West Town Community Church Divorcecare

Tim Stewart

“Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.” Mother Teresa

How wonderful is the gift of this day. Thank you! Thank you for the privilege to spread gladness, to fill the air with the aroma of thanksgiving. Thank you for love’s dynamic, and the positive energy that flows in and through me when I walk in it.

“Serve the Lord with gladness, enter His presence with thanksgiving.” Ps.100 Conversations Within” ts 8/17/2024

Proverbs 30

The Words of Agur Ben Yakeh
God? Who Needs Him?

1-2 The skeptic swore, “There is no God!
No God!—I can do anything I want!

I’m more animal than human;
so-called human intelligence escapes me.

3-4 “I flunked ‘wisdom.’
I see no evidence of a holy God.

Has anyone ever seen Anyone
climb into Heaven and take charge?
grab the winds and control them?
gather the rains in his bucket?
stake out the ends of the earth?

Just tell me his name, tell me the names of his sons.
Come on now—tell me!”

5-6 The believer replied, “Every promise of God proves true;
he protects everyone who runs to him for help.

So don’t second-guess him;
he might take you to task and show up your lies.”

7-9 And then he prayed, “God, I’m asking for two things
before I die; don’t refuse me—

Banish lies from my lips
and liars from my presence.

Give me enough food to live on,
neither too much nor too little.

If I’m too full, I might get independent,
saying, ‘God? Who needs him?’

If I’m poor, I might steal
and dishonor the name of my God.”

* * *

10 Don’t blow the whistle on your fellow workers
behind their backs;

They’ll accuse you of being underhanded,
and then you’ll be the guilty one!

11 Don’t curse your father
or fail to bless your mother.

12 Don’t imagine yourself to be quite presentable
when you haven’t had a bath in weeks.

13 Don’t be stuck-up
and think you’re better than everyone else.

14 Don’t be greedy,
merciless and cruel as wolves,

Tearing into the poor and feasting on them,
shredding the needy to pieces only to discard them.

15-16 A freeloader has twin daughters
named “Gimme” and “Gimme more.”

Four Insatiables

Three things are never satisfied,
no, there are four that never say, “That’s enough, thank you!”—
hell,
a barren womb,
a parched land,
a forest fire.

* * *

17 An eye that disdains a father
and despises a mother—
that eye will be plucked out by wild vultures
and consumed by young eagles.

Four Mysteries

18-19 Three things amaze me,
no, four things I’ll never understand—
how an eagle flies so high in the sky,
how a snake glides over a rock,
how a ship navigates the ocean,
why adolescents act the way they do.

* * *

20 Here’s how a pr******te operates:
she has s*x with her client,

Takes a bath,
then asks, “Who’s next?”

Four Intolerables

21-23 Three things are too much for even the earth to bear,
yes, four things shake its foundations—
when the janitor becomes the boss,
when a fool gets rich,
when a pr******te is voted “woman of the year,”
when a “girlfriend” replaces a faithful wife.

Four Small Wonders

24-28 There are four small creatures,
wisest of the wise they are—
ants—frail as they are,
get plenty of food in for the winter;
marmots—vulnerable as they are,
manage to arrange for rock-solid homes;
locusts—leaderless insects,
yet they strip the field like an army regiment;
lizards—easy enough to catch,
but they sneak past vigilant palace guards.

Four Dignitaries

29-31 There are three solemn dignitaries,
four that are impressive in their bearing—
a lion, king of the beasts, deferring to none;
a rooster, proud and strutting;
a billy goat;
a head of state in stately procession.

* * *

32-33 If you’re dumb enough to call attention to yourself
by offending people and making rude gestures,

Don’t be surprised if someone bloodies your nose.
Churned milk turns into butter;
riled emotions turn into fist fights.

THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of NavPress. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.

Proverbs 29

If People Can’t See What God Is Doing

1 For people who hate discipline
and only get more stubborn,

There’ll come a day when life tumbles in and they break,
but by then it’ll be too late to help them.

2 When good people run things, everyone is glad,
but when the ruler is bad, everyone groans.

3 If you love wisdom, you’ll delight your parents,
but you’ll destroy their trust if you run with pr******tes.

4 A leader of good judgment gives stability;
an exploiting leader leaves a trail of waste.

5 A flattering neighbor is up to no good;
he’s probably planning to take advantage of you.

6 Evil people fall into their own traps;
good people run the other way, glad to escape.

7 The good-hearted understand what it’s like to be poor;
the hardhearted haven’t the faintest idea.

8 A gang of cynics can upset a whole city;
a group of sages can calm everyone down.

9 A sage trying to work things out with a fool
gets only scorn and sarcasm for his trouble.

10 Murderers hate honest people;
moral folks encourage them.

11 A fool lets it all hang out;
a sage quietly mulls it over.

12 When a leader listens to malicious gossip,
all the workers get infected with evil.

13 The poor and their abusers have at least something in common:
they can both see—their sight, God’s gift!

14 Leadership gains authority and respect
when the voiceless poor are treated fairly.

15 Wise discipline imparts wisdom;
spoiled adolescents embarrass their parents.

16 When degenerates take charge, crime runs wild,
but the righteous will eventually observe their collapse.

17 Discipline your children; you’ll be glad you did—
they’ll turn out delightful to live with.

18 If people can’t see what God is doing,
they stumble all over themselves;

But when they attend to what he reveals,
they are most blessed.

19 It takes more than talk to keep workers in line;
mere words go in one ear and out the other.

20 Observe the people who always talk before they think—
even simpletons are better off than they are.

21 If you let people treat you like a doormat,
you’ll be quite forgotten in the end.

22 Angry people stir up a lot of discord;
the intemperate stir up trouble.

23 Pride lands you flat on your face;
humility prepares you for honors.

24 Befriend an outlaw
and become an enemy to yourself.

When the victims cry out,
you’ll be included in their curses
if you’re a coward to their cause in court.

25 The fear of human opinion disables;
trusting in God protects you from that.

26 Everyone tries to get help from the leader,
but only God will give us justice.

27 Good people can’t stand the sight of deliberate evil;
the wicked can’t stand the sight of well-chosen goodness.

THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of NavPress. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.

Tim Stewart

Work your problems, don’t worry about them.

One thing I appreciate about my wife, among many, is that when something breaks or quits working, she doesn’t complain about it, she just immediately figures out how to fix it or make do till it can be. Work your problems, don’t let your problems work you.

“All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” Prov.14 Conversations Within” ts 8/16/2024

Proverbs 28

If You Desert God’s Law

1 The wicked are edgy with guilt, ready to run off
even when no one’s after them;

Honest people are relaxed and confident,
bold as lions.

2 When the country is in chaos,
everybody has a plan to fix it—

But it takes a leader of real understanding
to straighten things out.

3 The wicked who oppress the poor
are like a hailstorm that beats down the harvest.

4 If you desert God’s law, you’re free to embrace depravity;
if you love God’s law, you fight for it tooth and nail.

5 Justice makes no sense to the evilminded;
those who seek God know it inside and out.

6 It’s better to be poor and direct
than rich and crooked.

7 Practice God’s law—get a reputation for wisdom;
hang out with a loose crowd—embarrass your family.

8 Get as rich as you want
through cheating and extortion,

But eventually some friend of the poor
is going to give it all back to them.

9 God has no use for the prayers
of the people who won’t listen to him.

10 Lead good people down a wrong path
and you’ll come to a bad end;
do good and you’ll be rewarded for it.

11 The rich think they know it all,
but the poor can see right through them.

12 When good people are promoted, everything is great,
but when the bad are in charge, watch out!

13 You can’t whitewash your sins and get by with it;
you find mercy by admitting and leaving them.

14 A tenderhearted person lives a blessed life;
a hardhearted person lives a hard life.

15 Lions roar and bears charge—
and the wicked lord it over the poor.

16 Among leaders who lack insight, abuse abounds,
but for one who hates corruption, the future is bright.

17 A murderer haunted by guilt
is doomed—there’s no helping him.

18 Walk straight—live well and be saved;
a devious life is a doomed life.

Doing Great Harm in Seemingly Harmless Ways

19 Work your garden—you’ll end up with plenty of food;
play and party—you’ll end up with an empty plate.

20 Committed and persistent work pays off;
get-rich-quick schemes are ripoffs.

21 Playing favorites is always a bad thing;
you can do great harm in seemingly harmless ways.

22 A miser in a hurry to get rich
doesn’t know that he’ll end up broke.

23 In the end, serious reprimand is appreciated
far more than bootlicking flattery.

24 Anyone who robs father and mother
and says, “So, what’s wrong with that?”
is worse than a pirate.

25 A grasping person stirs up trouble,
but trust in God brings a sense of well-being.

26 If you think you know it all, you’re a fool for sure;
real survivors learn wisdom from others.

27 Be generous to the poor—you’ll never go hungry;
shut your eyes to their needs, and run a gauntlet of curses.

28 When corruption takes over, good people go underground,
but when the crooks are thrown out, it’s safe to come out.

THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of NavPress. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.

Proverbs 27

You Don’t Know Tomorrow

1 Don’t brashly announce what you’re going to do tomorrow;
you don’t know the first thing about tomorrow.

2 Don’t call attention to yourself;
let others do that for you.

3 Carrying a log across your shoulders
while you’re hefting a boulder with your arms

Is nothing compared to the burden
of putting up with a fool.

4 We’re blasted by anger and swamped by rage,
but who can survive jealousy?

5 A spoken reprimand is better
than approval that’s never expressed.

6 The wounds from a lover are worth it;
kisses from an enemy do you in.

7 When you’ve stuffed yourself, you refuse dessert;
when you’re starved, you could eat a horse.

8 People who won’t settle down, wandering hither and yon,
are like restless birds, flitting to and fro.

9 Just as lotions and fragrance give sensual delight,
a sweet friendship refreshes the soul.

10 Don’t leave your friends or your parents’ friends
and run home to your family when things get rough;

Better a nearby friend
than a distant family.

11 Become wise, dear child, and make me happy;
then nothing the world throws my way will upset me.

12 A prudent person sees trouble coming and ducks;
a simpleton walks in blindly and is clobbered.

13 Hold tight to collateral on any loan to a stranger;
be wary of accepting what a transient has pawned.

14 If you wake your friend in the early morning
by shouting “Rise and shine!”

It will sound to him
more like a curse than a blessing.

15-16 A nagging spouse is like
the drip, drip, drip of a leaky faucet;

You can’t turn it off,
and you can’t get away from it.

Your Face Mirrors Your Heart

17 You use steel to sharpen steel,
and one friend sharpens another.

18 If you care for your orchard, you’ll enjoy its fruit;
if you honor your boss, you’ll be honored.

19 Just as water mirrors your face,
so your face mirrors your heart.

20 Hell has a voracious appetite,
and lust just never quits.

21 The purity of silver and gold is tested
by putting them in the fire;

The purity of human hearts is tested
by giving them a little fame.

22 Pound on a fool all you like—
you can’t pound out foolishness.

23-27 Know your sheep by name;
carefully attend to your flocks;

(Don’t take them for granted;
possessions don’t last forever, you know.)

And then, when the crops are in
and the harvest is stored in the barns,

You can knit sweaters from lambs’ wool,
and sell your goats for a profit;

There will be plenty of milk and meat
to last your family through the winter.

THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of NavPress. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.

Tim Stewart

“Live your life, and forget your age.” Norman Vincent Peale

I am fascinated by the transformation of aging. To look at a photo of someone in their youth and then in old age truly staggers me. I want God to shape my thoughts about this as I want Him to shape my thoughts about everything. The quote above and the verse below seem to point in the same direction.

“Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” 2Cor.4.16 Conversations Within” ts 8/14/2024

Proverbs 24

Intelligence Outranks Muscle

19

1-2 Don’t envy bad people;
don’t even want to be around them.

All they think about is causing a disturbance;
all they talk about is making trouble.

20

3-4 It takes wisdom to build a house,
and understanding to set it on a firm foundation;

It takes knowledge to furnish its rooms
with fine furniture and beautiful draperies.

21

5-6 It’s better to be wise than strong;
intelligence outranks muscle any day.

Strategic planning is the key to warfare;
to win, you need a lot of good counsel.

22

7 Wise conversation is way over the head of fools;
in a serious discussion they haven’t a clue.

23

8-9 The person who’s always cooking up some evil
soon gets a reputation as prince of rogues.

Fools incubate sin;
cynics desecrate beauty.

Rescue the Perishing

24

10 If you fall to pieces in a crisis,
there wasn’t much to you in the first place.

25

11-12 Rescue the perishing;
don’t hesitate to step in and help.

If you say, “Hey, that’s none of my business,”
will that get you off the hook?

Someone is watching you closely, you know—
Someone not impressed with weak excuses.

26

13-14 Eat honey, dear child—it’s good for you—
and delicacies that melt in your mouth.

Likewise knowledge,
and wisdom for your soul—

Get that and your future’s secured,
your hope is on solid rock.

27

15-16 Don’t interfere with good people’s lives;
don’t try to get the best of them.

No matter how many times you trip them up,
God-loyal people don’t stay down long;

Soon they’re up on their feet,
while the wicked end up flat on their faces.

28

17-18 Don’t laugh when your enemy falls;
don’t gloat over his collapse.

God might see, and become very provoked,
and then take pity on his plight.

29

19-20 Don’t bother your head with braggarts
or wish you could succeed like the wicked.

Those people have no future at all;
they’re headed down a dead-end street.

30

21-22 Fear God, dear child—respect your leaders;
don’t be defiant or mutinous.

Without warning your life can turn upside down,
and who knows how or when it might happen?

More Sayings of the Wise
An Honest Answer

23 It’s wrong, very wrong,
to go along with injustice.

24-25 Whoever whitewashes the wicked
gets a black mark in the history books,

But whoever exposes the wicked
will be thanked and rewarded.

26 An honest answer
is like a warm hug.

27 First plant your fields;
then build your barn.

28-29 Don’t talk about your neighbors behind their backs—
no slander or gossip, please.

Don’t say to anyone, “I’ll get back at you for what you did to me.
I’ll make you pay for what you did!”

30-34 One day I walked by the field of an old lazybones,
and then passed the vineyard of a slob;

They were overgrown with weeds,
thick with thistles, all the fences broken down.

I took a long look and pondered what I saw;
the fields preached me a sermon and I listened:

“A nap here, a nap there, a day off here, a day off there,
sit back, take it easy—do you know what comes next?

Just this: You can look forward to a dirt-poor life,
with poverty as your permanent houseguest!”

THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of NavPress. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.

Tim Stewart

“No man is free who cannot command himself.” Pythagoras

The value of self control isn’t found in the freedom to do what we want when we want, but to possess the power to restrain our desires when they run contrary to what is good, healthy, right and true.

“All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.” 1Cor.6.12 Conversations Within” ts 8/11/2024

Tim Stewart

Choose the superior delights of joy.

We are instructed to look at trials joyfully. The reason is that with the proper attitude our faith, which has great value, is made stronger and better. Joy then, is both an attitude we can adopt and the resulting reward of walking that way. Joy can be chosen by telling ourselves the truth, giving thanks for it, and acting on it.

"Consider it pure joy when you encounter various trials, for the testing of your faith produces endurance" James 1 Conversations Within” ts 8/10/2024

Tim Stewart

“The morning breeze has secrets to tell you. Don’t go back to sleep.” Rumi

O gentle breeze, your refreshment is something I cannot ignore. When you brush my face I am compelled to turn towards you, close my eyes and give thanks. You remind me so much of all the goodness that God brings to my fallen world.

“In Him we live and move and have our being.” Acts 17.28 Conversations Within” ts 8/9/2024

Proverbs 22

The Cure Comes Through Discipline

1 A sterling reputation is better than striking it rich;
a gracious spirit is better than money in the bank.

2 The rich and the poor shake hands as equals—
God made them both!

3 A prudent person sees trouble coming and ducks;
a simpleton walks in blindly and is clobbered.

4 The payoff for meekness and Fear-of-God
is plenty and honor and a satisfying life.

5 The perverse travel a dangerous road, potholed and mud-slick;
if you know what’s good for you, stay clear of it.

6 Point your kids in the right direction—
when they’re old they won’t be lost.

7 The poor are always ruled over by the rich,
so don’t borrow and put yourself under their power.

8 Whoever sows sin reaps weeds,
and bullying anger sputters into nothing.

9 Generous hands are blessed hands
because they give bread to the poor.

10 Kick out the troublemakers and things will quiet down;
you need a break from bickering and griping!

11 God loves the pure-hearted and well-spoken;
good leaders also delight in their friendship.

12 God guards knowledge with a passion,
but he’ll have nothing to do with deception.

13 The loafer says, “There’s a lion on the loose!
If I go out I’ll be eaten alive!”

14 The mouth of a pr******te is a bottomless pit;
you’ll fall in that pit if you’re on the outs with God.

15 Young people are prone to foolishness and fads;
the cure comes through tough-minded discipline.

16 Exploit the poor or glad-hand the rich—whichever,
you’ll end up the poorer for it.

The Thirty Precepts of the Sages
Don’t Move Back the Boundary Lines

17-21 Listen carefully to my wisdom;
take to heart what I can teach you.

You’ll treasure its sweetness deep within;
you’ll give it bold expression in your speech.

To make sure your foundation is trust in God,
I’m laying it all out right now just for you.

I’m giving you thirty sterling principles—
tested guidelines to live by.

Believe me—these are truths that work,
and will keep you accountable
to those who sent you.

1

22-23 Don’t walk on the poor just because they’re poor,
and don’t use your position to crush the weak,

Because God will come to their defense;
the life you took, he’ll take from you and give back to them.

2

24-25 Don’t hang out with angry people;
don’t keep company with hotheads.

Bad temper is contagious—
don’t get infected.

3

26-27 Don’t gamble on the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow,
pawning your house against a lucky chance.

The time will come when you have to pay up;
you’ll be left with nothing but the shirt on your back.

4

28 Don’t stealthily move back the boundary lines
staked out long ago by your ancestors.

5

29 Observe people who are good at their work—
skilled workers are always in demand and admired;
they don’t take a backseat to anyone.

THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of NavPress. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.

Tim Stewart

“And even though this world needs so much more, There's so much to be thankful for.” Josh Groban

It could be better. It couldn’t be better. I have said and thought both. Even so, I am grateful that I can easily find a reason to be grateful all of the time.

“In everything give thanks.” Conversations Within” ts 8/8/2024

Proverbs 20

Deep Water in the Heart

1 Wine makes you mean, beer makes you quarrelsome—
a staggering drunk is not much fun.

2 Quick-tempered leaders are like mad dogs—
cross them and they bite your head off.

3 It’s a mark of good character to avert quarrels,
but fools love to pick fights.

4 A farmer too lazy to plant in the spring
has nothing to harvest in the fall.

5 Knowing what is right is like deep water in the heart;
a wise person draws from the well within.

6 Lots of people claim to be loyal and loving,
but where on earth can you find one?

7 God-loyal people, living honest lives,
make it much easier for their children.

8-9 Leaders who know their business and care
keep a sharp eye out for the shoddy and cheap,

For who among us can be trusted
to be always diligent and honest?

10 Switching price tags and padding the expense account
are two things God hates.

11 Young people eventually reveal by their actions
if their motives are on the up and up.

Drinking from the Chalice of Knowledge

12 Ears that hear and eyes that see—
we get our basic equipment from God!

13 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.

14 The shopper says, “That’s junk—I’ll take it off your hands,”
then goes off boasting of the bargain.

15 Drinking from the beautiful chalice of knowledge
is better than adorning oneself with gold and rare gems.

16 Hold tight to collateral on any loan to a stranger;
beware of accepting what a transient has pawned.

17 Stolen bread tastes sweet,
but soon your mouth is full of gravel.

18 Form your purpose by asking for counsel,
then carry it out using all the help you can get.

19 Gossips can’t keep secrets,
so never confide in blabbermouths.

20 Anyone who curses father and mother
extinguishes light and exists benighted.

The Very Steps We Take

21 A bonanza at the beginning
is no guarantee of blessing at the end.

22 Don’t ever say, “I’ll get you for that!”
Wait for God; he’ll settle the score.

23 God hates cheating in the marketplace;
rigged scales are an outrage.

24 The very steps we take come from God;
otherwise how would we know where we’re going?

25 An impulsive vow is a trap;
later you’ll wish you could get out of it.

26 After careful scrutiny, a wise leader
makes a clean sweep of rebels and dolts.

27 God is in charge of human life,
watching and examining us inside and out.

28 Love and truth form a good leader;
sound leadership is founded on loving integrity.

29 Youth may be admired for vigor,
but gray hair gives prestige to old age.

30 A good thrashing purges evil;
punishment goes deep within us.

THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of NavPress. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.

Tim Stewart

“There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual conversation with God.” Brother Lawrence

I remember, as a young Christian, waking to God’s presence. There was no such thing as driving alone in the car. It seemed only natural to talk with Him. Indeed conversing with Him, prayer as we call it, is the simplest way I know of “practicing His presence.” I have to remind myself that prayer is not only talking, but listening.

“In Him we live and move and have our being.” Acts 17.28 Conversations Within” ts 8/7/2024

Proverbs 19

If You Quit Listening

1 Better to be poor and honest
than a rich person no one can trust.

2 Ignorant zeal is worthless;
haste makes waste.

3 People ruin their lives by their own stupidity,
so why does God always get blamed?

4 Wealth attracts friends as honey draws flies,
but poor people are avoided like a plague.

5 Perjury won’t go unpunished.
Would you let a liar go free?

6 Lots of people flock around a generous person;
everyone’s a friend to the philanthropist.

7 When you’re down on your luck, even your family avoids you—
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.

8 Grow a wise heart—you’ll do yourself a favor;
keep a clear head—you’ll find a good life.

9 The person who tells lies gets caught;
the person who spreads rumors is ruined.

10 Blockheads shouldn’t live on easy street
any more than workers should give orders to their boss.

11 Smart people know how to hold their tongue;
their grandeur is to forgive and forget.

12 Mean-tempered leaders are like mad dogs;
the good-natured are like fresh morning dew.

13 A parent is worn to a frazzle by an irresponsible child;
a nagging spouse is a leaky faucet.

14 House and land are handed down from parents,
but a congenial spouse comes straight from God.

15 Life collapses on loafers;
lazybones go hungry.

16 Keep the rules and keep your life;
careless living kills.

17 Mercy to the needy is a loan to God,
and God pays back those loans in full.

18 Discipline your children while you still have the chance;
indulging them destroys them.

19 Let angry people endure the backlash of their own anger;
if you try to make it better, you’ll only make it worse.

20 Take good counsel and accept correction—
that’s the way to live wisely and well.

21 We humans keep brainstorming options and plans,
but God’s purpose prevails.

22 It’s only human to want to make a buck,
but it’s better to be poor than a liar.

23 Fear-of-God is life itself,
a full life, and serene—no nasty surprises.

24 Some people dig a fork into the pie
but are too lazy to raise it to their mouth.

25 Punish the insolent—make an example of them.
Who knows? Somebody might learn a good lesson.

26 Kids who lash out against their parents
are an embarrassment and disgrace.

27 If you quit listening, dear child, and strike off on your own,
you’ll soon be out of your depth.

28 An unprincipled witness desecrates justice;
the mouths of the wicked spew malice.

29 The irreverent have to learn reverence the hard way;
only a slap in the face brings fools to attention.

THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of NavPress. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.

Proverbs 17

A Whack on the Head of a Fool

1 A meal of bread and water in contented peace
is better than a banquet spiced with quarrels.

2 A wise servant takes charge of an unruly child
and is honored as one of the family.

3 As silver in a crucible and gold in a pan,
so our lives are refined by God.

4 Evil people relish malicious conversation;
the ears of liars itch for dirty gossip.

5 Whoever mocks poor people insults their Creator;
gloating over misfortune is a punishable crime.

6 Old people are distinguished by grandchildren;
children take pride in their parents.

7 We don’t expect eloquence from fools,
nor do we expect lies from our leaders.

8 Receiving a gift is like getting a rare gemstone;
any way you look at it, you see beauty refracted.

9 Overlook an offense and bond a friendship;
fasten on to a slight and—good-bye, friend!

10 A quiet rebuke to a person of good sense
does more than a whack on the head of a fool.

11 Criminals out looking for nothing but trouble
won’t have to wait long—they’ll meet it coming and going!

12 Better to meet a grizzly robbed of her cubs
than a fool hellbent on folly.

13 Those who return evil for good
will meet their own evil returning.

14 The start of a quarrel is like a leak in a dam,
so stop it before it bursts.

15 Whitewashing bad people and throwing mud on good people
are equally abhorrent to God.

16 What’s this? Fools out shopping for wisdom!
They wouldn’t recognize it if they saw it!

One Who Knows Much Says Little

17 Friends love through all kinds of weather,
and families stick together in all kinds of trouble.

18 It’s stupid to try to get something for nothing,
or run up huge bills you can never pay.

19 The person who courts sin marries trouble;
build a wall, invite a burglar.

20 A bad motive can’t achieve a good end;
double-talk brings you double trouble.

21 Having a fool for a child is misery;
it’s no fun being the parent of a dolt.

22 A cheerful disposition is good for your health;
gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.

23 The wicked take bribes under the table;
they show nothing but contempt for justice.

24 The perceptive find wisdom in their own front yard;
fools look for it everywhere but right here.

25 A surly, stupid child is sheer pain to a father,
a bitter pill for a mother to swallow.

26 It’s wrong to penalize good behavior,
or make good citizens pay for the crimes of others.

27 The one who knows much says little;
an understanding person remains calm.

28 Even dunces who keep quiet are thought to be wise;
as long as they keep their mouths shut, they’re smart.

THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of NavPress. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.