[ When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia ], they came to Thessalonica, [ where there was a Jewish synagogue ]. [ As was his custom ], Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, [ explaining and proving [ that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead ] ]. “This Jesus [ I am proclaiming to you ] is the Messiah,” he said. Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, [ as did a large number of God-[ fearing ] Greeks and quite a few prominent women ].
But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas [ in order to bring them out to the crowd ]. But [ when they did not find them ], they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials, [ shouting ]: “These men [ who have caused trouble all over the world ] have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, [ saying [ that there is another king, one [ called Jesus ] ] ].” [ When they heard this ], the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil.
The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
for [ gaining wisdom ] and instruction; for [ understanding words of insight ]; for [ receiving instruction in prudent behavior ], [ doing [ what is right and just and fair ] ]; for [ giving prudence to those [ who are simple ], knowledge and discretion to the young ] — let [ the wise listen and add to their [ learning ] ], and let [ the discerning get guidance ]— for [ understanding proverbs and parables, the [ sayings ] and riddles of the wise ]. The fear of the LORD is the [ beginning ] of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Prologue: Exhortations to Embrace Wisdom [ Warning Against the Invitation of Sinful Men ]
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your [ mother’s teaching ]. They are a garland [ to grace your head ] and a chain [ to adorn your neck ]. My son, [ if sinful men entice you ], do not give in to them. [ If they say ], “Come along with us; let’s lie in wait for innocent blood,
let’s ambush some harmless soul; let’s swallow them [ alive ], like the grave, and [ whole ], like those [ who go down to the pit ]; we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder; [ cast lots with us ]; we will all share the loot”— my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; for their feet rush into evil, they are swift [ to shed blood ].
How useless [ to spread a net [ where every bird can see it ] ]! These men lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush only themselves! Such are the paths of all [ who go after ill-[ gotten ] gain ]; it takes away the life of those [ who get it ].
Wisdom’s Rebuke Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square; on top of the wall she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech: “How long will you [ who are simple ] love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,
I will make [ known to you [ my teachings ] ]. But [ since you refuse [ to listen ] [ when I call ] and no one pays attention [ when I stretch out my hand ], [ since you disregard all my advice and do not accept my rebuke ], I in turn will laugh [ when disaster strikes you ]; I will mock [ when calamity overtakes you ]— [ when calamity overtakes you like a storm ], [ when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind ], [ when distress and trouble overwhelm you ].
“Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me, [ since they hated knowledge and did not choose [ to fear the LORD ] ]. [ Since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke ], they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but [ whoever listens to me ] will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.”
My son, [ if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, [ turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to [ understanding ] ] ]— indeed, [ if you call out for insight and cry aloud for [ understanding ] ], and [ if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for [ hidden ] treasure ],
then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and [ understanding ]. He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those [ whose walk is blameless ], for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand [ what is right and just and fair ]—every good path.
For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and [ understanding ] will guard you. Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men [ whose words are perverse ], [ who have left the straight paths [ to walk in dark ways ] ], [ who delight in [ doing wrong ] and rejoice in the perverseness of evil ], [ whose paths are crooked ] and [ who are devious in their ways ].
Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words, [ who has left the partner of her youth and ignored the covenant [ she made before God ] ]. Surely her house leads down to death and her paths to the spirits of the dead. None [ who go to her ] return or attain the paths of life. Thus you will walk in the ways of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous.
For the upright will live in the land, and the blameless will remain in it; but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the unfaithful will be torn from it
In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all [ that Jesus began [ to do and to teach until the day [ he was taken up to heaven ], after [ giving instructions through the Holy Spirit [ to the apostles [ he had chosen ] ]. After [ his suffering ], he presented himself to them and gave many [ convincing ] proofs [ that he was alive ]. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, [ while he was eating with them ], he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift [ my Father promised ], [ which you have heard [ me speak about ] ].
For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not [ for you to know the times or dates [ the Father has set by his own authority ]. But you will receive power [ when the Holy Spirit comes on you ]; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” [ After he said this ], he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky [ as he was going ], [ when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them ]. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here [ looking into the sky ]? This same Jesus, [ who has been taken from you into heaven ], will come back in the same way [ you have seen [ him go into heaven ] ].”
At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, [ because you have hidden these things from the wise and [ learned ], and revealed them to little children ]. Yes, Father, for this is [ what you were pleased [ to do ] ]. “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those [ to whom the Son chooses [ to reveal him ] ].
“Come to me, all you [ who are weary and burdened ], and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”