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These are the wise sayings of Solomon, David's son, Israel's king-- |
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Written down so we'll know how to live well and right, to understand what life means and where it's going; |
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A manual for living, for learning what's right and just and fair; |
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To teach the inexperienced the ropes and give our young people a grasp on reality. |
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There's something here also for seasoned men and women, |
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still a thing or two for the experienced to learn-- Fresh wisdom to probe and penetrate, the rhymes and reasons of wise men and women. |
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Start with GOD--the first step in learning is bowing down to GOD; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning. |
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Pay close attention, friend, to what your father tells you; never forget what you learned at your mother's knee. |
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Wear their counsel like flowers in your hair, like rings on your fingers. |
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Dear friend, if bad companions tempt you, don't go along with them. |
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If they say--"Let's go out and raise some hell. Let's beat up some old man, mug some old woman. |
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Let's pick them clean and get them ready for their funerals. |
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We'll load up on top-quality loot. We'll haul it home by the truckload. |
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Join us for the time of your life! With us, it's share and share alike!"-- |
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Oh, friend, don't give them a second look; don't listen to them for a minute. |
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They're racing to a very bad end, hurrying to ruin everything they lay hands on. |
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Nobody robs a bank with everyone watching, |
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Yet that's what these people are doing-- they're doing themselves in. |
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When you grab all you can get, that's what happens: the more you get, the less you are. |
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Lady Wisdom goes out in the street and shouts. At the town center she makes her speech. |
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In the middle of the traffic she takes her stand. At the busiest corner she calls out: |
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"Simpletons! How long will you wallow in ignorance? Cynics! How long will you feed your cynicism? Idiots! How long will you refuse to learn? |
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About face! I can revise your life. Look, I'm ready to pour out my spirit on you; I'm ready to tell you all I know. |
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As it is, I've called, but you've turned a deaf ear; I've reached out to you, but you've ignored me. |
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"Since you laugh at my counsel and make a joke of my advice, |
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How can I take you seriously? I'll turn the tables and joke about your troubles! |
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What if the roof falls in, and your whole life goes to pieces? What if catastrophe strikes and there's nothing to show for your life but rubble and ashes? |
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You'll need me then. You'll call for me, but don't expect an answer. No matter how hard you look, you won't find me. |
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"Because you hated Knowledge and had nothing to do with the Fear-of-GOD, |
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Because you wouldn't take my advice and brushed aside all my offers to train you, |
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Well, you've made your bed--now lie in it; you wanted your own way--now, how do you like it? |
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Don't you see what happens, you simpletons, you idiots? Carelessness kills; complacency is murder. |
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First pay attention to me, and then relax. Now you can take it easy--you're in good hands." |
Proverbs 1:27 English Language Bible Words basic statistical display
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