Old/New Testament
13 A wise son takes his father’s advice.
But a person who makes fun of wisdom won’t listen to correction.
2 A person will be rewarded for what he says.
But those who can’t be trusted want only violence.
3 Whoever is careful about what he says protects his life.
But anyone who speaks without thinking will be ruined.
4 The lazy person will not get what he wants.
But a hard worker gets everything he wants.
5 Good people hate what is false.
But wicked people do shameful and disgraceful things.
6 Doing what is right protects the honest person.
But evil ruins the sinner.
7 Some people pretend to be rich but really have nothing.
Other people pretend to be poor but really are wealthy.
8 A rich man may have to pay a ransom for his life.
But a poor person will never have to face such a danger.
9 Good people will live long like bright flames.
But the wicked will die like a flame going out.
10 Pride leads to arguments.
But those who take advice are wise.
11 Money that comes easily disappears quickly.
But money that is gathered little by little will slowly grow.
12 It is sad when you don’t get what you hoped for.
But when wishes come true, it’s like eating fruit from the tree of life.
13 Whoever rejects what he is taught will pay for it.
But whoever does what he is told will be rewarded.
14 The teaching of a wise person gives life.
It is like a fountain of water that can save people from death.
15 People with good understanding will be liked.
But the lives of those who are not trustworthy are hard.
16 Every wise person acts with good sense.
But a foolish person shows how foolish he is.
17 A wicked messenger brings nothing but trouble.
But a trustworthy one makes everything right.
18 A person who refuses correction will end up poor and disgraced.
But a person who accepts correction will be honored.
19 It is so good when wishes come true.
But foolish people still refuse to stop doing evil.
20 Whoever spends time with wise people will become wise.
But whoever makes friends with fools will suffer.
21 Trouble always comes to sinners.
But good people enjoy success.
22 Good people’s wealth will be inherited by their grandchildren.
And a sinner’s wealth will be saved for good people.
23 A poor man’s field might have plenty of food.
But unfair people steal it from him.
24 If a person does not punish his children, he does not love them.
But the person who loves his children is careful to correct them.
25 Good people have enough to eat.
But the wicked will go hungry.
14 A wise woman strengthens her family.
But a foolish woman destroys hers by what she does.
2 People who live good lives show respect for the Lord.
But those who live evil lives show no respect for him.
3 A foolish person will be punished for his proud words.
But a wise person’s words will protect him.
4 When there are no oxen, there is no food in the barn.
But with the strength of an ox, much grain can be grown.
5 A truthful witness does not lie.
But a false witness tells nothing but lies.
6 Those who make fun of wisdom look for it but do not find it.
But the person with understanding easily finds knowledge.
7 Stay away from a foolish person.
You won’t learn anything from him.
8 What makes a person wise is understanding what to do.
But what makes a person foolish is dishonesty.
9 Foolish people don’t care if they sin.
But honest people work at being right with others.
10 No one else can know your sadness.
Strangers cannot share your joy.
11 The wicked person’s house will be destroyed.
But a good person’s tent will still be standing.
12 Some people think they are doing what’s right.
But what they are doing will really kill them.
13 When someone is laughing, he may be sad inside.
And when the laughter is over, there is sorrow.
14 Evil people will be paid back for their evil ways.
And good people will be rewarded for their good ones.
15 A foolish person will believe anything.
But a wise person thinks about what he does.
16 A wise person is careful and stays out of trouble.
But a foolish person is quick to act and careless.
17 A person who quickly loses his temper does foolish things.
But a person with understanding remains calm.
18 Foolish people get nothing for their work but more foolishness.
But wise people are rewarded with knowledge.
19 Evil people will have to bow down to good people.
The wicked will bow down at the door of those who do right.
20 The poor are rejected, even by their neighbors.
But rich people have many friends.
21 It is a sin to hate your neighbor.
But being kind to the needy brings happiness.
22 Those who make evil plans will be ruined.
But people love and trust those who plan to do good.
23 Those who work hard make a profit.
But those who only talk will be poor.
24 Wise people are rewarded with wealth.
But foolish people will only be rewarded with more foolishness.
25 A truthful witness saves lives.
But a false witness is a traitor.
26 A person who respects the Lord will have security.
And his children will be protected.
27 Respect for the Lord gives life.
It is like a fountain of water that can save people from death.
28 A king is honored when he has many people to rule.
But a prince is ruined if he has none.
29 A person who does not quickly get angry shows that he has understanding.
But a person who quickly loses his temper shows his foolishness.
30 Peace of mind means a healthy body.
But jealousy will rot your bones.
31 Whoever is cruel to the poor insults their Maker.
But anyone who is kind to the needy honors God.
32 The wicked are ruined by their own evil.
But those who do what is right are protected by their honesty.
33 The person who has understanding has wisdom.
And even fools recognize it.
34 Doing what is right makes a nation great.
But sin will bring disgrace to any people.
35 A king is pleased with a wise servant.
But he will become angry with one who causes him shame.
15 A gentle answer will calm a person’s anger.
But an unkind answer will cause more anger.
2 Wise people use knowledge when they speak.
But fools speak only foolishness.
3 The Lord’s eyes see everything that happens.
He watches both evil and good people.
4 As a tree gives us fruit, healing words give us life.
But evil words crush the spirit.
5 A foolish person rejects his father’s correction.
But anyone who accepts correction is wise.
6 There is much wealth in the houses of good people.
But evil people are paid only with trouble.
7 With their words wise people spread knowledge.
But there is no knowledge in the thoughts of the foolish.
8 The Lord hates the sacrifice that the wicked person offers.
But he is pleased with an honest person’s prayer.
9 The Lord hates what evil people do.
But he loves those who do what is right.
10 The person who quits doing what is right will really be punished.
The one who hates to be corrected will die.
11 The Lord knows what is happening where the dead people are.
So he can surely know what living people are thinking.
12 A person who laughs at wisdom does not like to be corrected.
He will not ask advice from the wise.
13 Happiness makes a person smile.
But sadness breaks a person’s spirit.
14 Smart people want more knowledge.
But a foolish person just wants more foolishness.
15 Every day is hard for those who suffer.
But a happy heart makes it like a continual feast.
16 It is better to be poor and respect the Lord
than to be wealthy and have much trouble.
17 It is better to eat vegetables with those who love you
than to eat meat with those who hate you.
18 A person who quickly gets angry causes trouble.
But a person who controls his temper stops a quarrel.
19 A lazy person’s life is as difficult as walking through a patch of thorns.
But an honest person’s life is as easy as walking down a smooth highway.
20 A wise son makes his father happy.
But a foolish person hates his mother.
21 A man without wisdom enjoys being foolish.
But a man with understanding does what is right.
22 Plans fail without good advice.
But plans succeed when you get advice from many others.
23 People enjoy giving good answers!
Saying the right word at the right time is so pleasing!
24 A wise person does things that will make his life better.
He avoids whatever would cause his death.
25 The Lord will tear down the proud person’s house.
But he will protect the property of a widow.
26 The Lord hates evil thoughts.
But he is pleased with kind words.
27 A greedy person brings trouble to his family.
But the person who can’t be paid to do wrong will live.
28 Good people think before they answer.
But the wicked simply give evil answers.
29 The Lord does not listen to the wicked.
But he hears the prayers of those who do right.
30 Good news makes you feel better.
Your happiness will show in your eyes.
31 A wise person pays attention to correction
that will improve his life.
32 A person who refuses correction hates himself.
But a person who accepts correction gains understanding.
33 Respect for the Lord will teach you wisdom.
If you want to be honored, you must not be proud.
5 We know that our body—the tent we live in here on earth—will be destroyed. But when that happens, God will have a house for us to live in. It will not be a house made by men. It will be a home in heaven that will last forever. 2 But now we are tired of this body. We want God to give us our heavenly home. 3 It will clothe us, and we will not be naked. 4 While we live in this body, we have burdens, and we complain. We do not want to be naked. We want to be clothed with our heavenly home. Then this body that dies will be fully covered with life. 5 This is what God made us for. And he has given us the Spirit to be a guarantee for this new life.
6 So we always have courage. We know that while we live in this body, we are away from the Lord. 7 We live by what we believe, not by what we can see. 8 So I say that we have courage. And we really want to be away from this body and be at home with the Lord. 9 Our only goal is to please God. We want to please him whether we live here or there. 10 For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. Each one will receive what he should get—good or bad—for the things he did when he lived in the earthly body.
Becoming Friends with God
11 We know what it means to fear the Lord. So we try to help people accept the truth. God knows what we really are. And I hope that in your hearts you know, too. 12 We are not trying to prove ourselves to you again. But we are telling you about ourselves, so you will be proud of us. Then you will have an answer for those who are proud about things that can be seen. They do not care about what is in the heart. 13 If we are out of our minds, it is for God. If we have our right mind, then it is for you. 14 The love of Christ controls us. Because we know that One died for all. So all have died. 15 Christ died for all so that those who live would not continue to live for themselves. He died for them and was raised from death so that they would live for him.
16 From this time on we do not think of anyone as the world does. It is true that in the past we thought of Christ as the world thinks. But we no longer think of him in that way. 17 If anyone belongs to Christ, then he is made new. The old things have gone; everything is made new! 18 All this is from God. Through Christ, God made peace between us and himself. And God gave us the work of bringing everyone into peace with him. 19 I mean that God was in Christ, making peace between the world and himself. In Christ, God did not hold the world guilty of its sins. And he gave us this message of peace. 20 So we have been sent to speak for Christ. It is as if God is calling to you through us. We speak for Christ when we beg you to be at peace with God. 21 Christ had no sin. But God made him become sin. God did this for us so that in Christ we could become right with God.
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.