PROVERBS 4
Advice to Young People

My child, listen closely
to my teachings
and learn common sense.
My advice is useful,
so don't turn away.
When I was still very young
and my mother's favorite child,
my father said to me:
"If you follow my teachings
and keep them in mind,
you will live.
Be wise and learn good sense;
remember my teachings
and do what I say.
If you love Wisdom
and don't reject her,
she will watch over you.
The best thing about Wisdom
is Wisdom herself;
good sense is more important
than anything else.
If you value Wisdom
and hold tightly to her,
great honors will be yours.
It will be like wearing
a glorious crown
of beautiful flowers.

The Right Way and the Wrong Way

My child, if you listen
and obey my teachings,
you will live a long time.
I have shown you the way
that makes sense;
I have guided you
along the right path.
Your road won't be blocked,
and you won't stumble
when you run.
Hold firmly to my teaching
and never let go.
It will mean life for you.
Don't follow the bad example
of cruel and evil people.
Turn aside and keep going.
Stay away from them.
They can't sleep or rest
until they do wrong
or harm
some innocent victim.
Their food and drink
are violence and cruelty.
The lifestyle of good people
is like sunlight at dawn
that keeps getting brighter
until broad daylight.
The lifestyle of the wicked
is like total darkness,
and they will never know
what makes them stumble.
My child, listen carefully
to everything I say.
Don't forget a single word,
but think about it all.
Knowing these teachings
will mean true life
and good health for you.
Carefully guard your thoughts
because they are the source
of true life.
Never tell lies or be deceitful
in what you say.
Keep looking straight ahead,
without turning aside.
Know where you are headed,
and you will stay
on solid ground.
Don't make a mistake by turning
to the right or the left.

PROVERBS 20:7

Good people live right,
and God blesses the children
who follow their example.

LUKE 15:11-32
Two Sons

Jesus also told them another story:
Once a man had two sons.  The younger son said to his father, "Give me my share of the property." So the father divided his property between his two sons.

Not long after that, the younger son packed up everything he owned and left for a foreign country, where he wasted all his money in wild living.  He had spent everything, when a bad famine spread through that whole land. Soon he had nothing to eat.

He went to work for a man in that country, and the man sent him out to take care of his pigs.  He would have been glad to eat what the pigs were eating, but no one gave him a thing.  Finally, he came to his senses and said, "My father's workers have plenty to eat, and here I am, starving to death!  I will go to my father and say to him, `Father, I have sinned against God in heaven and against you.  I am no longer good enough to be called your son. Treat me like one of your workers.' "

The younger son got up and started back to his father.  But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt sorry for him.  He ran to his son and hugged and kissed him.

The son said, "Father, I have sinned against God in heaven and against you.  I am no longer good enough to be called your son."

But his father said to the servants, "Hurry and bring the best clothes and put them on him.  Give him a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet.  Get the best calf and prepare it, so we can eat and celebrate.  This son of mine was dead, but has now come back to life. He was lost and has now been found."  And they began to celebrate.  The older son had been out in the field.  But when he came near the house, he heard the music and dancing.  So he called one of the servants over and asked, "What's going on here?"

The servant answered, "Your brother has come home safe and sound, and your father ordered us to kill the best calf."  The older brother got so angry that he would not even go into the house.

His father came out and begged him to go in.  But he said to his father, "For years I have worked for you like a slave and have always obeyed you.  But you have never even given me a little goat, so that I could give a dinner for my friends.  This other son of yours wasted your money on prostitutes.  And now that he has come home, you ordered the best calf to be killed for a feast."

His father replied, "My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.  But we should be glad and celebrate! Your brother was dead, but he is now alive. He was lost and has now been found."