Good News [1976], GOOD NEWS BIBLE WITH DEUTEROCANONICALS / APOCRYPHA Today's English Version (AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY, New York) [word count] [B15000].
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The Responsibility of Rulers
1 So then, you kings, you rulers
the world over, listen to what I
say, and learn from it.
2 You govern
many lands and are proud that so
many people are under your rule,
3 but this authority has been given to
you by the Lord Most High. He will
examine what you have done and
what you plan to do. note
4 You rule on
behalf of God and his kingdom, and
if you do not govern justly, if you do
not uphold the law, if you do not live
according to God's will,
5 you will
suffer sudden and terrible punishment.
Judgment is especially severe
on those in power.
6 Common people
may be mercifully forgiven for their
wrongs, but those in power will face
a severe judgment.
7 The Lord of all
is not afraid of anyone, no matter
how great he is. He himself made
everyone, great and common alike,
and he provides for all equally,
8 but
he will judge the conduct of rulers
more strictly.
9 It is for you, mighty
kings, that I write these words, so
that you may know how to act
wisely and avoid mistakes.
10 These
are holy matters, and if you treat
them in a holy manner, you yourselves
will be considered holy. If you
have learned this lesson, you will be
able to defend yourselves at the
Judgment.
11 So then, make my
teaching your treasure and joy, and
you will be well instructed.
The Value of Wisdom
12 Wisdom shines bright and never
grows dim; those who love her and
look for her can easily find her.
13 She is quick to make herself
known to anyone who desires her.
14 Get up early in the morning to find
her, and you will have no problem;
you will find her sitting at your door.
15 To fasten your attention on Wisdom
is to gain perfect understanding.
If you look for her, you will soon
find peace of mind,
16 because she
will be looking for those who are
worthy of her, and she will find you
wherever you are. She is kind and
will be with you in your every
thought.
17 Wisdom begins when you sincerely
want to learn. To desire Wisdom
is to love her;
18 to love her is to
keep her laws; to keep her laws is to
be certain of immortality;
19 immortality
will bring you close to God.
20 This desire for Wisdom can prepare
you to rule a kingdom.
21 So
then, you that rule the nations, if you
value your thrones and symbols of
authority, honor Wisdom so that
you may rule forever.
Solomon Wishes to Share His Wisdom
22 I will tell you what Wisdom is,
and how she came to be. I will not
keep anything secret. I will trace her
history from the beginning and
make knowledge of her open to all. I
will not ignore any part of the truth.
23 No jealous desire to guard my own
knowledge will make me hold back
anything. Wisdom has nothing in
common with such an attitude.
24 No
indeed—the more wise people there
are, the safer the world will be. A
sensible king can be depended on to
give his people this kind of security.
25 So then, learn what I am about to
teach you, and you will profit from
it.
Good News [1976], GOOD NEWS BIBLE WITH DEUTEROCANONICALS / APOCRYPHA Today's English Version (AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY, New York) [word count] [B15000].
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