16 God ◄inspired/put into men’s minds► everything that is written in the Scriptures {they wrote in the holy writings}, and those writings are all useful to teach us what is true, to cause us to know when we are wrong and then ◄to correct us/to show us what we have done that is wrong►, and to train/teach us to do what is right. 17 What is written {they wrote} is useful to help us who serve God to be ready/prepared to do all that we should do. By means of it, we are equipped {God gives us what we need} in order to do every kind of good deeds.

24 "So then, anyone who hears what I say and does what I command, will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.

16 And continue to let the message about Christ govern/direct all you think and do, as you very wisely teach and warn one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs (OR, songs that God’s Spirit gives you), while you sincerely and thankfully sing to God.

4 And you need to remember that what was written previously {what God’s servants previously wrote} in the Scriptures, was written {they wrote} to teach us in order that we would be patient and be encouraged by reading/believing what they wrote. If we do that, we can confidently expect God to do for us all he has promised.

1 These are the ◄proverbs/wise sayings► that come from Solomon, the King of Israel, who was the son of King David.

2 ◄These proverbs [PRS] can teach people/By studying these proverbs, people can learn► how to be wise

and how to obey what these proverbs teach them.

They will also help people to understand which teachings are wise.

3 These proverbs [PRS] will teach you how to discipline/control yourselves,

how to conduct your lives,

and how to do what is right and just [DOU].

4 They will show people who do not yet know much how to do things that are smart.

They will show young people how to become wise and how to make good plans/decisions.

5 Those who are wise should also pay attention to these proverbs,

in order to become more wise,

and those who understand these teachings will receive good advice/guidance.

6 Then they will be able to understand the meaning of proverbs and parables/metaphors,

these wise sayings and ◄riddles/sayings that are difficult to understand►.

7 If you want to be wise, you must begin by revering Yahweh.

Only foolish people despise wisdom and good advice/discipline.

5 You must love him with all your inner being and with all that you feel and with all that you do. 6 Never forget [IDM] these commands that I am giving to you today. 7 Teach them to your children again and again. Talk about them all the time: When you are in your houses and when you are walking outside; talk about them when you are lying down and when you are doing things.

8 My son, pay attention to what I, your father, am teaching you.

And do not reject what your mother teaches you.

9 What we teach you will make you respected like having a lovely turban around your head

and like a beautiful necklace to put around your neck.

20 My son, obey my commands,

and do not ignore what your mother has taught you.

21 Remember the things that we have said.

Those things should be like a beautiful necklace around your neck.

22 If you follow our advice, it will be as though what we have taught you [PRS] will lead you, wherever you go.

When you sleep, they will protect you.

And when you wake up in the morning, they will teach/instruct you.

23 These commands and what we teach you will be like a lamp to light your path [MET].

When we rebuke you and correct/punish you,

we will be showing you the road to having a good life.

5 Obtain wisdom and understanding,

and ◄do not abandon/hold fast to► [LIT] what I have taught you.

6 Do not turn away from wisdom,

because if you are wise, you will be protected from all evil/danger.

If you love wisdom, wisdom [PRS] will guard you.

7 The most important thing that you can do is to get wisdom.

Even if you obtain many other things,

the best thing is to know what things are wise.

8 If you consider being wise to be very valuable,

people will think very highly of you.

If you cling to wisdom like you would cling to a woman you love,

many people will honor you.

13 Hold fast to the things I have taught you to do,

and do not let them go.

Guard them,

because they will be the source of a good life.

14 Do not do the things that wicked people do;

do not behave like they do;

do not even walk on the roads that evil people walk on [MET].

23 It is very important that you be careful about what you think,

because what you think controls [MET] the things that you do.

24 Do not say anything that deceives others

and never say what is not true.

25 Keep looking straight ahead toward the events that are before you,

and do not turn aside.

26 Plan carefully where you will go and what you will do,

and then stay on that road.

Then what you do will be right.

27 Do not leave the straight road by turning to the left or to the right.

Do only what is right

and keep yourself from doing what is evil.

14 What wise people teach is like a fountain whose water gives life [MET];

what they teach you will help you to escape when something dangerous is threatening to kill you [MET].

10 If you want to be wise, you must start by revering Yahweh,

and if you know God, the Holy One, you will understand which teachings are wise/true.

1 My friends, listen to what I am going to teach you;

pay careful attention [IDM] to what I say.

2 I am going to give you some sayings that wise people have said.

They will be sayings about things that happened long ago,

things that were difficult to understand [MET],

3 things that we have heard and known previously,

things that our parents and grandparents told us.

4 We will tell these things to our children [LIT],

and we will also tell to our grandchildren

about Yahweh’s power and the glorious/great things that he has done.

10 After all the people died who lived at the same time as Joshua [EUP], a group of people grew up who did not know Yahweh, and did not know what great things he had done for the Israeli people.

17 Each congregation should pay well the elders who lead well. They should greatly honor them, especially those who preach and those who teach. 18 Long ago Moses wrote in the Scriptures, "While an ox is threshing grain, you must not tie its mouth so that it cannot eat the grain," and Jesus said, "People should pay those who work for their benefit." So we know that congregations should support their leaders.

16 ◄Stay away from/Do not talk with► those who talk foolishly and ◄godlessly/say things that displease God►, because those who talk foolishly will become even more ◄ungodly/displeasing to God►, 17 and because their message will harm people [SIM] like gangrene/cancer does. You know Hymenaeus and Philetus. They are two such people who talk in this manner.

9 Those who change what Christ taught and do not continue to believe what he taught do not have a relationship with God. But those who continue to believe what Christ taught have a close relationship with both God, our Father, and with ◄his Son/the one who is also God►.

14 In the middle of the days of the celebration, Jesus went to the Temple courtyard and began to teach people. 15 The Jewish elders were amazed at what he was saying. They said, "This man never studied in one of our religious schools! So ◄how can he have learned so much about Scripture?/it is difficult for us to believe that he has learned so much about Scripture!► [RHQ]" 16 Jesus replied to them, "What I teach does not come from myself. It comes from God, the one who sent me. 17 Those who choose to do what God wants will find out whether what I teach comes from God or whether I am speaking with only my own authority. 18 Those who speak with only their own authority do that only so that others will honor them. But I am doing things so that others will honor the one who sent me, and I am someone who speaks the truth. I never lie.