16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful* for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living, 17 so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed.

24 "So then, anyone who hears these words of mine and obeys them is like a wise man who built his house on rock.

16 *Christ’s message in all its richness must live in your hearts. Teach and instruct one another with all wisdom. Sing psalms, hymns, and sacred songs; sing to God with thanksgiving in your hearts.

4 *Everything written in the Scriptures was written to teach us, in order that we might have hope through the patience and encouragement which the Scriptures give us.

1 *The proverbs of Solomon, son of David and king of Israel.

2 Here are proverbs that will help you recognize wisdom and good advice, and understand sayings with deep meaning. 3 They can teach you how to live intelligently and how to be honest, just, and fair. 4 They can make an inexperienced person clever and teach young people how to be resourceful. 5 These proverbs can even add to the knowledge of the wise and give guidance to the educated, 6 so that they can understand the hidden meanings of proverbs and the problems that the wise raise.

7 *To have knowledge, you must first have reverence for the Lord.* Stupid people have no respect for wisdom and refuse to learn.

5 *Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 *Never forget these commands that I am giving you today. 7 Teach them to your children. Repeat them when you are at home and when you are away, when you are resting and when you are working.

8 My child, pay attention to what your father and mother tell you. 9 Their teaching will improve your character as a handsome turban or a necklace improves your appearance.

20 Son, do what your father tells you and never forget what your mother taught you. 21 Keep their words with you always, locked in your heart. 22 Their teaching will lead you when you travel, protect you at night, and advise you during the day. 23 Their instructions are a shining light; their correction can teach you how to live.

5 Get wisdom and insight! Do not forget or ignore what I say. 6 Do not abandon wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will keep you safe. 7 Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do. Whatever else you get, get insight. 8 Love wisdom, and she will make you great. Embrace her,* and she will bring you honor.

13 Always remember what you have learned. Your education is your life—guard it well. 14 Do not go where evil people go. Do not follow the example of the wicked.

23 Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts. 24 Never say anything that isn’t true. Have nothing to do with lies and misleading words. 25 Look straight ahead with honest confidence; don’t hang your head in shame. 26 *Plan carefully what you do, and whatever you do will turn out right. 27 Avoid evil and walk straight ahead. Don’t go one step off the right way.

14 The teachings of the wise are a fountain of life; they will help you escape when your life is in danger.

10 *To be wise you must first have reverence for the Lord. If you know the Holy One, you have understanding.

1 Listen, my people, to my teaching,

and pay attention to what I say.

2 *I am going to use wise sayings

and explain mysteries from the past,

3 things we have heard and known,

things that our ancestors told us.

4 We will not keep them from our children;

we will tell the next generation

about the Lord's power and his great deeds

and the wonderful things he has done.

10 That whole generation also died, and the next generation forgot the Lord and what he had done for Israel.

17 The elders who do good work as leaders should be considered worthy of receiving double pay, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 18 *For the scripture says, "Do not muzzle an ox when you are using it to thresh grain" and "Workers should be given their pay."

16 Keep away from profane and foolish discussions, which only drive people farther away from God. 17 Such teaching is like an open sore that eats away the flesh. Two men who have taught such things are Hymenaeus and Philetus.

9 Anyone who does not stay with the teaching of Christ, but goes beyond it, does not have God. Whoever does stay with the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

14 The festival was nearly half over when Jesus went to the Temple and began teaching. 15 The Jewish authorities were greatly surprised and said, "How does this man know so much when he has never been to school?"

16 Jesus answered, "What I teach is not my own teaching, but it comes from God, who sent me. 17 Whoever is willing to do what God wants will know whether what I teach comes from God or whether I speak on my own authority. 18 Those who speak on their own authority are trying to gain glory for themselves. But he who wants glory for the one who sent him is honest, and there is nothing false in him.