Authors: Eugene H. Peterson
The Message Remix (189 page)
There’s a way of life that looks harmless enough;
look again—it leads straight to hell.
Sure, those people appear to be having a good time,
but all that laughter will end in heartbreak.
Sift and Weigh Every Wordlook again—it leads straight to hell.
Sure, those people appear to be having a good time,
but all that laughter will end in heartbreak.
A mean person gets paid back in meanness,
a gracious person in grace.
a gracious person in grace.
The gullible believe anything they’re told;
the prudent sift and weigh every word.
the prudent sift and weigh every word.
The wise watch their steps and avoid evil;
fools are headstrong and reckless.
fools are headstrong and reckless.
The hotheaded do things they’ll later regret;
the coldhearted get the cold shoulder.
the coldhearted get the cold shoulder.
Foolish dreamers live in a world of illusion;
wise realists plant their feet on the ground.
wise realists plant their feet on the ground.
Eventually, evil will pay tribute to good;
the wicked will respect God-loyal people.
the wicked will respect God-loyal people.
An unlucky loser is shunned by all,
but everyone loves a winner.
but everyone loves a winner.
It’s criminal to ignore a neighbor in need,
but compassion for the poor—what a blessing!
but compassion for the poor—what a blessing!
Isn’t it obvious that conspirators lose out,
while the thoughtful win love and trust?
while the thoughtful win love and trust?
Hard work always pays off;
mere talk puts no bread on the table.
mere talk puts no bread on the table.
The wise accumulate wisdom;
fools get stupider by the day.
fools get stupider by the day.
Souls are saved by truthful witness
and betrayed by the spread of lies.
and betrayed by the spread of lies.
The Fear-of-GOD builds up confidence,
and makes a world safe for your children.
and makes a world safe for your children.
The Fear-of-GOD is a spring of living water
so you won’t go off drinking from poisoned wells.
so you won’t go off drinking from poisoned wells.
The mark of a good leader is loyal followers;
leadership is nothing without a following.
leadership is nothing without a following.
Slowness to anger makes for deep understanding;
a quick-tempered person stockpiles stupidity.
a quick-tempered person stockpiles stupidity.
A sound mind makes for a robust body,
but runaway emotions corrode the bones.
but runaway emotions corrode the bones.
You insult your Maker when you exploit the powerless;
when you’re kind to the poor, you honor God.
when you’re kind to the poor, you honor God.
The evil of bad people leaves them out in the cold;
the integrity of good people creates a safe place for living.
the integrity of good people creates a safe place for living.
Lady Wisdom is at home in an understanding heart—
fools never even get to say hello.
fools never even get to say hello.
God-devotion makes a country strong;
God-avoidance leaves people weak.
God-avoidance leaves people weak.
Diligent work gets a warm commendation;
shiftless work earns an angry rebuke.
God Doesn’t Miss a Thingshiftless work earns an angry rebuke.
015
A gentle response defuses anger,
but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire.
but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire.
Knowledge flows like spring water from the wise;
fools are leaky faucets, dripping nonsense.
fools are leaky faucets, dripping nonsense.
GOD doesn’t miss a thing—
he’s alert to good and evil alike.
he’s alert to good and evil alike.
Kind words heal and help;
cutting words wound and maim.
cutting words wound and maim.
Moral dropouts won’t listen to their elders;
welcoming correction is a mark of good sense.
welcoming correction is a mark of good sense.
The lives of God-loyal people flourish;
a misspent life is soon bankrupt.
a misspent life is soon bankrupt.
Perceptive words spread knowledge;
fools are hollow—there’s nothing to them.
fools are hollow—there’s nothing to them.
GOD can’t stand pious poses,
but he delights in genuine prayers.
but he delights in genuine prayers.
A life frittered away disgusts GOD;
he loves those who run straight for the finish line.
he loves those who run straight for the finish line.
It’s a school of hard knocks for those who leave God’s path,
a dead-end street for those who hate God’s rules.
a dead-end street for those who hate God’s rules.
Even hell holds no secrets from GOD—
do you think he can’t read human hearts?
Life Ascends to the Heightsdo you think he can’t read human hearts?
Know-it-alls don’t like being told what to do;
they avoid the company of wise men and women.
they avoid the company of wise men and women.
A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face;
a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day.
a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day.
An intelligent person is always eager to take in more truth
fools feed on fast-food fads and fancies.
fools feed on fast-food fads and fancies.
A miserable heart means a miserable life;
a cheerful heart fills the day with song.
a cheerful heart fills the day with song.
A simple life in the Fear-of-GOD
is better than a rich life with a ton of headaches.
is better than a rich life with a ton of headaches.
Better a bread crust shared in love
than a slab of prime rib served in hate.
than a slab of prime rib served in hate.
Hot tempers start fights;
a calm, cool spirit keeps the peace.
a calm, cool spirit keeps the peace.
The path of lazy people is overgrown with briers;
the diligent walk down a smooth road.
the diligent walk down a smooth road.
Intelligent children make their parents proud;
lazy students embarrass their parents.
lazy students embarrass their parents.
The empty-headed treat life as a plaything;
the perceptive grasp its meaning and make a go of it.
the perceptive grasp its meaning and make a go of it.
Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail;
take good counsel and watch them succeed.
take good counsel and watch them succeed.
Congenial conversation—what a pleasure!
The right word at the right time—beautiful!
The right word at the right time—beautiful!
Life ascends to the heights for the thoughtful—
it’s a clean about-face from descent into hell.
it’s a clean about-face from descent into hell.
GOD smashes the pretensions of the arrogant;
he stands with those who have no standing.
he stands with those who have no standing.
GOD can’t stand evil scheming,
but he puts words of grace and beauty on display.
but he puts words of grace and beauty on display.
A greedy and grasping person destroys community;
those who refuse to exploit live and let live.
those who refuse to exploit live and let live.
Prayerful answers come from God-loyal people;
the wicked are sewers of abuse.
the wicked are sewers of abuse.
GOD keeps his distance from the wicked;
he closely attends to the prayers of God-loyal people.
he closely attends to the prayers of God-loyal people.
A twinkle in the eye means joy in the heart,
and good news makes you feel fit as a fiddle.
and good news makes you feel fit as a fiddle.
Listen to good advice if you want to live well,
an honored guest among wise men and women.
an honored guest among wise men and women.
An undisciplined, self-willed life is puny;
an obedient, God-willed life is spacious.
an obedient, God-willed life is spacious.
Fear-of-GOD is a school in skilled living—
first you learn humility, then you experience glory.
Everything with a Place and a Purposefirst you learn humility, then you experience glory.
016
Mortals make elaborate plans,
but GOD has the last word.
but GOD has the last word.
Humans are satisfied with whatever looks good;
GOD probes for what
is
good.
GOD probes for what
is
good.
Put GOD in charge of your work,
then what you’ve planned will take place.
then what you’ve planned will take place.
GOD made everything with a place and purpose;
even the wicked are included—but for
judgment
.
even the wicked are included—but for
judgment
.
GOD can’t stomach arrogance or pretense;
believe me, he’ll put those upstarts in their place.
believe me, he’ll put those upstarts in their place.
Guilt is banished through love and truth;
Fear-of-GOD deflects evil.
Fear-of-GOD deflects evil.
When GOD approves of your life,
even your enemies will end up shaking your hand.
even your enemies will end up shaking your hand.
Far better to be right and poor
than to be wrong and rich.
than to be wrong and rich.
We plan the way we want to live,
but only GOD makes us able to live it.
It Pays to Take Life Seriouslybut only GOD makes us able to live it.
A good leader motivates,
doesn’t mislead, doesn’t exploit.
doesn’t mislead, doesn’t exploit.
GOD cares about honesty in the workplace;
your business is his business.
your business is his business.
Good leaders abhor wrongdoing of all kinds;
sound leadership has a moral foundation.
sound leadership has a moral foundation.
Good leaders cultivate honest speech;
they love advisors who tell them the truth.
they love advisors who tell them the truth.
An intemperate leader wreaks havoc in lives;
you’re smart to stay clear of someone like that.
you’re smart to stay clear of someone like that.
Good-tempered leaders invigorate lives;
they’re like spring rain and sunshine.
they’re like spring rain and sunshine.
Get wisdom—it’s worth more than money;
choose insight over income every time.
choose insight over income every time.
The road of right living bypasses evil;
watch your step and save your life.
watch your step and save your life.
First pride, then the crash—
the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.
the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.
It’s better to live humbly among the poor
than to live it up among the rich and famous.
than to live it up among the rich and famous.
It pays to take life seriously;
things work out when you trust in GOD.
things work out when you trust in GOD.
A wise person gets known for insight;
gracious words add to one’s reputation.
gracious words add to one’s reputation.
True intelligence is a spring of fresh water,
while fools sweat it out the hard way.
while fools sweat it out the hard way.
They make a lot of sense, these wise folks;
whenever they speak, their reputation increases.
whenever they speak, their reputation increases.
Gracious speech is like clover honey—
good taste to the soul, quick energy for the body.
good taste to the soul, quick energy for the body.
There’s a way that looks harmless enough;
look again—it leads straight to hell.
look again—it leads straight to hell.
Appetite is an incentive to work;
hunger makes you work all the harder.
hunger makes you work all the harder.
Mean people spread mean gossip;
their words smart and burn.
their words smart and burn.
Troublemakers start fights;
gossips break up friendships.
gossips break up friendships.
Calloused climbers betray their very own friends;
they’d stab their own grandmothers in the back.
they’d stab their own grandmothers in the back.
A shifty eye betrays an evil intention;
a clenched jaw signals trouble ahead.
a clenched jaw signals trouble ahead.
Gray hair is a mark of distinction,
the award for a God-loyal life.
the award for a God-loyal life.
Moderation is better than muscle,
self-control better than political power.
self-control better than political power.
Make your motions and cast your votes,
but GOD has the final say.
A Whack on the Head of a Foolbut GOD has the final say.
017
A meal of bread and water in contented peace
is better than a banquet spiced with quarrels.
is better than a banquet spiced with quarrels.
A wise servant takes charge of an unruly child
and is honored as one of the family.
and is honored as one of the family.
As silver in a crucible and gold in a pan,
so our lives are assayed by GOD.
so our lives are assayed by GOD.
Evil people relish malicious conversation;
the ears of liars itch for dirty gossip.
the ears of liars itch for dirty gossip.
Whoever mocks poor people insults their Creator;
gloating over misfortune is a punishable crime.
gloating over misfortune is a punishable crime.
Old people are distinguished by grandchildren;
children take pride in their parents.
children take pride in their parents.
We don’t expect eloquence from fools,
nor do we expect lies from our leaders.
nor do we expect lies from our leaders.
Receiving a gift is like getting a rare gemstone;
any way you look at it, you see beauty refracted.
any way you look at it, you see beauty refracted.
Overlook an offense and bond a friendship;
fasten on to a slight and—good-bye, friend!
fasten on to a slight and—good-bye, friend!
A quiet rebuke to a person of good sense
does more than a whack on the head of a fool.
does more than a whack on the head of a fool.
Criminals out looking for nothing but trouble
won’t have to wait long—they’ll meet it coming and going!
won’t have to wait long—they’ll meet it coming and going!
Better to meet a grizzly robbed of her cubs
than a fool hellbent on folly.
than a fool hellbent on folly.
Those who return evil for good
will meet their own evil returning.
will meet their own evil returning.
The start of a quarrel is like a leak in a dam,
so stop it before it bursts.
so stop it before it bursts.
Whitewashing bad people and throwing mud on good people
are equally abhorrent to GOD.
are equally abhorrent to GOD.
What’s this? Fools out shopping for wisdom!
They wouldn’t recognize it if they saw it!
One Who Knows Much Says LittleThey wouldn’t recognize it if they saw it!
Friends love through all kinds of weather,
and families stick together in all kinds of trouble.
and families stick together in all kinds of trouble.
It’s stupid to try to get something for nothing,
or run up huge bills you can never pay.
or run up huge bills you can never pay.
The person who courts sin marries trouble;
build a wall, invite a burglar.
build a wall, invite a burglar.
A bad motive can’t achieve a good end;
double-talk brings you double trouble.
double-talk brings you double trouble.
Having a fool for a child is misery;
it’s no fun being the parent of a dolt.
it’s no fun being the parent of a dolt.
A cheerful disposition is good for your health;
gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.
gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.
The wicked take bribes under the table;
they show nothing but contempt for justice.
they show nothing but contempt for justice.
The perceptive find wisdom in their own front yard;
fools look for it everywhere but right here.
fools look for it everywhere but right here.
A surly, stupid child is sheer pain to a father,
a bitter pill for a mother to swallow.
a bitter pill for a mother to swallow.
It’s wrong to penalize good behavior,
or make good citizens pay for the crimes of others.
or make good citizens pay for the crimes of others.
The one who knows much says little;
an understanding person remains calm.
an understanding person remains calm.
Even dunces who keep quiet are thought to be wise;
as long as they keep their mouths shut, they’re smart.
Words Kill, Words Give Lifeas long as they keep their mouths shut, they’re smart.
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