Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
21 When my heart was sad and
I was angry,
22 I was senseless and stupid.
I acted like an animal toward you.
23 But I am always with you.
You have held my hand.
24 You guide me with your advice.
And later you will receive me in honor.
25 I have no one in heaven but you.
I want nothing on earth besides you.
26 My mind and my body may become weak.
But God is my strength.
He is mine forever.
27 Those who are far from God will die.
You destroy those who are unfaithful.
28 But I am close to God, and that is good.
The Lord God is my protection.
I will tell all that you have done.
29 Some people are still stubborn after they have been corrected many times.
But they will suddenly be hurt beyond cure.
2 When good people do well, everyone is happy.
But when evil people rule, everyone groans.
3 Whoever loves wisdom makes his father happy.
But the one who makes friends with prostitutes wastes his money.
4 If a king is fair, he makes his country strong.
But if he takes money dishonestly, he tears his country down.
5 Anyone who gives false praise to his neighbor
is setting a trap for him.
6 An evil person is trapped by his own sin.
But a good person can sing and be happy.
7 Good people are concerned that the poor are treated fairly.
But the wicked don’t care.
8 People who make fun of others cause trouble in a city.
But wise people calm anger down.
9 A wise man should not take a foolish person to court.
The fool will only shout or laugh at him. There will be no peace.
10 Murderers hate honest people.
But those who do right try to protect them.
11 A foolish person loses his temper.
But a wise person controls his anger.
12 If a ruler pays attention to lies,
then all his officers will become wicked.
13 The poor person and the cruel person are alike in this way:
The Lord gave eyes to both of them.
14 A king should judge poor people fairly.
Then his government will continue forever.
15 Punishment and correction make a child wise.
If he is left to do as he pleases, he will disgrace his mother.
16 When there are many wicked people, there is much sin.
But those who do right will see them destroyed.
17 Correct your child, and you will be proud of him.
He will give you pleasure.
18 Where there is no word from God, people are uncontrolled.
But those who obey what they have been taught are happy.
19 Words alone cannot correct a servant.
Even if he understands, he won’t respond.
20 Sometimes you see people who speak too quickly.
There is more hope for a foolish person than for them.
21 Don’t spoil your servant when he is young.
If you do, he will bring you grief later on.
22 An angry person causes trouble.
A person who easily gets angry sins a lot.
23 A man’s pride will ruin him.
But a person who is humble will be honored.
24 The partner of a thief is his own worst enemy.
He has to testify in court, but he is afraid to say anything.
25 Being afraid of people can get you into trouble.
But if you trust the Lord, you will be safe.
26 Many people want to be heard by a ruler.
But fairness comes from the Lord.
27 Good people hate those who are dishonest.
And the wicked hate those who are honest.
Is Jesus the Christ?
25 Then some of the people who lived in Jerusalem said, “This is the man they are trying to kill. 26 But he is teaching where everyone can see and hear him. And no one is trying to stop him. Maybe the leaders have decided that he really is the Christ. 27 But we know where this man is from. Yet when the real Christ comes, no one will know where he comes from.”
28 Jesus was still teaching in the Temple. He cried out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. But I have not come by my own authority. I was sent by the One who is true. You don’t know him. 29 But I know him. I am from him, and he sent me.”
30 When Jesus said this, they tried to seize him. But no one was able to touch him. It was not yet the right time. 31 But many of the people believed in Jesus. They said, “When the Christ comes, will he do more miracles than this man has done?”
Some Leaders Try to Arrest Jesus
32 The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering these things about Jesus. So the leading priests and the Pharisees sent some Temple guards to arrest him. 33 Then Jesus said, “I will be with you a little while longer. Then I will go back to the One who sent me. 34 You will look for me, but you will not find me. And you cannot come where I am.”
35 The Jews said to each other, “Where will this man go so we cannot find him? Will he go to the Greek cities where our people live? Will he teach the Greek people there? 36 This man says, ‘You will look for me but you will not find me.’ He also says, ‘You cannot come where I am.’ What does this mean?”
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.