The Message Remix (190 page)
Authors: Eugene H. Peterson
018
Loners who care only for themselves
spit on the common good.
spit on the common good.
Fools care nothing for thoughtful discourse;
all they do is run off at the mouth.
all they do is run off at the mouth.
When wickedness arrives, shame’s not far behind;
contempt for life is contemptible.
contempt for life is contemptible.
Many words rush along like rivers in flood,
but deep wisdom flows up from artesian springs.
but deep wisdom flows up from artesian springs.
It’s not right to go easy on the guilty,
or come down hard on the innocent.
or come down hard on the innocent.
The words of a fool start fights;
do him a favor and gag him.
do him a favor and gag him.
Fools are undone by their big mouths;
their souls are crushed by their words.
their souls are crushed by their words.
Listening to gossip is like eating cheap candy;
do you really want junk like that in your belly?
do you really want junk like that in your belly?
Slack habits and sloppy work
are as bad as vandalism.
are as bad as vandalism.
GOD’s name is a place of protection—
good people can run there and be safe.
good people can run there and be safe.
The rich think their wealth protects them;
they imagine themselves safe behind it.
they imagine themselves safe behind it.
Pride first, then the crash,
but humility is precursor to honor.
but humility is precursor to honor.
Answering before listening
is both stupid and rude.
is both stupid and rude.
A healthy spirit conquers adversity,
but what can you do when the spirit is crushed?
but what can you do when the spirit is crushed?
Wise men and women are always learning,
always listening for fresh insights.
always listening for fresh insights.
A gift gets attention;
it buys the attention of eminent people.
it buys the attention of eminent people.
The first speech in a court case is always convincing—
until the cross-examination starts!
until the cross-examination starts!
You may have to draw straws
when faced with a tough decision.
when faced with a tough decision.
Do a favor and win a friend forever;
nothing can untie that bond.
nothing can untie that bond.
Words satisfy the mind as much as fruit does the stomach;
good talk is as gratifying as a good harvest.
good talk is as gratifying as a good harvest.
Words kill, words give life;
they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.
they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.
Find a good spouse, you find a good life—
and even more: the favor of GOD!
and even more: the favor of GOD!
The poor speak in soft supplications;
the rich bark out answers.
the rich bark out answers.
Friends come and friends go,
but a true friend sticks by you like family.
If You Quit Listeningbut a true friend sticks by you like family.
019
Better to be poor and honest
than a rich person no one can trust.
than a rich person no one can trust.
Ignorant zeal is worthless;
haste makes waste.
haste makes waste.
People ruin their lives by their own stupidity,
so why does GOD always get blamed?
so why does GOD always get blamed?
Wealth attracts friends as honey draws flies,
but poor people are avoided like a plague.
but poor people are avoided like a plague.
Perjury won’t go unpunished.
Would you let a liar go free?
Would you let a liar go free?
Lots of people flock around a generous person;
everyone’s a friend to the philanthropist.
everyone’s a friend to the philanthropist.
When you’re down on your luck, even your family avoids you—
yes, even your best friends wish you’d get lost.
yes, even your best friends wish you’d get lost.
If they see you coming, they look the other way—
out of sight, out of mind.
out of sight, out of mind.
Grow a wise heart—you’ll do yourself a favor;
keep a clear head—you’ll find a good life.
keep a clear head—you’ll find a good life.
The person who tells lies gets caught;
the person who spreads rumors is ruined.
the person who spreads rumors is ruined.
Blockheads shouldn’t live on easy street
any more than workers should give orders to their boss.
any more than workers should give orders to their boss.
Smart people know how to hold their tongue;
their grandeur is to forgive and forget.
their grandeur is to forgive and forget.
Mean-tempered leaders are like mad dogs;
the good-natured are like fresh morning dew.
the good-natured are like fresh morning dew.
A parent is worn to a frazzle by a stupid child;
a nagging spouse is a leaky faucet.
a nagging spouse is a leaky faucet.
House and land are handed down from parents,
but a congenial spouse comes straight from GOD.
but a congenial spouse comes straight from GOD.
Life collapses on loafers;
lazybones go hungry.
lazybones go hungry.
Keep the rules and keep your life;
careless living kills.
careless living kills.
Mercy to the needy is a loan to GOD,
and GOD pays back those loans in full.
and GOD pays back those loans in full.
Discipline your children while you still have the chance;
indulging them destroys them.
indulging them destroys them.
Let angry people endure the backlash of their own anger;
if you try to make it better, you’ll only make it worse.
if you try to make it better, you’ll only make it worse.
Take good counsel and accept correction—
that’s the way to live wisely and well.
that’s the way to live wisely and well.
We humans keep brainstorming options and plans,
but GOD’s purpose prevails.
but GOD’s purpose prevails.
It’s only human to want to make a buck,
but it’s better to be poor than a liar.
but it’s better to be poor than a liar.
Fear-of-GOD is life itself,
a full life, and serene—no nasty surprises.
a full life, and serene—no nasty surprises.
Some people dig a fork into the pie
but are too lazy to raise it to their mouth.
but are too lazy to raise it to their mouth.
Punish the insolent—make an example of them.
Who knows? Somebody might learn a good lesson.
Who knows? Somebody might learn a good lesson.
Kids who lash out against their parents
are an embarrassment and disgrace.
are an embarrassment and disgrace.
If you quit listening, dear child, and strike off on your own,
you’ll soon be out of your depth.
you’ll soon be out of your depth.
An unprincipled witness desecrates justice;
the mouths of the wicked spew malice.
the mouths of the wicked spew malice.
The irreverent have to learn reverence the hard way;
only a slap in the face brings fools to attention.
Deep Water in the Heartonly a slap in the face brings fools to attention.
020
Wine makes you mean, beer makes you quarrelsome—
a staggering drunk is not much fun.
a staggering drunk is not much fun.
Quick-tempered leaders are like mad dogs—
cross them and they bite your head off.
cross them and they bite your head off.
It’s a mark of good character to avert quarrels,
but fools love to pick fights.
but fools love to pick fights.
A farmer too lazy to plant in the spring
has nothing to harvest in the fall.
has nothing to harvest in the fall.
Knowing what is right is like deep water in the heart;
a wise person draws from the well within.
a wise person draws from the well within.
Lots of people claim to be loyal and loving,
but where on earth can you find one?
but where on earth can you find one?
God-loyal people, living honest lives,
make it much easier for their children.
make it much easier for their children.
Leaders who know their business and care
keep a sharp eye out for the shoddy and cheap,
keep a sharp eye out for the shoddy and cheap,
For who among us can be trusted
to be always diligent and honest?
to be always diligent and honest?
Switching price tags and padding the expense account
are two things GOD hates.
are two things GOD hates.
Young people eventually reveal by their actions
if their motives are on the up and up.
Drinking from the Chalice of Knowledgeif their motives are on the up and up.
Ears that hear and eyes that see—
we get our basic equipment from GOD!
we get our basic equipment from GOD!
Don’t be too fond of sleep; you’ll end up in the poorhouse.
Wake up and get up; then there’ll be food on the table.
Wake up and get up; then there’ll be food on the table.
The shopper says, “That’s junk—I’ll take it off your hands,”
then goes off boasting of the bargain.
then goes off boasting of the bargain.
Drinking from the beautiful chalice of knowledge
is better than adorning oneself with gold and rare gems.
is better than adorning oneself with gold and rare gems.
Hold tight to collateral on any loan to a stranger;
beware of accepting what a transient has pawned.
beware of accepting what a transient has pawned.
Stolen bread tastes sweet,
but soon your mouth is full of gravel.
but soon your mouth is full of gravel.
Form your purpose by asking for counsel,
then carry it out using all the help you can get.
then carry it out using all the help you can get.
Gossips can’t keep secrets,
so never confide in blabbermouths.
so never confide in blabbermouths.
Anyone who curses father and mother
extinguishes light and exists benighted.
The Very Steps We Takeextinguishes light and exists benighted.
A bonanza at the beginning
is no guarantee of blessing at the end.
is no guarantee of blessing at the end.
Don’t ever say, “I’ll get you for that!”
Wait for GOD; he’ll settle the score.
Wait for GOD; he’ll settle the score.
GOD hates cheating in the marketplace;
rigged scales are an outrage.
rigged scales are an outrage.
The very steps we take come from GOD;
otherwise how would we know where we’re going?
otherwise how would we know where we’re going?
An impulsive vow is a trap;
later you’ll wish you could get out of it.
later you’ll wish you could get out of it.
After careful scrutiny, a wise leader
makes a clean sweep of rebels and dolts.
makes a clean sweep of rebels and dolts.
GOD is in charge of human life,
watching and examining us inside and out.
watching and examining us inside and out.
Love and truth form a good leader;
sound leadership is founded on loving integrity.
sound leadership is founded on loving integrity.
Youth may be admired for vigor,
but gray hair gives prestige to old age.
but gray hair gives prestige to old age.
A good thrashing purges evil;
punishment goes deep within us.
God Examines Our Motivespunishment goes deep within us.
021
Good leadership is a channel of water controlled by GOD;
he directs it to whatever ends he chooses.
he directs it to whatever ends he chooses.
We justify our actions by appearances;
GOD examines our motives.
GOD examines our motives.
Clean living before God and justice with our neighbors
mean far more to GOD than religious performance.
mean far more to GOD than religious performance.
Arrogance and pride—distinguishing marks in the wicked—
are just plain sin.
are just plain sin.
Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run;
hurry and scurry puts you further behind.
hurry and scurry puts you further behind.
Make it to the top by lying and cheating;
get paid with smoke and a promotion—to death!
get paid with smoke and a promotion—to death!
The wicked get buried alive by their loot
because they refuse to use it to help others.
because they refuse to use it to help others.
Mixed motives twist life into tangles;
pure motives take you straight down the road.
Do Your Best, Prepare for the Worstpure motives take you straight down the road.
Better to live alone in a tumbledown shack
than share a mansion with a nagging spouse.
than share a mansion with a nagging spouse.
Wicked souls love to make trouble;
they feel nothing for friends and neighbors.
they feel nothing for friends and neighbors.
Simpletons only learn the hard way,
but the wise learn by listening.
but the wise learn by listening.
A God-loyal person will see right through the wicked
and undo the evil they’ve planned.
and undo the evil they’ve planned.
If you stop your ears to the cries of the poor,
your cries will go unheard, unanswered.
your cries will go unheard, unanswered.
A quietly given gift soothes an irritable person;
a heartfelt present cools a hot temper.
a heartfelt present cools a hot temper.
Good people celebrate when justice triumphs,
but for the workers of evil it’s a bad day.
but for the workers of evil it’s a bad day.
Whoever wanders off the straight and narrow
ends up in a congregation of ghosts.
ends up in a congregation of ghosts.
You’re addicted to thrills? What an empty life!
The pursuit of pleasure is never satisfied.
The pursuit of pleasure is never satisfied.
What a bad person plots against the good, boomerangs;
the plotter gets it in the end.
the plotter gets it in the end.
Better to live in a tent in the wild
than with a cross and petulant spouse.
than with a cross and petulant spouse.
Valuables are safe in a wise person’s home;
fools put it all out for yard sales.
fools put it all out for yard sales.
Whoever goes hunting for what is right and kind
finds life itself—
glorious
life!
finds life itself—
glorious
life!
One sage entered a whole city of armed soldiers—
their trusted defenses fell to pieces!
their trusted defenses fell to pieces!
Watch your words and hold your tongue;
you’ll save yourself a lot of grief.
you’ll save yourself a lot of grief.
You know their names—Brash, Impudent, Blasphemer—
intemperate hotheads, every one.
intemperate hotheads, every one.
Lazy people finally die of hunger
because they won’t get up and go to work.
because they won’t get up and go to work.
Sinners are always wanting what they don’t have;
the God-loyal are always giving what they do have.
the God-loyal are always giving what they do have.
Religious performance by the wicked stinks;
it’s even worse when they use it to get ahead.
it’s even worse when they use it to get ahead.
A lying witness is unconvincing;
a person who speaks truth is respected.
a person who speaks truth is respected.
Unscrupulous people fake it a lot;
honest people are sure of their steps.
honest people are sure of their steps.
Nothing clever, nothing conceived, nothing contrived,
can get the better of GOD.
can get the better of GOD.
Do your best, prepare for the worst—
then trust GOD to bring victory.
The Cure Comes Through Disciplinethen trust GOD to bring victory.
022
A sterling reputation is better than striking it rich;
a gracious spirit is better than money in the bank.
a gracious spirit is better than money in the bank.
The rich and the poor shake hands as equals—
GOD made them both!
GOD made them both!
A prudent person sees trouble coming and ducks;
a simpleton walks in blindly and is clobbered.
a simpleton walks in blindly and is clobbered.
The payoff for meekness and Fear-of-GOD
is plenty and honor and a satisfying life.
is plenty and honor and a satisfying life.
The perverse travel a dangerous road, potholed and mud-slick;
if you know what’s good for you, stay clear of it.
if you know what’s good for you, stay clear of it.
Point your kids in the right direction—
when they’re old they won’t be lost.
when they’re old they won’t be lost.
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