微读圣经

God Doesn’t Miss a Thing

1A gentle response defuses anger,

but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire.

2Knowledge flows like spring water from the wise;

fools are leaky faucets, dripping nonsense.

3 God doesn’t miss a thing—

he’s alert to good and evil alike.

4Kind words heal and help;

cutting words wound and maim.

5Moral dropouts won’t listen to their elders;

welcoming correction is a mark of good sense.

6The lives of God-loyal people flourish;

a misspent life is soon bankrupt.

7Perceptive words spread knowledge;

fools are hollow—there’s nothing to them.

8 God can’t stand pious poses,

but he delights in genuine prayers.

9A life frittered away disgusts God;

he loves those who run straight for the finish line.

10It’s a school of hard knocks for those who leave God’s path,

a dead-end street for those who hate God’s rules.

11Even hell holds no secrets from God—

do you think he can’t read human hearts?

Life Ascends to the Heights

12Know-it-alls don’t like being told what to do;

they avoid the company of wise men and women.

13A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face;

a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day.

14An intelligent person is always eager to take in more truth;

fools feed on fast-food fads and fancies.

15A miserable heart means a miserable life;

a cheerful heart fills the day with song.

16A simple life in the Fear-of-God

is better than a rich life with a ton of headaches.

17Better a bread crust shared in love

than a slab of prime rib served in hate.

18Hot tempers start fights;

a calm, cool spirit keeps the peace.

19The path of lazy people is overgrown with briers;

the diligent walk down a smooth road.

20Intelligent children make their parents proud;

lazy students embarrass their parents.

21The empty-headed treat life as a plaything;

the perceptive grasp its meaning and make a go of it.

22Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail;

take good counsel and watch them succeed.

23Congenial conversation—what a pleasure!

The right word at the right time—beautiful!

24Life ascends to the heights for the thoughtful—

it’s a clean about-face from descent into hell.

25 God smashes the pretensions of the arrogant;

he stands with those who have no standing.

26 God can’t stand evil scheming,

but he puts words of grace and beauty on display.

27A greedy and grasping person destroys community;

those who refuse to exploit live and let live.

28Prayerful answers come from God-loyal people;

the wicked are sewers of abuse.

29 God keeps his distance from the wicked;

he closely attends to the prayers of God-loyal people.

30A twinkle in the eye means joy in the heart,

and good news makes you feel fit as a fiddle.

31Listen to good advice if you want to live well,

an honored guest among wise men and women.

32An undisciplined, self-willed life is puny;

an obedient, God-willed life is spacious.

33Fear-of-God is a school in skilled living—

first you learn humility, then you experience glory.