Oh boy… my bad!!!!  I’ve been working intensively in the scriptures the last few days as the book I’m writing is full of prayers and promises, but I got off of my normal routine enough to forget to read my proverb for each day!  Soooo… I’m going to have to make up for two days in one post.

Proverbs 18:4-5 Many words rush along like rivers in flood, 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.

Proverbs 19: 8, 10-11    Grow a wise heart — you’ll do yourself a favor; keep a clear head — you’ll find a good life… blockheads shouldn’t live on easy street any more than workers should give orders to their boss.  Smart people know how to hold their tongue; their gandeur is to forgive and forget.  (quoted from The Message)

I thought I would take a minute to explain the translation that I like to use for these proverbs.  It’s called "The Message" and it speaks in a common, earthy way instead of religious sounding, eloquent but not understandable language. The bible in its original language was written in the language of the street — for the common man.  It was written to be easily understood and applied to simple people’s lives.  The Message is a true translation, but one that translates not simply word for word, but instead concept for concept. 

Many word pictures in the scripture don’t have the same meaning in English as they had 2,000 or more years ago.  For example "Rom 12:20-21"If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.  NIV"  Wouldn’t you think to heap burning coals on someone’s head is a mean thing?  Sort of getting back at them?  It’s not, in this context, it is a blessing.  It is doing good for them not bad.  The nomadic people of the time carried their coals from the fire from one campsite to another in a turban wrapped in some special way, so that they could easily start a fresh fire to get warm and feed themselves.  The Message picks current idioms (culturally understood imagery) to explain the ancient idioms in the original text.

In this case, The Message translates this same passage as  "Our scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he’s thirsty, get him a drink.  Your generosity will surprise him with goodness.  Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good."  Isn’t that clear and easy to understand (hard to actually do!!!!  but easy to understand)  Okay, lesson for the day is over, now I have to go back to editing my manuscript.  Thanks for the break!!

Audrey Jeanne Roberts