‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭10:1‭-‬20‬ ‭MSG‬‬
[1] Dead flies in perfume make it stink, And a little foolishness decomposes much wisdom. [2] Wise thinking leads to right living; Stupid thinking leads to wrong living. [3] Fools on the road have no sense of direction. The way they walk tells the story: “There goes the fool again!” [4] If a ruler loses his temper against you, don’t panic; A calm disposition quiets intemperate rage. * * * [5-7] Here’s a piece of bad business I’ve seen on this earth, An error that can be blamed on whoever is in charge: Immaturity is given a place of prominence, While maturity is made to take a backseat. I’ve seen unproven upstarts riding in style, While experienced veterans are put out to pasture. * * * [8] Caution: The trap you set might catch you. Warning: Your accomplice in crime might double-cross you. [9] Safety first: Quarrying stones is dangerous. Be alert: Felling trees is hazardous. [10] Remember: The duller the ax the harder the work; Use your head: The more brains, the less muscle. [11] If the snake bites before it’s been charmed, What’s the point in then sending for the charmer? * * * [12-13] The words of a wise person are gracious. The talk of a fool self-destructs— He starts out talking nonsense And ends up spouting insanity and evil. [14] Fools talk way too much, Chattering stuff they know nothing about. [15] A decent day’s work so fatigues fools That they can’t find their way back to town. * * * [16-17] Unlucky the land whose king is a young pup, And whose princes party all night. Lucky the land whose king is mature, Where the princes behave themselves And don’t drink themselves silly. * * * [18] A shiftless man lives in a tumbledown shack; A lazy woman ends up with a leaky roof. [19] Laughter and bread go together, And wine gives sparkle to life— But it’s money that makes the world go around. [20] Don’t bad-mouth your leaders, not even under your breath, And don’t abuse your betters, even in the privacy of your home. Loose talk has a way of getting picked up and spread around. Little birds drop the crumbs of your gossip far and wide.

https://bible.com/bible/97/ecc.10.1.MSG

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭9:1‭-‬18‬ ‭MSG‬‬
[1-3] Well, I took all this in and thought it through, inside and out. Here’s what I understood: The good, the wise, and all that they do are in God’s hands—but, day by day, whether it’s love or hate they’re dealing with, they don’t know. Anything’s possible. It’s one fate for everybody—righteous and wicked, good people, bad people, the nice and the nasty, worshipers and non-worshipers, committed and uncommitted. I find this outrageous—the worst thing about living on this earth—that everyone’s lumped together in one fate. Is it any wonder that so many people are obsessed with evil? Is it any wonder that people go crazy right and left? Life leads to death. That’s it. [4-6] Still, anyone selected out for life has hope, for, as they say, “A living dog is better than a dead lion.” The living at least know something, even if it’s only that they’re going to die. But the dead know nothing and get nothing. They’re a minus that no one remembers. Their loves, their hates, yes, even their dreams, are long gone. There’s not a trace of them left in the affairs of this earth. [7-10] Seize life! Eat bread with gusto, Drink wine with a robust heart. Oh yes—God takes pleasure in your pleasure! Dress festively every morning. Don’t skimp on colors and scarves. Relish life with the spouse you love Each and every day of your precarious life. Each day is God’s gift. It’s all you get in exchange For the hard work of staying alive. Make the most of each one! Whatever turns up, grab it and do it. And heartily! This is your last and only chance at it, For there’s neither work to do nor thoughts to think In the company of the dead, where you’re most certainly headed. * * * [11] I took another walk around the neighborhood and realized that on this earth as it is— The race is not always to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor satisfaction to the wise, Nor riches to the smart, Nor grace to the learned. Sooner or later bad luck hits us all. [12] No one can predict misfortune. Like fish caught in a cruel net or birds in a trap, So men and women are caught By accidents evil and sudden. [13-15] One day as I was observing how wisdom fares on this earth, I saw something that made me sit up and take notice. There was a small town with only a few people in it. A strong king came and mounted an attack, building trenches and attack posts around it. There was a poor but wise man in that town whose wisdom saved the town, but he was promptly forgotten. (He was only a poor man, after all.) [16] All the same, I still say that wisdom is better than muscle, even though the wise poor man was treated with contempt and soon forgotten. [17] The quiet words of the wise are more effective Than the ranting of a king of fools. [18] Wisdom is better than warheads, But one hothead can ruin the good earth.

https://bible.com/bible/97/ecc.9.1-3.MSG

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭8:1‭-‬17‬ ‭MSG‬‬
[1] There’s nothing better than being wise, Knowing how to interpret the meaning of life. Wisdom puts light in the eyes, And gives gentleness to words and manners. [2-7] Do what your king commands; you gave a sacred oath of obedience. Don’t worryingly second-guess your orders or try to back out when the task is unpleasant. You’re serving his pleasure, not yours. The king has the last word. Who dares say to him, “What are you doing?” Carrying out orders won’t hurt you a bit; the wise person obeys promptly and accurately. Yes, there’s a right time and way for everything, even though, unfortunately, we miss it for the most part. It’s true that no one knows what’s going to happen, or when. Who’s around to tell us? [8] No one can control the wind or lock it in a box. No one has any say-so regarding the day of death. No one can stop a battle in its tracks. No one who does evil can be saved by evil. [9] All this I observed as I tried my best to understand all that’s going on in this world. As long as men and women have the power to hurt each other, this is the way it is. [10] One time I saw wicked men given a solemn burial in holy ground. When the people returned to the city, they delivered flowery eulogies—and in the very place where wicked acts were done by those very men! More smoke. Indeed. [11] Because the sentence against evil deeds is so long in coming, people in general think they can get by with murder. [12-13] Even though a person sins and gets by with it hundreds of times throughout a long life, I’m still convinced that the good life is reserved for the person who fears God, who lives reverently in his presence, and that the evil person will not experience a “good” life. No matter how many days he lives, they’ll all be as flat and colorless as a shadow—because he doesn’t fear God. * * * [14] Here’s something that happens all the time and makes no sense at all: Good people get what’s coming to the wicked, and bad people get what’s coming to the good. I tell you, this makes no sense. It’s smoke. [15] So, I’m all for just going ahead and having a good time—the best possible. The only earthly good men and women can look forward to is to eat and drink well and have a good time—compensation for the struggle for survival these few years God gives us on earth. [16-17] When I determined to load up on wisdom and examine everything taking place on earth, I realized that if you keep your eyes open day and night without even blinking, you’ll still never figure out the meaning of what God is doing on this earth. Search as hard as you like, you’re not going to make sense of it. No matter how smart you are, you won’t get to the bottom of it.

https://bible.com/bible/97/ecc.8.1.MSG

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭7:1‭-‬29‬ ‭MSG‬‬
[1] A good reputation is better than a fat bank account. Your death date tells more than your birth date. [2] You learn more at a funeral than at a feast— After all, that’s where we’ll end up. We might discover something from it. [3] Crying is better than laughing. It blotches the face but it scours the heart. [4] Sages invest themselves in hurt and grieving. Fools waste their lives in fun and games. [5] You’ll get more from the rebuke of a sage Than from the song and dance of fools. [6] The giggles of fools are like the crackling of twigs Under the cooking pot. And like smoke. [7] Brutality stupefies even the wise And destroys the strongest heart. [8] Endings are better than beginnings. Sticking to it is better than standing out. [9] Don’t be quick to fly off the handle. Anger boomerangs. You can spot a fool by the lumps on his head. [10] Don’t always be asking, “Where are the good old days?” Wise folks don’t ask questions like that. [11-12] Wisdom is better when it’s paired with money, Especially if you get both while you’re still living. Double protection: wisdom and wealth! Plus this bonus: Wisdom energizes its owner. [13] Take a good look at God’s work. Who could simplify and reduce Creation’s curves and angles To a plain straight line? [14] On a good day, enjoy yourself; On a bad day, examine your conscience. God arranges for both kinds of days So that we won’t take anything for granted. [15-17] I’ve seen it all in my brief and pointless life—here a good person cut down in the middle of doing good, there a bad person living a long life of sheer evil. So don’t knock yourself out being good, and don’t go overboard being wise. Believe me, you won’t get anything out of it. But don’t press your luck by being bad, either. And don’t be reckless. Why die needlessly? [18] It’s best to stay in touch with both sides of an issue. A person who fears God deals responsibly with all of reality, not just a piece of it. [19] Wisdom puts more strength in one wise person Than ten strong men give to a city. [20] There’s not one totally good person on earth, Not one who is truly pure and sinless. [21-22] Don’t eavesdrop on the conversation of others. What if the gossip’s about you and you’d rather not hear it? You’ve done that a few times, haven’t you—said things Behind someone’s back you wouldn’t say to his face? [23-25] I tested everything in my search for wisdom. I set out to be wise, but it was beyond me, far beyond me, and deep—oh so deep! Does anyone ever find it? I concentrated with all my might, studying and exploring and seeking wisdom—the meaning of life. I also wanted to identify evil and stupidity, foolishness and craziness. [26-29] One discovery: A woman can be a bitter pill to swallow, full of seductive scheming and grasping. The lucky escape her; the undiscerning get caught. At least this is my experience—what I, the Quester, have pieced together as I’ve tried to make sense of life. But the wisdom I’ve looked for I haven’t found. I didn’t find one man or woman in a thousand worth my while. Yet I did spot one ray of light in this murk: God made men and women true and upright; we’re the ones who’ve made a mess of things.

https://bible.com/bible/97/ecc.7.1.MSG

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭6:1‭-‬12‬ ‭MSG‬‬
[1-2] I looked long and hard at what goes on around here, and let me tell you, things are bad. And people feel it. There are people, for instance, on whom God showers everything—money, property, reputation—all they ever wanted or dreamed of. And then God doesn’t let them enjoy it. Some stranger comes along and has all the fun. It’s more of what I’m calling smoke. A bad business. [3-5] Say a couple have scores of children and live a long, long life but never enjoy themselves—even though they end up with a big funeral! I’d say that a stillborn baby gets the better deal. It gets its start in a mist and ends up in the dark—unnamed. It sees nothing and knows nothing, but is better off by far than anyone living. [6] Even if someone lived a thousand years—make it two thousand!—but didn’t enjoy anything, what’s the point? Doesn’t everyone end up in the same place? [7] We work to feed our appetites; Meanwhile our souls go hungry. [8-9] So what advantage has a sage over a fool, or over some poor wretch who barely gets by? Just grab whatever you can while you can; don’t assume something better might turn up by and by. All it amounts to anyway is smoke. And spitting into the wind. [10] Whatever happens, happens. Its destiny is fixed. You can’t argue with fate. [11-12] The more words that are spoken, the more smoke there is in the air. And who is any better off? And who knows what’s best for us as we live out our meager smoke-and-shadow lives? And who can tell any of us the next chapter of our lives?

https://bible.com/bible/97/ecc.6.1-2.MSG

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭5:1‭-‬20‬ ‭MSG‬‬
[1] Watch your step when you enter God’s house. Enter to learn. That’s far better than mindlessly offering a sacrifice, Doing more harm than good. [2] Don’t shoot off your mouth, or speak before you think. Don’t be too quick to tell God what you think he wants to hear. God’s in charge, not you—the less you speak, the better. [3] Overwork makes for restless sleep. Overtalk shows you up as a fool. [4-5] When you tell God you’ll do something, do it—now. God takes no pleasure in foolish drivel. Vow it, then do it. Far better not to vow in the first place than to vow and not pay up. [6] Don’t let your mouth make a total sinner of you. When called to account, you won’t get by with “Sorry, I didn’t mean it.” Why risk provoking God to angry retaliation? [7] But against all illusion and fantasy and empty talk There’s always this rock foundation: Fear God! [8-9] Don’t be too upset when you see the poor kicked around, and justice and right violated all over the place. Exploitation filters down from one petty official to another. There’s no end to it, and nothing can be done about it. But the good earth doesn’t cheat anyone—even a bad king is honestly served by a field. [10] The one who loves money is never satisfied with money, Nor the one who loves wealth with big profits. More smoke. [11] The more loot you get, the more looters show up. And what fun is that—to be robbed in broad daylight? [12] Hard and honest work earns a good night’s sleep, Whether supper is beans or steak. But a rich man’s belly gives him insomnia. [13-17] Here’s a piece of bad luck I’ve seen happen: A man hoards far more wealth than is good for him And then loses it all in a bad business deal. He fathered a child but hasn’t a cent left to give him. He arrived naked from the womb of his mother; He’ll leave in the same condition—with nothing. This is bad luck, for sure—naked he came, naked he went. So what was the point of working for a salary of smoke? All for a miserable life spent in the dark? [18-20] After looking at the way things are on this earth, here’s what I’ve decided is the best way to live: Take care of yourself, have a good time, and make the most of whatever job you have for as long as God gives you life. And that’s about it. That’s the human lot. Yes, we should make the most of what God gives, both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what’s given and delighting in the work. It’s God’s gift! God deals out joy in the present, the now. It’s useless to brood over how long we might live.

https://bible.com/bible/97/ecc.5.1.MSG

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭4:1‭-‬16‬ ‭MSG‬‬
[1-3] Next I turned my attention to all the outrageous violence that takes place on this planet—the tears of the victims, no one to comfort them; the iron grip of oppressors, no one to rescue the victims from them. So I congratulated the dead who are already dead instead of the living who are still alive. But luckier than the dead or the living is the person who has never even been, who has never seen the bad business that takes place on this earth. [4] Then I observed all the work and ambition motivated by envy. What a waste! Smoke. And spitting into the wind. [5] The fool sits back and takes it easy, His sloth is slow suicide. [6] One handful of peaceful repose Is better than two fistfuls of worried work— More spitting into the wind. [7-8] I turned my head and saw yet another wisp of smoke on its way to nothingness: a solitary person, completely alone—no children, no family, no friends—yet working obsessively late into the night, compulsively greedy for more and more, never bothering to ask, “Why am I working like a dog, never having any fun? And who cares?” More smoke. A bad business. [9-10] It’s better to have a partner than go it alone. Share the work, share the wealth. And if one falls down, the other helps, But if there’s no one to help, tough! [11] Two in a bed warm each other. Alone, you shiver all night. [12] By yourself you’re unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped. * * * [13-16] A poor child with some wisdom is better off than an old but foolish king who doesn’t know which end is up. I saw a youth just like this start with nothing and go from rags to riches, and I saw everyone rally to the rule of this young successor to the king. Even so, the excitement died quickly, the throngs of people soon lost interest. Can’t you see it’s only smoke? And spitting into the wind?

https://bible.com/bible/97/ecc.4.1-3.MSG

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3:1‭-‬22‬ ‭MSG‬‬
[1] There’s an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth: [2-8] A right time for birth and another for death, A right time to plant and another to reap, A right time to kill and another to heal, A right time to destroy and another to construct, A right time to cry and another to laugh, A right time to lament and another to cheer, A right time to make love and another to abstain, A right time to embrace and another to part, A right time to search and another to count your losses, A right time to hold on and another to let go, A right time to rip out and another to mend, A right time to shut up and another to speak up, A right time to love and another to hate, A right time to wage war and another to make peace. [9-13] But in the end, does it really make a difference what anyone does? I’ve had a good look at what God has given us to do—busywork, mostly. True, God made everything beautiful in itself and in its time—but he’s left us in the dark, so we can never know what God is up to, whether he’s coming or going. I’ve decided that there’s nothing better to do than go ahead and have a good time and get the most we can out of life. That’s it—eat, drink, and make the most of your job. It’s God’s gift. [14] I’ve also concluded that whatever God does, that’s the way it’s going to be, always. No addition, no subtraction. God’s done it and that’s it. That’s so we’ll quit asking questions and simply worship in holy fear. [15] Whatever was, is. Whatever will be, is. That’s how it always is with God. [16-18] I took another good look at what’s going on: The very place of judgment—corrupt! The place of righteousness—corrupt! I said to myself, “God will judge righteous and wicked.” There’s a right time for every thing, every deed—and there’s no getting around it. I said to myself regarding the human race, “God’s testing the lot of us, showing us up as nothing but animals.” [19-22] Humans and animals come to the same end—humans die, animals die. We all breathe the same air. So there’s really no advantage in being human. None. Everything’s smoke. We all end up in the same place—we all came from dust, we all end up as dust. Nobody knows for sure that the human spirit rises to heaven or that the animal spirit sinks into the earth. So I made up my mind that there’s nothing better for us men and women than to have a good time in whatever we do—that’s our lot. Who knows if there’s anything else to life?

https://bible.com/bible/97/ecc.3.1.MSG

‭‭This is the last chapter of Proverbs. We\’ll start in Ecclesiastes in the next post of the day.

Proverbs‬ ‭31:1‭-‬31‬ ‭MSG‬‬
[1] The words of King Lemuel, the strong advice his mother gave him: [2-3] “Oh, son of mine, what can you be thinking of! Child whom I bore! The son I dedicated to God! Don’t dilute your strength on fortune-hunting women, promiscuous women who shipwreck leaders. [4-7] “Leaders can’t afford to make fools of themselves, gulping wine and swilling beer, Lest, hung over, they don’t know right from wrong, and the people who depend on them are hurt. Use wine and beer only as sedatives, to kill the pain and dull the ache Of the terminally ill, for whom life is a living death. [8-9] “Speak up for the people who have no voice, for the rights of all the misfits. Speak out for justice! Stand up for the poor and destitute!” [10-31] A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds. Her husband trusts her without reserve, and never has reason to regret it. Never spiteful, she treats him generously all her life long. She shops around for the best yarns and cottons, and enjoys knitting and sewing. She’s like a trading ship that sails to faraway places and brings back exotic surprises. She’s up before dawn, preparing breakfast for her family and organizing her day. She looks over a field and buys it, then, with money she’s put aside, plants a garden. First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started. She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it quits for the day. She’s skilled in the crafts of home and hearth, diligent in homemaking. She’s quick to assist anyone in need, reaches out to help the poor. She doesn’t worry about her family when it snows; their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear. She makes her own clothing, and dresses in colorful linens and silks. Her husband is greatly respected when he deliberates with the city fathers. She designs gowns and sells them, brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops. Her clothes are well-made and elegant, and she always faces tomorrow with a smile. When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say, and she always says it kindly. She keeps an eye on everyone in her household, and keeps them all busy and productive. Her children respect and bless her; her husband joins in with words of praise: “Many women have done wonderful things, but you’ve outclassed them all!” Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades. The woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God. Give her everything she deserves! Adorn her life with praises!

https://bible.com/bible/97/pro.31.2-3.MSG

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭29:1‭-‬27‬ ‭MSG‬‬
[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 prostitutes. [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.

https://bible.com/bible/97/pro.29.1.MSG

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭28:1‭-‬28‬ ‭MSG‬‬
[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. [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.

https://bible.com/bible/97/pro.28.1.MSG