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Ecclesiastes 12:1-14 (Good News Translation)   1So remember your Creator while you are still young, before those dismal days and years come when you will say, I don't enjoy life. 2That is when the light of the sun, the moon, and the stars will grow dim for you, and the rain clouds will never pass away. 3Then your arms, that have protected you, will tremble, and your legs, now strong, will grow weak. Your teeth will be too few to chew your food, and your eyes too dim to see clearly. 4Your ears will be deaf to the noise of the street. You will barely be able to hear the mill as it grinds or music as it plays, but even the song of a bird will wake you from sleep. 5You will be afraid of high places, and walking will be dangerous. Your hair will turn white; you will hardly be able to drag yourself along, and all desire will be gone. We are going to our final resting place, and then there will be mourning in the streets. 6The silver chain will snap, and the golden lamp will fall and...

Ecclesiastes 5:1-20 (Good News Translation) 1Be careful about going to the Temple. It is better to go there to learn than to offer sacrifices like foolish people who don't know right from wrong. 2Think before you speak, and don't make any rash promises to God. He is in heaven and you are on earth, so don't say any more than you have to. 3The more you worry, the more likely you are to have bad dreams, and the more you talk, the more likely you are to say something foolish. 4So when you make a promise to God, keep it as quickly as possible. He has no use for a fool. Do what you promise to do. 5Better not to promise at all than to make a promise and not keep it. 6Don't let your own words lead you into sin, so that you have to tell God's priest that you didn't mean it. Why make God angry with you? Why let him destroy what you have worked for? 7No matter how much you dream, how much useless work you do, or how much you talk, you must still stand in awe of God. ...

Ecclesiastes 3:1-22 (Good News Translation)   1Everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses. 2He sets the time for birth and the time for death, the time for planting and the time for pulling up, 3the time for killing and the time for healing, the time for tearing down and the time for building. 4He sets the time for sorrow and the time for joy, the time for mourning and the time for dancing, 5the time for making love and the time for not making love, the time for kissing and the time for not kissing. 6He sets the time for finding and the time for losing, the time for saving and the time for throwing away, 7the time for tearing and the time for mending, the time for silence and the time for talk. 8He sets the time for love and the time for hate, the time for war and the time for peace. 9What do we gain from all our work? 10I know the heavy burdens that God has laid on us. 11He has set the right time for everything. He has given us a desire to know the futur...

Proverbs 25:1-28 (Good News Translation) 1Here are more of Solomon's proverbs, copied by scribes at the court of King Hezekiah of Judah. 2We honor God for what he conceals; we honor kings for what they explain. 3You never know what a king is thinking; his thoughts are beyond us, like the heights of the sky or the depths of the ocean. 4Take the impurities out of silver and the artist can produce a thing of beauty. 5Keep evil advisers away from the king and his government will be known for its justice. 6When you stand before the king, don't try to impress him and pretend to be important. 7It is better to be asked to take a higher position than to be told to give your place to someone more important. 8Don't be too quick to go to court about something you have seen. If another witness later proves you wrong, what will you do then? 9If you and your neighbor have a difference of opinion, settle it between yourselves and do not reveal any secrets. 10Otherwise everyone...

Proverbs 16:1-33 (Good News Translation) 1We may make our plans, but God has the last word. 2You may think everything you do is right, but the Lord judges your motives. 3Ask the Lord to bless your plans, and you will be successful in carrying them out. 4Everything the Lord has made has its destiny; and the destiny of the wicked is destruction. 5The Lord hates everyone who is arrogant; he will never let them escape punishment. 6Be loyal and faithful, and God will forgive your sin. Obey the Lord and nothing evil will happen to you. 7When you please the Lord, you can make your enemies into friends. 8It is better to have a little, honestly earned, than to have a large income, dishonestly gained. 9You may make your plans, but God directs your actions. 10The king speaks with divine authority; his decisions are always right. 11The Lord wants weights and measures to be honest and every sale to be fair. 12Kings cannot tolerate evil, because justice is what makes a government stron...

Proverbs 10:1-32 (Good News Translation)   1These are Solomon's proverbs: Wise children make their fathers proud of them; foolish ones bring their mothers grief. 2Wealth you get by dishonesty will do you no good, but honesty can save your life. 3The Lord will not let good people go hungry, but he will keep the wicked from getting what they want. 4Being lazy will make you poor, but hard work will make you rich. 5A sensible person gathers the crops when they are ready; it is a disgrace to sleep through the time of harvest. 6Good people will receive blessings. The words of the wicked hide a violent nature. 7Good people will be remembered as a blessing, but the wicked will soon be forgotten. 8Sensible people accept good advice. People who talk foolishly will come to ruin. 9Honest people are safe and secure, but the dishonest will be caught. 10Someone who holds back the truth causes trouble, but one who openly criticizes works for peace. 11A good person's words are a fountain o...

Proverbs 9:1-18 (Good News Translation)   1Wisdom has built her house and made seven columns for it. 2She has had an animal killed for a feast, mixed spices in the wine, and set the table. 3She has sent her servant women to call out from the highest place in town: 4Come in, ignorant people! And to the foolish she says, 5Come, eat my food and drink the wine that I have mixed. 6Leave the company of ignorant people, and live. Follow the way of knowledge. 7If you correct conceited people, you will only be insulted. If you reprimand evil people, you will only get hurt. 8Never correct conceited people; they will hate you for it. But if you correct the wise, they will respect you. 9Anything you say to the wise will make them wiser. Whatever you tell the righteous will add to their knowledge. 10To be wise you must first have reverence for the Lord. If you know the Holy One, you have understanding. 11Wisdom will add years to your life. 12You are the one who will profit if you have wisdom,...