Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
121 I have done what is fair and right.
Don’t leave me to my enemies.
122 Promise that you will help me, your servant.
Don’t let proud people hurt me.
123 My eyes are tired from looking for your salvation
and for your good promise.
124 Show your love to me, your servant.
Teach me your demands.
125 I am your servant. Give me wisdom
so I can understand your rules.
126 Lord, it is time for you to do something.
People have disobeyed your teachings.
127 I love your commands
more than the purest gold.
128 I respect all your orders.
So I hate lying ways.
Why Proverbs Is Important
1 These are the wise words of Solomon son of David. Solomon was king of Israel.
2 They teach wisdom and self-control.
They give understanding.
3 They will teach you how to be wise and self-controlled.
They will teach you what is honest and fair and right.
4 They give the ability to think to those with little knowledge.
They give knowledge and good sense to the young.
5 Wise people should also listen to them and learn even more.
Even they can find good advice in these words.
6 Then they will be able to understand wise words and stories.
They will understand the words of wise men and their riddles.
7 Knowledge begins with respect for the Lord.
But foolish people hate wisdom and discipline.
Wisdom Speaks
20 Wisdom is like a good woman who shouts in the street.
She raises her voice in the city squares.
21 She cries out in the noisy street.
She makes her speech at the city gates:
22 “You foolish people! How long do you want to stay foolish?
How long will you make fun of wisdom?
How long will you hate knowledge?
23 Listen when I correct you.
I will tell you what’s in my heart.
I will tell you what I am thinking.
24 I called, but you refused to listen.
I held out my hand, but you paid no attention.
25 You did not follow my advice.
You did not want me to correct you.
26 So I will laugh when you are in trouble.
I will make fun when disaster happens to you.
27 Disaster will come over you like a storm.
Trouble will strike you like a whirlwind.
Pain and trouble will overwhelm you.
28 “Then you will call out to me.
But I will not answer.
You will look for me.
But you will not find me.
29 You rejected knowledge.
You did not choose to respect the Lord.
30 You did not accept my advice.
You rejected my correction.
31 So you will get what you deserve.
You will get what you planned for others.
32 Fools wander away and get killed.
They are destroyed because they do not care.
33 But those who listen to me will live in safety.
They will be safe, without fear of being hurt.”
A Story About Mustard Seed
30 Then Jesus said, “How can I show you what the kingdom of God is like? What story can I use to explain it? 31 The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. The mustard seed is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. 32 But when you plant this seed, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants. It produces large branches. Even the wild birds can make nests in it and be protected from the sun.”
33 Jesus used many stories like these to teach them. He taught them all that they could understand. 34 He always used stories to teach them. But when he and his followers were alone together, Jesus explained everything to them.
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.