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18 Unfriendly people care only about themselves;
    they lash out at common sense.

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18 An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends
    and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.

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Living by the Spirit’s Power

15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.

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15 Be very careful, then, how you live(A)—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity,(B) because the days are evil.(C) 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.(D)

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Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor;
    only fools insist on quarreling.

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It is to one’s honor to avoid strife,
    but every fool(A) is quick to quarrel.(B)

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The Benefits of Wisdom

My child,[a] listen to what I say,
    and treasure my commands.
Tune your ears to wisdom,
    and concentrate on understanding.
Cry out for insight,
    and ask for understanding.
Search for them as you would for silver;
    seek them like hidden treasures.
Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord,
    and you will gain knowledge of God.
For the Lord grants wisdom!
    From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

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Footnotes

  1. 2:1 Hebrew My son.

Moral Benefits of Wisdom

My son,(A) if you accept my words
    and store up my commands within you,
turning your ear to wisdom
    and applying your heart to understanding(B)
indeed, if you call out for insight(C)
    and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasure,(D)
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God.(E)
For the Lord gives wisdom;(F)
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.(G)

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19 These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them.

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19 These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.(A)

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17 I never joined the people in their merry feasts.
    I sat alone because your hand was on me.
    I was filled with indignation at their sins.

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17 I never sat(A) in the company of revelers,
    never made merry with them;
I sat alone because your hand(B) was on me
    and you had filled me with indignation.

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21 My child, fear the Lord and the king.
Don’t associate with rebels,

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Saying 30

21 Fear the Lord and the king,(A) my son,
    and do not join with rebellious officials,

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Jesus Preaches in Galilee

35 Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.

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Jesus Prays in a Solitary Place(A)

35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.(B)

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Lord, we show our trust in you by obeying your laws;
    our heart’s desire is to glorify your name.
In the night I search for you;
    in the morning[a] I earnestly seek you.
For only when you come to judge the earth
    will people learn what is right.

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Footnotes

  1. 26:9 Hebrew within me.

Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws,[a](A)
    we wait(B) for you;
your name(C) and renown
    are the desire of our hearts.
My soul yearns for you in the night;(D)
    in the morning my spirit longs(E) for you.
When your judgments(F) come upon the earth,
    the people of the world learn righteousness.(G)

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 26:8 Or judgments

10 Each heart knows its own bitterness,
    and no one else can fully share its joy.

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10 Each heart knows its own bitterness,
    and no one else can share its joy.

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Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

44 “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.

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The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like(A) treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.(B)

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17 Interfering in someone else’s argument
    is as foolish as yanking a dog’s ears.

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17 Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears
    is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.

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16 How will anyone know that you look favorably on me—on me and on your people—if you don’t go with us? For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the earth.”

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16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us?(A) What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”(B)

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