The Message Remix (188 page)
Authors: Eugene H. Peterson
The mouth of a good person is a deep, life-giving well,
but the mouth of the wicked is a dark cave of abuse.
but the mouth of the wicked is a dark cave of abuse.
Hatred starts fights,
but love pulls a quilt over the bickering.
but love pulls a quilt over the bickering.
You’ll find wisdom on the lips of a person of insight,
but the shortsighted needs a slap in the face.
but the shortsighted needs a slap in the face.
The wise accumulate knowledge—a true treasure;
know-it-alls talk too much—a sheer waste.
The Road to Life Is a Disciplined Lifeknow-it-alls talk too much—a sheer waste.
The wealth of the rich is their bastion;
the poverty of the indigent is their ruin.
the poverty of the indigent is their ruin.
The wage of a good person is exuberant life;
an evil person ends up with nothing but sin.
an evil person ends up with nothing but sin.
The road to life is a disciplined life;
ignore correction and you’re lost for good.
ignore correction and you’re lost for good.
Liars secretly hoard hatred;
fools openly spread slander.
fools openly spread slander.
The more talk, the less truth;
the wise measure their words.
the wise measure their words.
The speech of a good person is worth waiting for;
the blabber of the wicked is worthless.
the blabber of the wicked is worthless.
The talk of a good person is rich fare for many,
but chatterboxes die of an empty heart.
Fear-of-God Expands Your Lifebut chatterboxes die of an empty heart.
GOD’s blessing makes life rich;
nothing we do can improve on God.
nothing we do can improve on God.
An empty-head thinks mischief is fun,
but a mindful person relishes wisdom.
but a mindful person relishes wisdom.
The nightmares of the wicked come true;
what the good people desire, they get.
what the good people desire, they get.
When the storm is over, there’s nothing left of the wicked;
good people, firm on their rock foundation, aren’t even fazed.
good people, firm on their rock foundation, aren’t even fazed.
A lazy employee will give you nothing but trouble;
it’s vinegar in the mouth, smoke in the eyes.
it’s vinegar in the mouth, smoke in the eyes.
The Fear-of-GOD expands your life;
a wicked life is a puny life.
a wicked life is a puny life.
The aspirations of good people end in celebration;
the ambitions of bad people crash.
the ambitions of bad people crash.
GOD is solid backing to a well-lived life,
but he calls into question a shabby performance.
but he calls into question a shabby performance.
Good people
last
—they can’t be moved;
the wicked are here today, gone tomorrow.
last
—they can’t be moved;
the wicked are here today, gone tomorrow.
A good person’s mouth is a clear fountain of wisdom;
a foul mouth is a stagnant swamp.
a foul mouth is a stagnant swamp.
The speech of a good person clears the air;
the words of the wicked pollute it.
Without Good Direction, People Lose Their Waythe words of the wicked pollute it.
011
GOD hates cheating in the marketplace;
he loves it when business is aboveboard.
he loves it when business is aboveboard.
The stuck-up fall flat on their faces,
but down-to-earth people stand firm.
but down-to-earth people stand firm.
The integrity of the honest keeps them on track;
the deviousness of crooks brings them to ruin.
the deviousness of crooks brings them to ruin.
A thick bankroll is no help when life falls apart,
but a principled life can stand up to the worst.
but a principled life can stand up to the worst.
Moral character makes for smooth traveling;
an evil life is a hard life.
an evil life is a hard life.
Good character is the best insurance;
crooks get trapped in their sinful lust.
crooks get trapped in their sinful lust.
When the wicked die, that’s it—
the story’s over, end of hope.
the story’s over, end of hope.
A good person is saved from much trouble;
a bad person runs straight into it.
a bad person runs straight into it.
The loose tongue of the godless spreads destruction;
the common sense of the godly preserves them.
the common sense of the godly preserves them.
When it goes well for good people, the whole town cheers;
when it goes badly for bad people, the town celebrates.
when it goes badly for bad people, the town celebrates.
When right-living people bless the city, it flourishes;
evil talk turns it into a ghost town in no time.
evil talk turns it into a ghost town in no time.
Mean-spirited slander is heartless;
quiet discretion accompanies good sense.
quiet discretion accompanies good sense.
A gadabout gossip can’t be trusted with a secret,
but someone of integrity won’t violate a confidence.
but someone of integrity won’t violate a confidence.
Without good direction, people lose their way;
the more wise counsel you follow, the better your chances.
the more wise counsel you follow, the better your chances.
Whoever makes deals with strangers is sure to get burned;
if you keep a cool head, you’ll avoid rash bargains.
if you keep a cool head, you’ll avoid rash bargains.
A woman of gentle grace gets respect,
but men of rough violence grab for loot.
A God-Shaped Lifebut men of rough violence grab for loot.
When you’re kind to others, you help yourself;
when you’re cruel to others, you hurt yourself.
when you’re cruel to others, you hurt yourself.
Bad work gets paid with a bad check;
good work gets solid pay.
good work gets solid pay.
Take your stand with God’s loyal community and live,
or chase after phantoms of evil and die.
or chase after phantoms of evil and die.
GOD can’t stand deceivers,
but oh how he relishes integrity.
but oh how he relishes integrity.
Count on this: The wicked won’t get off scot-free,
and God’s loyal people will triumph.
and God’s loyal people will triumph.
Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
is a beautiful face on an empty head.
is a beautiful face on an empty head.
The desires of good people lead straight to the best,
but wicked ambition ends in angry frustration.
but wicked ambition ends in angry frustration.
The world of the generous gets larger and larger;
the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.
the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.
The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed;
those who help others are helped.
those who help others are helped.
Curses on those who drive a hard bargain!
Blessings on all who play fair and square!
Blessings on all who play fair and square!
The one who seeks good finds delight;
the student of evil becomes evil.
the student of evil becomes evil.
A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump;
a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree.
a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree.
Exploit or abuse your family, and end up with a fistful of air;
common sense tells you it’s a stupid way to live.
common sense tells you it’s a stupid way to live.
A good life is a fruit-bearing tree;
a violent life destroys souls.
a violent life destroys souls.
If good people barely make it,
what’s in store for the bad!
If You Love Learningwhat’s in store for the bad!
012
If you love learning, you love the discipline that goes with it—
how shortsighted to refuse correction!
how shortsighted to refuse correction!
A good person basks in the delight of GOD,
and he wants nothing to do with devious schemers.
and he wants nothing to do with devious schemers.
You can’t find firm footing in a swamp,
but life rooted in God stands firm.
but life rooted in God stands firm.
A hearty wife invigorates her husband,
but a frigid woman is cancer in the bones.
but a frigid woman is cancer in the bones.
The thinking of principled people makes for justice;
the plots of degenerates corrupt.
the plots of degenerates corrupt.
The words of the wicked kill;
the speech of the upright saves.
the speech of the upright saves.
Wicked people fall to pieces—there’s nothing to them;
the homes of good people hold together.
the homes of good people hold together.
A person who talks sense is honored;
airheads are held in contempt.
airheads are held in contempt.
Better to be ordinary and work for a living
than act important and starve in the process.
than act important and starve in the process.
Good people are good to their animals;
the “good-hearted” bad people kick and abuse them.
the “good-hearted” bad people kick and abuse them.
The one who stays on the job has food on the table;
the witless chase whims and fancies.
the witless chase whims and fancies.
What the wicked construct finally falls into ruin,
while the roots of the righteous give life, and more life.
Wise People Take Advicewhile the roots of the righteous give life, and more life.
The gossip of bad people gets them in trouble;
the conversation of good people keeps them out of it.
the conversation of good people keeps them out of it.
Well-spoken words bring satisfaction;
well-done work has its own reward.
well-done work has its own reward.
Fools are headstrong and do what they like;
wise people take advice.
wise people take advice.
Fools have short fuses and explode all too quickly;
the prudent quietly shrug off insults.
the prudent quietly shrug off insults.
Truthful witness by a good person clears the air,
but liars lay down a smoke screen of deceit.
but liars lay down a smoke screen of deceit.
Rash language cuts and maims,
but there is healing in the words of the wise.
but there is healing in the words of the wise.
Truth lasts;
lies are here today, gone tomorrow.
lies are here today, gone tomorrow.
Evil scheming distorts the schemer;
peace-planning brings joy to the planner.
peace-planning brings joy to the planner.
No evil can overwhelm a good person,
but the wicked have their hands full of it.
but the wicked have their hands full of it.
God can’t stomach liars;
he loves the company of those who keep their word.
he loves the company of those who keep their word.
Prudent people don’t flaunt their knowledge;
talkative fools broadcast their silliness.
talkative fools broadcast their silliness.
The diligent find freedom in their work;
the lazy are oppressed by work.
the lazy are oppressed by work.
Worry weighs us down;
a cheerful word picks us up.
a cheerful word picks us up.
A good person survives misfortune,
but a wicked life invites disaster.
but a wicked life invites disaster.
A lazy life is an empty life,
but “early to rise” gets the job done.
but “early to rise” gets the job done.
Good men and women travel right into life;
sin’s detours take you straight to hell.
Walk with the Wisesin’s detours take you straight to hell.
013
Intelligent children listen to their parents;
foolish children do their own thing.
foolish children do their own thing.
The good acquire a taste for helpful conversation;
bullies push and shove their way through life.
bullies push and shove their way through life.
Careful words make for a careful life;
careless talk may ruin everything.
careless talk may ruin everything.
Indolence wants it all and gets nothing;
the energetic have something to show for their lives.
the energetic have something to show for their lives.
A good person hates false talk;
a bad person wallows in gibberish.
a bad person wallows in gibberish.
A God-loyal life keeps you on track;
sin dumps the wicked in the ditch.
sin dumps the wicked in the ditch.
A pretentious, showy life is an empty life;
a plain and simple life is a full life.
a plain and simple life is a full life.
The rich can be sued for everything they have,
but the poor are free of such threats.
but the poor are free of such threats.
The lives of good people are brightly lit streets;
the lives of the wicked are dark alleys.
the lives of the wicked are dark alleys.
Arrogant know-it-alls stir up discord,
but wise men and women listen to each other’s counsel.
but wise men and women listen to each other’s counsel.
Easy come, easy go,
but steady diligence pays off.
but steady diligence pays off.
Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick,
but a sudden good break can turn life around.
but a sudden good break can turn life around.
Ignore the Word and suffer;
honor God’s commands and grow rich.
honor God’s commands and grow rich.
The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
so, no more drinking from death-tainted wells!
so, no more drinking from death-tainted wells!
Sound thinking makes for gracious living,
but liars walk a rough road.
but liars walk a rough road.
A commonsense person
lives
good sense;
fools litter the country with silliness.
lives
good sense;
fools litter the country with silliness.
Irresponsible talk makes a real mess of things,
but a reliable reporter is a healing presence.
but a reliable reporter is a healing presence.
Refuse discipline and end up homeless;
embrace correction and live an honored life.
embrace correction and live an honored life.
Souls who follow their hearts thrive;
fools bent on evil despise matters of soul.
fools bent on evil despise matters of soul.
Become wise by walking with the wise;
hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.
hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.
Disaster entraps sinners,
but God-loyal people get a good life.
but God-loyal people get a good life.
A good life gets passed on to the grandchildren;
ill-gotten wealth ends up with good people.
ill-gotten wealth ends up with good people.
Banks foreclose on the farms of the poor,
or else the poor lose their shirts to crooked lawyers.
or else the poor lose their shirts to crooked lawyers.
A refusal to correct is a refusal to love;
love your children by disciplining them.
love your children by disciplining them.
An appetite for good brings much satisfaction,
but the belly of the wicked always wants more.
A Way That Leads to Hellbut the belly of the wicked always wants more.
014
Lady Wisdom builds a lovely home;
Sir Fool comes along and tears it down brick by brick.
Sir Fool comes along and tears it down brick by brick.
An honest life shows respect for GOD;
a degenerate life is a slap in his face.
a degenerate life is a slap in his face.
Frivolous talk provokes a derisive smile;
wise speech evokes nothing but respect.
wise speech evokes nothing but respect.
No cattle, no crops;
a good harvest requires a strong ox for the plow.
a good harvest requires a strong ox for the plow.
A true witness never lies;
a false witness makes a business of it.
a false witness makes a business of it.
Cynics look high and low for wisdom—and never find it;
the open-minded find it right on their doorstep!
the open-minded find it right on their doorstep!
Escape quickly from the company of fools;
they’re a waste of your time, a waste of your words.
they’re a waste of your time, a waste of your words.
The wisdom of the wise keeps life on track;
the foolishness of fools lands them in the ditch.
the foolishness of fools lands them in the ditch.
The stupid ridicule right and wrong,
but a moral life is a favored life.
but a moral life is a favored life.
The person who shuns the bitter moments of friends
will be an outsider at their celebrations.
will be an outsider at their celebrations.
Lives of careless wrongdoing are tumbledown shacks;
holy living builds soaring cathedrals.
holy living builds soaring cathedrals.
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