Month: April 2021

Scripture Readings Proverbs 15:12Jeremiah 29–30Ephesians 3–4Psalms 100 Verse Focus (Proverbs 15:12) Mockers resent correction,     so they avoid the wise. Meditation Day 100. Wow! 🙂 Proverbs 15:12 says, in the NIV, “Mockers resent correction, so they avoid the wise.” The NRSV says, “Scoffers do not like to be rebuked; they will not go to the wise.” In some ways, this is a bit like yesterday’s proverb where we talked about how those who hate correction will die. Here, the fool — the mocker or the scoffer — may not hate correction, but they dislike and resent it. The actual Hebrew words say…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 15:10Jeremiah 27–28Ephesians 1–2Psalms 99 Verse Focus (Proverbs 15:10) Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path;     the one who hates correction will die. Meditation Today’s verse focus is a bit sobering. Proverbs 15:10 says, in the NIV, “Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path; the one who hates correction will die.” The NRSV translation is similar: “There is severe discipline for one who forsakes the way, but one who hates a rebuke will die.” A warning of consequences, or a promise of discipline, isn’t exactly what I’d call encouraging. Who wants to hear that there may be…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 15:4Jeremiah 25–26Galatians 5–6Psalms 98 Verse Focus (Proverbs 15:4) The soothing tongue is a tree of life,     but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit. Meditation Proverbs 15:4 says, in the NRSV, “A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.” What is interesting about this proverb is that it does not say who receives the effects of the life-giving or life-destroying tongue. By leaving the targets unnamed, we are free to interpret that both the speaker and the ones spoken to will receive either the benefit or harm. We have studied proverbs before…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 15:1Jeremiah 23–24Galatians 3–4Psalms 97 Verse Focus (Proverbs 15:1) A gentle answer turns away wrath,     but a harsh word stirs up anger. Meditation Proverbs 15:1 has long been a favorite of mine. “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” The words of this proverb live in my memory, helping me to diffuse tense situations by reminding me to choose softer words. The various translations are quite similar on this proverb. Gentle words are also called soft, mild, or kind words. The word that stirs up anger is usually called harsh, but a few…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 14:31Jeremiah 21–22Galatians 1–2Psalms 96 Verse Focus (Proverbs 14:31) Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,     but whoever is kind to the needy honors God. Meditation Proverbs 14:31 says, “He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.” I notice the word “their” — their Maker. This is plural. God is the God of the person who oppresses as much as the God of the poor. In fact, God created them both. Both are created in God’s image. And to disdain anyone is to insult God. According…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 14:30Jeremiah 19–20Luke 24Psalms 95 Verse Focus (Proverbs 14:30) A heart at peace gives life to the body,     but envy rots the bones. Meditation Happy Easter Monday (again, for those of us reading in 2021)! 🙂 Proverbs 14:30 gets translated into English a number of different ways. The NIV is straightforward enough, saying, “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.” The NRSV differs slightly, saying, “A tranquil mind gives life to the flesh, but passion makes the bones rot.” So we have heart versus mind, and envy versus passion. Other translations use…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 14:29Jeremiah 17–18Luke 23Psalms 94 Verse Focus (Proverbs 14:29) Whoever is patient has great understanding,     but one who is quick-tempered displays folly. Meditation Happy Easter (to those of us reading this in 2021)! 🙂 Today’s proverb teaches the importance of self-control, particularly in terms of keeping your temper. As Proverbs 14:29 says in the NIV, “Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.” The NRSV is similar, saying, “Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but one who has a hasty temper exalts folly.” In fact, the NRSV is fairly close to the…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 14:26Jeremiah 15–16Luke 22Psalms 93 Verse Focus (Proverbs 14:26) Whoever fears the LORD has a secure fortress,     and for their children it will be a refuge. Meditation Proverbs 14:26 tells us, “Whoever fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge.” This is such a comforting verse! Not only do we have strength and protection for ourselves, but we are promised the next generation will also have that refuge. This is how most modern translations interpret this verse. However, when I dig a bit deeper, I realize that the Hebrew is a…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 14:25Jeremiah 13–14Luke 21Psalms 92 Verse Focus (Proverbs 14:25) A truthful witness saves lives,     but a false witness is deceitful. Meditation Proverbs 14:25 says, in the NIV, “A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is deceitful.” I like how the NRSV translates the second half of this proverb: “but one who utters lies is a betrayer.” I find it interesting that the halves of the proverb are not exactly parallel. The truthful witness saves lives, but the false witness does not destroy lives or kill people. Rather, the false witness is deceitful and a betrayer. The proverb…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 14:23Jeremiah 11–12Luke 20Psalms 91 Verse Focus (Proverbs 14:23) All hard work brings a profit,     but mere talk leads only to poverty. Meditation Ha! It just so happens that for April Fools’ Day (for those of you who started reading on January 1st), we will not be talking about fools. 🙂 Proverbs 14:23 has long been a favorite proverb of mine. “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” As a procrastinator, and as someone who can be more talk than action, this proverb reminds me that I need to buckle down and simply…

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