Yes....I see much that is relevant and too deep to bring to light at the moment so I looked at the Message translation and here it is.....
Don't brashly announce what you're going to do tomorrow, you don't know the first thing about tomorrow (For me this ties in with Kat's signature Scripture from James...Jam 4:14
" whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. What is your life? For ye are a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." Don't call attention to yourself, let others do that for you.
Carring a log across your shoulders
while you're hefting a boulder with you arms
Is nothing comapred to the burden
of putting up with a fool.
We're blasted by anger ans wamped by rage,
but who can survive jealousy?
A spoken reprimand is better
than approval that's never expressed.
The wounds from a lover are worth it;
kisses from an enemy do you in.
When you've stuffed yourself, you refuse dessert;
when you're starved, you could eat a horse.
People who won't settle down, wandering hither and yon,
are like restless birds, flitting to and fro.
Just as lotions and fragrance give sensual delight,
a sweet friendship refreshes the soul.
(good question to ask self here...do I refresh souls or do I not
)
Don't leave your friends or your parents' friends
and run home to your family when things get rough (Ohhhhh....this is a good one for some newly weds!
)
Better a near by friend
than a distant family. (That's if you have married your best friend
)
Become wise, dear child, and make me happy;
then nothing the world throws my way will upset me.
A prudent person sees trouble coming and ducks; (I like that one!
)
a simpleton walks in blindly and is clobbered.
Hold tight to collateral on any loan to a stranger;
be wary of accepting what a transient has pawned.
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.
...(.have any of you had your parents do this when you were a kid
)
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.
...(A good thing to find out before you get married!
)
Your Face Mirrors Your Heart
You use steel to sharpen steel,
and one friend sharpens another.
If you care for your orchard, you'll enjoy its fruit;
if your honor your boss, you'll be honored....
(good advice for both in the work place and in the spirit towards Christ.)
Just as water mirrors you face
so your face mirrors your heart ...and "from the abundance of the heart the mouth (face) speaks.....Matt 12 : 34
hell has a voracious appetite,
and lust just never quits....(it requires the presence of Christ to extinguish the beast.)
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
...(or money or power, or status or authority to Lord over.....
)
Pound on a fool all you like-
you can't pound out foolishness....( very wise words....very wise
This also relates me back to Ray's : Winning Souls for Jesus? Home page !)
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 sorted 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.......
Beautiful meditaion this Proverb 27....beautiful, healing and deep counceling truths here....
Arcturus with thanks....