell, spreading like incense. 15So play your harps and sing praises to the Lord. Give honor to him with this song: 16"Everything the Lord does is very good, and his commands will be obeyed at the right moment. 17 For now, we must not question what God has done, but he has set a time to explain everything. He created places for all the water, and when he commanded the sea, it piled up like a wall. 18When he gives an order, it is obeyed, and no one can stop him when he decides to rescue. 19"We can't hide from God; he has watched everything that each human has done. 20He sees the past and the future; there is nothing he cannot do. 21So don't question what God has done; he had a purpose in mind for each thing he created. 22"God will bless us greatly, like a river that overflows and soaks the dry ground. 23But the Gentiles will feel his anger, as he makes their fresh water too salty to drink. 24God lets his people walk on a straight pathway, but those who reject his laws will find that their path is lined with hidden traps. 25From the very beginning God prepared good things for good people, and horrible things for sinners. 26"What do we need for daily life? Iron tools, water, and fire; flour, milk, and honey, wine, olive oil, and salt; and, of course, clothing. 27All of these are good for God's loyal people but become evil in the hands of sinners. 28"The Lord created furious winds to take revenge for him. And on the day of judgment, they will punish his enemies, then his anger will be calmed. * 29God also created other things to take revenge for him-- fire and hail, along with famine and deadly diseases, 30wild animals and scorpions, and poisonous snakes, not to mention war. 31They are ready to serve him, and at his command, they gladly and quickly obey." 32I have believed all these things since my childhood, but I thought deeply about them before I wrote them down in that song. 33The Lord made only good things, and at the right time he will give us what we need. 34Everything he created has its own purpose, and so, you cannot say, "This is better than that." 35Sing praises to the Lord with all your heart, and give him thanks! 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. |