#he wears sin eating like a badge of honor.
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and i think it's also worth noting, underlining, that carmine is an extremely manipulative individual and clearly likes to be the one in control of the room -- we see it in the scene with him and sofia, he's not subtle about it. especially given their parallels, i'm willing to bet carmine could just as easily manipulate oz (and i'd also bet that's a pretty significant reason why carmine kept him around. he probably knew that The Family had no problem stepping on each other and saw this as a potential threat, and also knew that oz was always going to be loyal to him first so long as carmine made him feel important enough.)(and to his credit, carmine was absolutely right about that.) i'm not saying oz didn't put sofia in an awful situation, but i do find it hard to believe that he -- sofia's driver -- was the one leading that discussion. though i wouldn't be surprised if carmine made him think that he was.
it's equal parts Delicious and Frustrating to me that we don't have a flashback of the conversation between oz and carmine abt sofia. we're supposed to assume that oz was fully a rat, but we don't know what was said, we don't know what carmine said. no objective eyes, no real survivors of that conversation because who oz was 10 years ago certainly isn't who he is now -- especially if he's being honest about not thinking that carmine would do something like that. current oz would know carmine was capable of it (and current oz would play those cards) but i do believe that oz ten years ago, who had one suit and wasn't allowed inside, wouldn't think so.
#anyway oz does suck but this doesn't even make top 10 of his shitbag deeds list tbh#the penguin (2024)#and OH OH the shiv and tom of it all (not as a ship necessarily but i do think they fucked. that's beside the point)#sofia being told point blank that she's going to be the one to take it all and the broken promise of that.#oz the interloper who makes jokes and lets people think the worst of him because he's realized that's the key to real power.#he wears sin eating like a badge of honor.#sofia trusts a man 'fathoms beneath her in hopes that she won't get betrayed' and you'll never guess what happens next.#'the only guy pulling for you is dead ... and you are fair and squarely fucked' but who's the one in the penthouse at the end#sofia and shiv trapped in their personal hells and i'm sure thinking that maybe if they'd gone away sooner or STayed away maybe it#wouldn't be like this.#OH GOD and shiv telling logan that just because he speaks doesn't make it the truth in s4 and AUGH .#okay anyway i've said too much
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Monsta X during Sex
A/n: @ddaengbaepsae basically cowrote this, bless her thotty brain
Warnings: Just pure filth, kinda soft though shut up I’m soft for them
Word Count: 2656
Son Hyunwoo (Shownu)
Welp he’s big all over folks
Stay safe, use lube
It’ll be fine he’s a big teddy bear
He might hurt you but he’d never mean to
He’s not the type to fuck around he’s definitely a one woman man
He’d be slow to initiate a physical relationship, too, he’s a shy baby under all those muscles
Not at all the jealous type you could thirst over another member right in front of his salad and he’d be like “You’re right, Jooheon does have juicy thighs”
Only very specific situations would make him feel possessive
For example if he comes home and you’re wearing Hoseok’s hoodie
His ears start turning red and you have no idea why
Rips it off you all hungry kisses hands everywhere
You’re shook when he gets a little rough with you, bites your shoulder when he comes
While you’re getting dressed after he puts his hoodie on you with a kiss and a sheepish smile
Missionary, lots of slow strokes, kissing
He’s a hard worker tho if you know what I mean 👀👀
Worries about your pleasure over his
High-key oblivious to you seducing him
You can suck chocolate off his fingers and he’s like “Jagi I can buy more chocolate, relax.”
You can strip off your clothes and he’ll be like “oh should I run you a bath?”
You’ll have to deadass put your hand on his dick for him to get it
He’ll be all blushy at first but then he’ll kiss you hard
So good at oral look at those lips sis. Won’t even ask you to reciprocate but would be so grateful if you do, stroking your hair, a little praise “You’re so good to me, Jagi.”
He’s so shy about asking for what he wants in general but if you do something he likes once, he’ll ket you know by his body language, throw his head back and buck those dancer’s hips
He isn’t very vocal at first but he’ll get a little more comfortable he’s never actually loud
Unless you sit on his face
Don’t @me Nunu loves it
This is when he’s loud, all deep throated moans and he’ll go hard, you’re gonna forget your own name, sis
He loves curves, loves you in white and lace
He is not a one night stand guy he’s a serial monogamist for sure
If he’s fucking you he’s in love I don’t make the rules
He’s fairly vanilla and he’d be highkey worried he’d hurt you if you were into choking or something like that
He would try anything for the person he loves but he’d be uncomfortable if it were something rough
He knows how to move, we all know that, so in any case you’re a very happy girl
Yoo Kihyun
So Ki wants you a lady in the streets
You start dating him thinking you got this traditional boy from a conservative household
But behind closed doors…
“Why are you wearing panties? You don’t need those here.”
He’ll buy you expensive lingerie just to fucking RUIN it
Look you leave his place sweaty and sticky and covered in hickeys
It’s a real walk of shame
He wants you a MESS the first few times he won’t even fuck you because he wants you hooked on him before he ever puts it in
You gotta beg for it every fucking time
But when he finally does you best be ready
He’ll have you ass up on all fours trying to blow out your back
Saying shit like “This is what you wanted, yeah? Wanted me to fuck you like my pretty little whore?”
You’re fucking SHOOK
Also he IS low-key a nice boy like in public he’s making you cover up your marks and shit
But the minute you get a little chummy with one of the other boys he’s ripping off your scarf like “oops”
He’s not that loud bc he’s focused on making you loud af
But he’s a real dirty talker he’ll whisper some shit to you at a restaurant that’ll make your legs shake
He’s the type to make you take off your panties in the bathroom and when you come back he’s talking intently with the boys while he just runs one hand along your inner thighs to tease you
He will be loud if you let him fuck your mouth tho (and you will please who are we kidding?)
“That’s my good girl. My sweet whore.” Throaty moans
Low-key kinky he’ll just randomly buy a riding crop and ship it to your house with a note like “tonight?”
He would love you in a diamond collar
Nothing even remotely submissive about this man
He’s a good time but you better be ready he doesn’t play if you’re his you’re his no questions no complaints
Lee Jooheon
What a fun time
But also such a fucking tease
Another one who wants you messy and keening
Acts all innocent when you beg all wide eyed “What do you mean, princess, I’m barely touching you? You’re so needy today.” All dimpled smirk
But he’ll fuck the life outta you right after
Also just a sidenote he’s got a fast tongue you know that vibrating thing? King of that
He sends you texts all day at work 50% sexts 50% sweet like “when are you coming to see me? I miss you.”
He is a s w i t c h you can’t change my mind
But he’s a brat if he lets you top, so whiny and desperate and he’ll know exactly what will make you give in.
Has a bit of a praise kink tbh so he might be a good boy just for that
When he doms he’s soft tho all praise all the time
He’ll praise you for being a brat be like “oh, I love it when you’re feisty. Do that again.”
Jooheon likes ass sis the more the better if you got cake and wear tight jeans around him you won’t be wearing them long
You gonna have handprints on that booty like at all times
Loves doggy style so much
Adventurous he would definitely fuck you somewhere public like a parking garage or a public bathroom he gets off on adrenaline for sure
High sex drive, all over you when you’re busy working from home and when you’re finally like “ok ok I’m done let’s do this” he’s barely touching you skating his mouth over your skin just to give you chills
Loves to show you off wants you looking like a bad bitch when he takes you out he loves it when you make heads turn
He’s not exactly possessive but he does want all your attention at first he’ll use aegyo and be pouty to try and get you to pay attention to him
If that doesn’t work then he’ll use that Libra seductiveness
LOUD AF
Particularly during blowjobs he will wake the dead “Please please please…” So desperate and whiny
Unironically refers to you as “his girl” like you meet his friends and he’s like “this is my girl”
Down for anything he’ll make all your kinks and fantasies a reality
Loves you wearing something revealing kisses all your exposed skin big open mouthed kisses
Softest sweetest cuddler afterward
Would be the BEST fwb
Chae Hyungwon
He strikes me as the the type to have a fwb for a real long time or be a serial monogamist
King of the long, deep, slow stroke game
You can beg him to go faster all you want but his patience will end you
Lots of stamina we’re talking all night y'all every single time
No quickies here you gotta carve out 2 hours in your schedule minimum
Look at that mouth phew you’re gonna need a good two hours to recover after he goes down on you too
It’ll take a while he can breathe through his ears you feel me
He’s pretty vanilla at heart but he’ll choke the shit outta you if that’s what you want, tie you up, whatever he ain’t scared
King of morning sex I just know it
Sleepy, slow, sweet morning sex
Have you in your feelings when the sun is barely up
SUCH a good kisser, wow
Mostly dominant in bed but he loves you on top
You have fingerprint bruises on your hips at all times
He doesn’t get possessive much at all he’s confident he’s got you on lock
If he does he’ll just throw shade at the dude you’re flirting with and fuck you an hour longer that night to remind you why you’re with him
One of those shuts the kitty down for two full days types, tbh he’s low-key BIG
Big big praise during blowjobs if you give the good succ he gonna fall in love
“Your tongue is sinful, you know that? You look so beautiful with your mouth full.”
Like before you fuck him the first time you’re worries he’ll be boring in bed because he’s quiet and sweet on dates
Then one night he kisses you goodnight and suddenly presses you against the wall, lips right by your ear: “You’re inviting me in, yeah?”
You’re like “Yes SIR”
After about an hour and a half you’re exhausted and sweating, muscles sore and he’s deadass asleep with one arm thrown around you
He’s full of surprises
Lee Hosoek (Wonho)
You first see him and your instincts tell you to run he’s gotta be a whole fuckboy
He wants to be and he’ll try but he’s s o f t
He would do a one night stand and then take you to breakfast and text you two hours later asking if you wanna hang out again
You’re absolutely shocked when he calls you the next day because the sex is definitely not soft
At least not at first
At first he’s throwing you up against walls, pulling your hair, all whiny moans and praises “God, look at you, all spread out like a whore for me.”
And he’ll keep it up but he gets low-key sweet as he inevitably catches feelings
Starts going down on you all the time, being a real tease, slow licks, two fingers in and out
Moans against you it makes him so hard to taste you
The cuddliest baby afterward
High-key possessive don’t even think about flirting he’ll have you backed into a corner marking your throat and breasts up in front of God and everybody
Wants a lot of attention but mostly wants to give you a lot of attention
I don’t know if a louder boy exists tbh
Good luck keeping any of your private times private he’s such a moaner, pleads with you, dirty talker esp when you give him head
“You’re gonna make me come so hard, will you open your mouth and let me see it on your tongue?”
He’ll want so many nudes of you
He strikes me as a real ass man just like Joo
He WILL eat the booty like groceries
He’ll try to wife you if you like anal but sis bring a lot of lube
BIG BIG BIG
Like he knows he’s big but he doesn’t realize how big
Scary big
“You wanna put that where?��� Big
He’d sub he’s a switch he’s a good boy too
He is not too proud to beg and he’ll wear your hickies like a badge of honor
He’s strong he loves to manhandle you, throw you over his shoulder and smack your ass, standing sex in the shower holding on to your hips as he bucks up into you
Proud of his body and never wears a shirt around you if he doesn’t have to
Big boyfriend material though despite his fuckboy charm he is loyal and sweet
Lee Minhyuk
He might be a fuckboy look I know he seems soft but there’s a strong demon in there
I feel like he lives to make women fall for him but may or may not catch feelings himself
He’s the type to woo you hard and then kind of ghost you because he’s in too deep
Down for anything sexually a big switch
He’ll be excited to try new things and beg to hear your dirtiest fantasies
Sexually manipulative, he’ll talk you into anything
He’s so much fun but what a wildcard one night will be just missionary and kissing the next y'all are trying out every position in the Kama sutra
Talks a lot, praise, especially when you are on top
Whiny moans, bucking his hips but trying to be a good boy
He👏 loves 👏curves I cannot emphasize this enough
He’s fucking you from behind waxing poetic
“You’re so sexy. The curve of your spine, the way your lower back dips just before…” Skating his hands along your ass before he grabs a handful
He’s always touching you during, hands and mouth everywhere, soft open mouthed kisses on your throat, your breast, your thighs
King of foreplay
He’ll just touch you everywhere, run his hands along your things as he kisses you, your back, your arms, has you trembling before he ever gets to a sweet spot
Loves to overstimulate you but he’ll let you to it to him, too, he loves making you a mess but he’ll love being a mess for you too
Would love you to tie him up he’s a good boy
If he so desires he’ll turn the tables so quick it’s scary, though, he can talk you into anything, remember?
Absolutely an angel in aftercare, sweetest boy, bring you water and snacks to prepare for round two
Im Changkyun (i.m)
The biggest fucking tease
Will dirty talk you until you are weak in the knees
Sexts you in the middle of the day
“Remember when you rode me from behind? Let’s do that again tonight.”
He doesn’t forget a single moment because he’s watching everything, how your face looks when you’re close, the sounds you make
Inside a week he knows exactly what you’re weak for and will use it to his advantage
Teases you mercilessly when he goes down on you, but when you do come it’s overstimulation city he’s moaning against you and coaxing a second orgasm right after the first
He loves to bite you, oh boy, your inner thighs are covered
But that moan he lets out when you bite his neck? He loves to be marked
Cocky, arrogant in bed at first “I know what you like.”
But as he catches feelings he’s more open with you when he’s inside you than he ever is outside of bed
Emotionally attached to sex so when he starts to fall in love it gets even better
He starts to praise you instead of talking shit
Loves you on top, the awe on his face
Breathy, low moans instead of those usual grunts and growls
“Honey, you kill me, you know that? You were made to fit around my cock, yeah?”
He tries out every position but always ends up in missionary, looking in your eyes, kissing you hard and hungry
He memorizes every curve of your body, every face you pull when you’re coming apart because he wants to be able to call it up when he’s away
Low-key body worship when he’s in his feelings
His praise is very personal, too, he’ll talk about how the freckles on your shoulders are constellations, kiss everyone while he’s fucking you from behind
He makes sure you know what he sees in you
If you want to top him he’ll agree and let you but pretend he’s not into it until you really get going
You’ll break him the first time, he’ll beg you, hips bucking, so loud
He needs a girl who can do both
If you’re bad bitch down for anything he’ll fall in love on sight
So soft in the mornings, Eskimo kisses, murmured praise
#monstax#monsta x wonho#monsta x fanfiction#kihyun monsta x#monsta x imagine#monsta x#monsta x reactions#im monsta x#monsta x changkyun#im changkyun#changkyun#minhyuk monsta x#minhyuk#yoo kihyun#lee minhyuk#lee jooheon#monsta x jooheon#jooheon#joohoney#hyungwon monsta x#chae hyungwon#kihyun#monsta x hyungwon#monsta x hyunwoo#shownu monsta x#shownu#monsta x shownu#monsta x reaction
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"Runaway Nun" [Bakugou x Reader]
summary: the esteemed priest, Shouto Todoroki molested you. You were incognizant that the demon of lust, Asmodeus; corrupted the heterochromia cleric. Hurtling off the synagogue; you rammed into the well-known thief in your solemn village. The noted mugger which petrifies town-folks, Katsuki Bakugou.
contains: medieval europe, offensive to catholics, sadism, sexual-harassment, smut, demons, explicit, may trigger! read at your own risk
[Start]
His tight grip on your tighs echoed in your corrupted memory. The way he forcefully brushed in his hard throbbing member on yours. His serrated fangs you were unaware about, nibbling your tender tegument. He thrived for schadenfreude, as he scrutinized your bleeding coats.
You vamoosed; hastily breaking out the hell-hound, so called house of worship. Your portentous white veil slipping off your silky looms; the symbol of virginity and virtuousness washed away by the honoured reverend. Warm blood was crawling throughout your body, habit marinated with sweat and the red-fluids spiralling at your soft untouched skin.
The tranquility of the village as the glooming moon lit above kept you concealed. 'Where shall I go now I neglect the tabernacle?' Your barefoot was bleeding as it hit the rough cemented road; you catch for air, panting at a side of a pantry shop. 'The mountains is such a proper place to build a new life, raise animals, plant vegetables for daily meals—'
"Oi! You there! Lady!" A husky voice roared, making you stumble in surprise. Can it be the ecclesiastics on forage to seek you? Your body was stupefied, eyeballs round at the thought of setting foot at the synagogue once again, "Are you deaf?!"
The shivering hands of yours mumbled silent prayers. Your faith was shattered moments ago, but you grasped at the one last hope you have, a miracle, "I am no deaf. I can hear thou clearly. I command you stay away from me, Sir, please," you pleaded still not turning back. Being meters away from a male, made you reminisce about the dominie.
He clicked his tongue, "I can deal with that. Why are thee out of the shelter this time—" the male squinted his eyes, scrutinizing your barefoot washed in your own red-fluid, "Gadbudlikins! Lady, are you bleeding?!" The male grabbed you on the shoulders, "Oi!"
"Halt!" You pushed him, feeling his muscular figure. Your eyes gazed at him, adjusting at the illuminated location, "Are you who I'm thinking it is?"
The male glared at your blood marinated temples, his crimson-red eyes went round, following the direction of your dripping blood, "(Y/N)?! Bloody hell! What happened to—" his rough hands swayed your hair, leering at your scars.
"Halt thief! Do not come near me! I got nothing!" Your voice cracked, shifting your eyes to the crucifixion necklace resting on your bloody neck, "All I have is this gold necklace! Please let me offer this to thou Bakugou, do not touch me!"
"The amount of fucks I give to thee is none," The ash-blonde hissed, furrowing his brows at your petrified state, "What happened? How may I offer a help—" A clash of metal knocked on the pastry-shop's door. The Ash-blonde gave you an alarming look, pulling you flat on the wall.
Your bruises brushing on the rough cemented wall, struggling at his tight grip. Is he going to perform what was done to you lately? "Do not lay your hands—"
Bakugou cupped your mouth with his warm palm, "Hush. Now is not the time to act like a cunt! Those are the the insufferable armoured Watch aiming for my head," You silenced, obliging to avoid being caught also.
The pastry-shop's door opened; a female gasped at the sight of the metal armoured pack, "Sirs, our bakery is not open this time around!"
"Our presence isn't here for thy pastry; but to ask some questions," one of the Watcher coughed, "Have thou sighted Sister (Y/N)? The mademoiselle was lost; the high-priest, Father Endeavor instructed us to search for her,"
The female baker blinked, "I have not descry on Sister (Y/N). However, I will inform the convent if ever I sighted her. An offering to strengthen my faith in God is to help those who are instruments of his miracles. I shall lend all of what I can do to help Father Endeavor,"
Bakugou gazed at your petrified state, the two of you harking on the conversation, "(Y/N), come with me and I shall hide thee,"
"Can I be hidden? The convent must be in search of me! All of them are seeking for me, and I do not want to be found!" You rasped, "Shall I die? Is this the end of my presence here in this sinful world?" She sighed, "How can thou keep me hidden?! You cannot,"
The Ash-blonde clicked his tongue, "How do you think I stayed uncaught? I'm the village's mightiest known thief,"
— • —
Your blood-marinated body rested on the soft, cushioned mattress. The shrouded underground room of his, radiated by the candles displayed around his breezy habitat. Your aching head gleamed up on the town's well-known thief, "I give my thanks to thee for keeping me in. Though it does not veil thy sinful soul for violating the seventh-commandment," you growled.
"What the sard is the seventh-commandment?!" The ash-blonde roared, badging your wounds with a cloth, "You look like butt-arse. Can you dip in the tub?!"
"I refrain to glimpse on I, wearing nothing," you mumbled, "You do not have my trust Bakugou; I may not know what happened to you that caused you to become such sinful person. Yet, I plead for you to don't touch me in any manner. I shall ask for thy attention if I do not feel that well. However for now, I need some time alone,"
The ash-blonde scoffed, "May I know why in the bloody world you're covered in blood atleast?!"
Your head went completely blank, shooking your head to convince yourself that the incident with the heterochromia cleric didn't occured, "Now is not the time for thee to grasp the information. Yet I shall indeed tell thee the reason I eventuated into a bloody nun, soon,"
The creaky wooden door slammed open, you gripped on the Ash-blonde's muscular arms for protection; you thought both of you were the only one in the isolated habitat. A red-haired and blonde peeked, eyes-widening. Bakugou clicked his tongue, gazing at your stupefied expression, "(Y/N), shall I give you your command which states that you fancy some time alone?"
"It's Sister (Y/N)," your eyes rolled, correcting him. You were not used to not being honored as a server even though your faith is shattering, "Are... are those Kirishima and Kaminari from astrology and rhetoric class?" Your head tilted, releasing your tight clasp on his arms, "I am not aware you keep in touch with them; knowing also thy burglar actions on synagogues and on affluent villagers," Katsuki clicked his tongue, standing up to reach the door, leaving you alone inside the concealed room.
"Is that Sister (Y/N)?!" Eijirou eyed his Crimson-red eyed friend.
Bakugou rolled his eyes, "Affirmative, you butt-arses!"
Kaminari scratched the back of his head, "Kacchan, don't thy think that you are taking 'stealing' from Catholic-fucks to far?" He cackled, "Sister (Y/N) really? Thou
shall not just steal her off just because she's your—"
"Shut-up you penis!" Bakugou growled.
The red-haired gagged, "You are well aware that they are seeking for her?"
"I am," Katsuki nodded, "I forbid you penises to enter my room. She... she seems startled about seeing people,"
— • —
A week had slip through, yet you were still traumatized with the agonizing moment with the heterochromia reverend. You did managed to tidy yourself up, changing your habit nun outfit with the cloak, the petrifying thief provided you. The ash-blonde indeed cared, supplying you with your needs, restraining as you preferred. Your eyes glared at him, "Katsuki," you mumbled.
He froze on the spot, "You need something else Sister (Y/N)?"
You chuckled, "Thee shall forget about my moronic Nun phase," her eyes rolled, "Don't you think that Nun honorific makes me sound like a hag? It was just a couple of years since I went in the covent,"
Bakugou raised his eyebrows, "Alright, (Y/N)," his tongue clicked, "Do thee need something else to comply with thy needs?"
You shook your head, "I am fine. Just wanted to thank you," you gave him a smile, "Thy love may evaporated long ago but ye managed to serve and respect I,"
Bakugou's tongue clicked, "My love for you never evaporated," his crimson-red eyes glared intensely at you, "(Y/N)... I shall not deny, I still do care for thou,"
You were agape, "I am still longing for you too," your mouth went dry, "The synagogue might change who I am; but you're the piece before my Nun-phase that never withered,"
The ash-blonde pinched the bridge of his nose, "Then why did thou turn into a fucking Nun?" His jaw clenched, "Thou have no idea how I check up on you on how you are doing in the convent! Those fuckers!" Bakugou roared, "I thought you wouldn't let go. We talked about growing together," his deep voice cracked.
"Do not let that slip of your mind that we also talked about our parted ways," A tear was breaming down your cheeks, "Katsuki... Thou are also the reason why I went in the convent. I couldn't... I couldn't get you out of my thoughts," you catched for air, "I thought serving the all-mighty would help me to get thou out of my heart,"
Bakugou grunted, "I— I ask for thee forgiveness. It was both our reckless decision to separate. Yet, after a month of parting, I was indeed upset when you decided to serve the basilica. I was melancholy... I am deeply aware that that decision of thee would mean I can no longer call you mine,"
"Why shall you do sinful actions then? It was agonizing! I could not bear the fact that the man I love was hunted by tons of villagers. Katsuki... they want your head," Your voice suddenly cracking.
His tan head shook, "That's why those Christian butt-arses are a pile of shit!" He groaned, "Those corrupt leprechauns' are bathing on golds! Indulgence— eat shit! I steal and give it to the needy; those who deserve it,"
You blinked, "Thou investigate on the synagogues' dark side? Since when?"
He roared, "Since you came in that convent. I would want to be informed what happens inside it," he coughed, "Also unseen ladies after performing a room confession? Telling the village they might be taken by 'god.' Those misogynistic penises should die! They're probably harassed—" He ceased as he gazed at your thunder-stricken expression.
"I...umm... the day thou sighted me blood-coated, I escaped the clutches of the house of worship. Because I was molested," you gulped.
Bakugou's crimson-red eyes shot, "HAHHHHHHHH?! Who did—"
"Father Todoroki," You monotonously announced.
"WAIT UNTIL I RIP THAT—"
"Katsuki, please don't," you sighed, "I want to burn it, until that scene can no longer be pictured in my mind. As if it never happened," you glared at the raging male, "I shall not go back to the convent and plan to continue a tranquil life on the mountains," you sat up, "Can thou come with me?"
— • —
"You need punishment for being a bad, bad, boy, remember?" Your hands grasped on a rope, knotting his wrists at the wooden headboard, moving on his ankles to tighten the rope.
Bakugou growled, "I didn't know you like it with ropes," he spat. You shook your head, crawling on his tummy; gazing at the clothing veiling his abs. You licked your lips, as you slid your hands under the cloth that serves as the barrier from your skin to his. Your soft fingers curved as you felt every hard ab slid through.
Your eyes turned to the tied ash-blonde, lust etched on his eyes, "How shall I get rid of thy clothing if thy arms are tied?" You tilted your head, zooming at the desk; a sharp scissor caught your attention, "Might as well cut it?" You grabbed the serrated scissors, pinching it on while you bite your lips; parting it on half, as his bare chest gleamed your eyes. A sly smirk etched on Bakugou's face, letting you do whatever's in your mind.
Moaning at the sight of it, your tongue licked every ab, nuzzling, biting; while your hands played with his tits. Your tongue spread out, leaving no part untouched. You earned a moan from the male; as you grind on the squeaking mattress. Your pussy pressured on his v-line, making the Ash-blonde moan. You grind faster, and harder; Feeling his hardened cock under his pants, you hummed. Grinding more, you licked his v-line, making him shiver. Until you licked all the way up, nibbling and biting on his neck, giving him hickeys. A moan of pleasure released his mouth, biting down his skin, as you pulled his soft hair. You bit his ears, "Thou cannot move, can you? Poor, poor, boy,"
His muscular body tensed, attempting to escape the ropes. To have a turn to touch you. The wrists of his trembled, making the headboard bang on the wall. You giggled at how thirsty he is; how hard he desires his cock to be in your wet vagina. Your lips slapped his mumbling mouth, aggresively. You bit his lower lip, biting and licking until you tasted his blood. You licked his teeth to tease, until your tongue collided with his. A smirk etched on his face, finally, tasting you. His tongue knotted your lips, releasing soft moans, "(Y/N)... please let me go. I want to make thou feel how you're making me feel right now," You shook your head, nuzzling on his neck once again, as you crawled under his pants. His hips hopped, as you pushed his pants down; licking your lips at the size of his member. You licked his shaft, he trims his hairs down there, and it really turned you on. His hips buried on the squeaking mattress, as you explore his member licking it down to his muscular legs. You brushed his penis with your clothed vagina. Your hole even though covered, felt how hard he is for you. Your body felt floating as you licked his shaft once more, glaring at the veins spiralled on it. Crawling back to the Ash-blond's chest you stamped a smirk, "Fine, I shall let you go! Thou hard throbbing penis gave me sensation, and I want it in me," You crawled onto his lower part, releasing the knot, while you completely slid off his pants. You bit his tighs as you wriggled to work on his tied wrists.
You sighed, as his wrists breathed, smacking you down the bed, "Sweetheart, it's time for thy punishment," his rough hands aggressively tore your clothing. In a blink of an eye, your were quickly stripped. His warm palms cupped your breast while he bit your lips, also making you bleed. Bakugou then licked your neck, nibbling and giving you love-bites. He sucked you breasts, while you moaned at the painful pleasure. He wasn't joking around when he said punishment because he started grinding on your tighs as you felt his tip poking your clit. His tongue zoomed, licking your wetness; while he positioned himself inside, "Punishment for being so sexy," Your fingers grasped the sheets, while his hard member went in your tight hole. Moans of pleasure escaped your mouth as his cock fully entering you. He started pumping, your hands grabbed his Ash-blonde looms for support, "I'm... cumming— Ahhhh bloody hell!"
---
[ prolly an hour after tHoU had sex ]
The scent of pottage stew circulated your cozy cottage at the halo-white mountain. You would never be weary of the branches creaking while the brisk wind spiralled outside. Bakugou and you moved here three-years ago; it was the sublime lifestyle you longed for. An unsophisticated cottage, farm animals, your exquisite garden. Not to mention Katsuki Bakugou with you.
A thumping on the door made you jump in surprise, "Who may that be?"
The Ash-blonde scoffed, "It's just Shitty hair and Dunce face on their daily visits,"
You nodded, sprinting on the door to see the expected guests. Though, the person who knocked certainly isn't an expected person. Your eyes went round, legs trembling, as you felt tears running down your cheeks, "Todoroki,"
END | Reblog for continuation
part 2 contains: the demon of lust, Asmodeus; the basilica's mysteries; High-Priest Endeavor, the unknown father of Shouto the cleric
—
I kinda made some research for tHyYy to read a kinda accurate medieval story lol
credits to the artist for the featured photo
more lemons: [tap synagouge emojis] ⛪️ ; ⛪️ ; ⛪️
#bnha smut#bnha lemon#boku no hero academia#bnha medieval#bnha bakugou#bnha season 4#katsuki bakugou#katsuki bakugo#katsuki bakugou lemon#katsuki bakugou smut#katsuki bakugo lemon#katsuki bakugo smut#bakugou lemon#bakugou smut#katsuki bakugou x reader#kacchan lemon#katsuki bakugo x reader#bakugou x reader#bakugo x reader#bnha x reader#bakugou medieval#bnha eri#kiribaku#tododeku#bakudeku#lemon#smut
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The Other Woman
Roger Taylor x Female!Reader Smut
A/N: Hi, everyone! In honor of it being my birthday, have this quick Roger fic inspired by the song “The Other Woman,” by Lana Del Rey. Hope you all enjoy! As always, feedback is very much appreciated!
Summary: Roger is yours most nights, but you want him always. You know you can’t, but it doesn’t stop you from wishing things were different.
Word Count: 1,643 words (including lyrics)
Warnings: light smut, angst, and infidelity
The other woman has time to manicure her nails
You smile at the bright red color coating your nails; Roger loves this color on you. He says it suits your complexion better than any other hue.
The other woman is perfect where her rival fails
He calls you beautiful often, over the phone and in person. He says your features rival that of Aphrodite and the compliment has your cheeks heating intensely.
And she’s never seen with pin curls in her hair, anywhere
You love to look your best for him. You love the way he eyes you hungrily, the way his gaze softens when you enter a room.
The other woman enchants her clothes with French perfume
You always wear that scent for him, spraying it over your sternum. It has him nuzzling into your neck without fail, his teeth nipping softly at the skin of your clavicle.
The other woman keeps fresh cut flowers in each room
He says they brighten up the formally dreary feel of your home. He says the house should match the resident. He calls you his flower and you wear the badge proudly.
There are never toys that’s scattered everywhere.
Roger enjoys not having to step over toys when he comes over. He enjoys the quiet and he enjoys you. You do so much to satisfy him, but it’s never enough to make him stay. He always retreats before dawn breaks and your eyes have fluttered opened under the morning sun. He always goes back to the “normal” life he lives, the life he lives without you.
And when her old man comes to call
“Fuck, I need you.” He grunts into the south end of his phone, quiet as to not alert his wife sat oblivious in the next room. You grin, cheek pressed into your palm as your other hand grips the phone lazily.
“Come and get me.” You whisper in an obscenely sultry tone, equally as quiet. As if some unseen force in the room would pick up on the impending infidelity dancing along the telephone connection. You hear shuffling then a faint click as the line goes dead. Your lips stretch over your teeth as you lay back, arms stretching above your head and stomach swimming with desire. Despite your growing want for Roger, there is always that sharp twinge of guilt laced throughout your nerves. When Roger whispers sinful thoughts into the phone, his loving wife is reading peacefully in their shared bed. When Roger lies defiantly in your embrace, his children go to bed without a goodnight from their father. It’s always an afterthought, you only remember the force that tethers Roger to the ground after you’ve already severed the connection.
He finds her waiting like a lonesome queen
When a faint knocking sounds from the front door you know it’s him purely by instinct, it’s a certain rhythm, a certain urgency that reminds you he has to be quick. Nevertheless, you still call out to him. You still invite him into the realm in which he’s violated the sanctity of his marriage so many times previous. His gaze is dark and filled with only want. You’re perched atop your white silken sheets, legs already spread for him. His features are rigid and he’s biting his lip with enough force to pierce the flesh. He climbs onto the mattress, sighing as his face settles into the crook of your neck, his breathy heavy and hot. The sensation sends a shiver climbing up your spine and the delicate moan that escapes your parted lips is divine music to Roger’s well-versed ears. He groans softly, his cock already straining painfully against the material of his trousers.
“God, I’ve missed you.”
“You don’t have to anymore.” You whisper, taking his face into your manicured hands and kissing him with a rushed fervor. He needs no further coercion, already working dark, purple marks into the smooth skin of your neck. You gasp, the heat in your belly growing unbearable as his groin brushes against you, stoking a dying flame deep within you. You grasp at the material of his shirt, desperate for him to shed it. He does, grasping at the material of your bra, silently begging you to mirror his actions and you do. His eyes widen, still not accustomed to the sight of you bare before him. His lips mouth at the swell of your breast while his left hand cups the other, thumb swiping against your nipple softly. You inhale sharply, the sounds leaving you stuttered and broken.
“Please, Rog.” You beg, lacing both hands into his golden blonde hair. He moans lowly, the sensation running through his scalp sends blood straight to his lower half. He looks up, eyes level with yours, both of your gazes holding a similar want.
“What do you need, dove?” He breaths, his finger skimming dangerously low on your abdomen before settling atop your pelvic bone. You whimper, absolutely thrumming with the desire to feel him in every capacity.
“You.” You moan softly, body involuntarily arching into his delicate but purposeful touch. He digests your words carefully. He knows what you mean but understands he can’t give you what you want, at least not in the way you crave it. Nevertheless, he dips his fingers below the waistband of your silken underwear. The pads of his middle and pointer finger pressing against your aching clit. He lifts his head gently to study your face which is contorted in pleasure, small pants leaving your swollen lips. He tenses his jaw, the position forceful enough to fracture.
“You’ve got me.” He lies.
‘Cause to be by her side, it’s such a change from old routine.
When it’s over and the lust has retreated, Roger feels shame but he knows it’s exactly what he needed. You’re the release he so craves, the gift he looks forward to unwrapping every evening. Despite everything he’s got to lose, you bring something new to the table. Everything missing in his life, however little that may be, is filled by your presence. You're fresh, new and remind him of the person he was before domestic life, but he often wonders if he really misses that period. He stays awake in your forbidden grasp and thinks of the family he leaves behind when he arrives at your doorstep. He thinks of his wife and he thinks of his children. That’s what drives him away from your embrace, that’s what makes him leave. However much he wants you in the moment, he doesn’t need you. Not like you need him.
But
He sits up and you register what part of the night it is, the part where he leaves. You watch him dress and you examine the sour expression that his face adopts, the disdain he harbors. Your eyes always prick with tears as you watch him prepare to leave your company as quickly as he enters it. You sit up quickly, a sheet still wrapped around your torso protectively.
“Why don’t you stay the night?” You whisper, hand smoothing down the area of sheets covering his side of the bed. He frowns, eyes still focused on the buttons of his shirt and not you. It stings.
“You know I can’t.” He huffs, pulling on his shoes. It burns.
“Why?” You whisper pathetically, tears now threatening to seep from your closed eyes. He scoffs silently, looping his belt around his narrow waist.
“You know why.” He spits, grabbing his keys and wallet. His feet move towards the direction of the door but the sounds of shuffling halt his movements.
“Rog, please. I-I love you.” You cry desperately, both hands gripping the sheets, your knuckles white under the strain. He freezes in the doorway, his eyes shut tightly as he draws in a breath. He replies without turning to face you, afraid your tears will stifle what he so desperately wants to express.
“I know, but you can’t.” He whispers, before turning the corner and exiting through the front door. You’re stunned, completely stagnate, the blood in your veins sizzling with a burning intensity. It hurts.
The other woman will always cry herself to sleep
You collapse limply into the cold sheets, weeping bitterly into your pillow. You’ve lost him; in the blink of an eye, you’ve lost him. You fall asleep, wishing the barren space next to was filled with his warmth.
The other woman will never have his love to keep
You envy her, you crave her position. You wish his love for you was permanent but it’s fleeting, passing by so quickly that if you blinked, you’d miss it. You stare blankly into the ceiling the next morning, hoping he’d call. Hoping he’d apologize and flatter you with sweet pet names, but he doesn’t, and he never does again.
And as the years go by the other woman
You see them often, in town together, dwelling within the bliss of married life. You feel nauseous, the hand that grips hers was once laced through your hair. The lips that press to her cheek were once leaving purple bruises upon your collar. It’s sickening how easily he slips back into his role of husband and father, but you yearn for the space beside him. You crave to be his but, you can’t, and it eats away at the walls of your heart.
Will spend her life alone
You weep into your hands most nights, you stop going to the nail salon, and you stop buying flowers to perfume the rooms of your home. Everything beautiful reminds you of him. Everything good reminds you of him.
Alone
It’s takes months for the sharp sting to dissipate. It takes even longer for you to stop waiting for his calls, his pleas for your touch. You still think of him everyday and that is the cruelest part. You think of what was and what could have been. You think of him.
Alone
#roger taylor#roger taylor imagine#roger taylor x reader#roger taylor smut#queen#queen smut#queen imagines#brian may#john deacon#freddie mercury#bohemian rhapsody#queen band#bohrhap#borhap smut#borhap imagine
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Today’s reading from the ancient book of Proverbs and book of Psalms
for October 1 of 2021 with Proverbs 1 and Psalm 1, accompanied by Psalm 10 for the 10th day of Astronomical Autumn and Psalm 124 for day 274 of the year (now with the consummate book of 150 Psalms in its 2nd revolution this year)
[Proverbs 1]
I, Solomon, David’s son and Israel’s king, pass on to you these proverbs—a treasury of wisdom—
So that you would recognize wisdom and value discipline;
that you would understand insightful teaching
And receive wise guidance to live a disciplined life;
that you would seek justice and have the ability to choose what is right and fair.
These proverbs teach the naive how to become clever;
they instruct the young in how to grow in knowledge and live with discretion.
The wise will pay attention to these words and will grow in learning,
and the discerning will receive divine guidance,
And they will be able to interpret the meaning of a proverb and a puzzle,
the twists and turns in the words of the wise and their riddles.
Let us begin. The worship of the Eternal One, the one True God, is the first step toward knowledge.
Fools, however, do not fear God and cannot stand wisdom or guidance.
So, my son, pay attention to your father’s guidance,
and do not ignore what your mother taught you—
Wear their wisdom as a badge of honor and maturity,
as fine jewelry around your neck.
My son, should your less honorable peers pressure you to do what is wrong,
you should be strong enough not to go along.
If they should say,
Evildoers: Come on! Everyone, hide and let’s wait to see whom we can beat to a pulp.
We’re going to jump some unsuspecting chumps for no reason at all.
We’ll have our way with them, and when we’re through, there will be nothing left,
as if their bodies were swallowed whole by the grave’s dark pit.
We’ll take whatever we want—all their wealth and their fancy clothes—
and when we’re through, we’ll have piles of their treasure for our own.
You have to join us; forget about God.
We’re going to rake in the goods, and we’ll share all we take!
My son, do not join them;
keep well away from their violent, destructive paths.
For they run right away, every time, to do wrong,
and they are thirsty for blood.
You see, it makes no sense to bait the net and set the trap
while the bird is watching,
But these hiding in the shadows and waiting to spill innocent blood
are really just hastening their own destruction!
By giving in to their sinful desires,
they set themselves up to be ambushed.
This is what happens to everyone who tries to profit by violence;
violence will eventually rob them of their very lives.
There’s another voice in town.
It belongs to Lady Wisdom, who calls out in the street.
She cries out in the town square,
At the city gates, in the noisy city streets,
you can hear her speaking over the racket.
Lady Wisdom: You simple, naive people, how long will you love your feeble ways?
You simpletons, how long will you enjoy making fun of what you don’t understand?
You fools, how long will you hate learning what truly matters?
Turn to me and receive my gentle correction;
Watch and I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will share with you my wise words in order to redirect your lives.
You hear, but you have refused to answer my call.
My hands reached out, but no one noticed.
All my advice, all my correction, all have been neglected—
you wanted nothing of them.
So I will be the laughter you hear when misfortune comes, and it will come.
I will be the mocking sound when panic grips you—
When panic comes like a stormy blast,
when misfortune sweeps in like a whirlwind,
when sorrow and anguish weigh you down.
This is when they will call on me, but I will not respond;
they will be frantic to find me, but they won’t be able.
Because they despised knowledge of my ways,
and they also refused to respect and honor the Eternal,
Because they rejected my advice
and turned down my correction,
They will surely get what’s coming to them:
they’ll be forced to eat the fruit of their wicked ways;
they’ll gorge themselves on the consequences of their choices.
You see, it’s turning away from me that brings death to the simple,
and it’s self-satisfaction that destroys the fools.
But those who listen to me now will live under divine protection;
they can rest knowing they are out of harm’s way.
The Book of Proverbs, Chapter 1 (The Voice)
[Book One]
[Psalm 1]
God’s blessings follow you and await you at every turn:
when you don’t follow the advice of those who delight in wicked schemes,
When you avoid sin’s highway,
when judgment and sarcasm beckon you, but you refuse.
For you, the Eternal’s Word is your happiness.
It is your focus—from dusk to dawn.
You are like a tree,
planted by flowing, cool streams of water that never run dry.
Your fruit ripens in its time;
your leaves never fade or curl in the summer sun.
No matter what you do, you prosper.
For those who focus on sin, the story is different.
They are like the fallen husk of wheat, tossed by an open wind, left deserted and alone.
In the end, the wicked will fall in judgment;
the guilty will be separated from the innocent.
Their road suddenly will end in death,
yet the journey of the righteous has been charted by the Eternal.
The Book of Psalms, Poem 1 (The Voice)
[Psalm 10]
Why, O Eternal One, are You so far away?
Why can’t You be found during troubling times?
Mean and haughty people hunt down the poor.
May they get caught up in their own wicked schemes.
For the wicked celebrates the evil cravings of his heart
as the greedy curses and rejects the Eternal.
The arrogance of the wicked one keeps him from seeking the True God.
He truly thinks, “There is no God.”
His ways seem always to be successful;
Your judgments, too, seem far beyond him, out of his reach.
He looks down on all his enemies.
In his heart he has decided, “Nothing will faze me.
From generation to generation I will not face trouble.”
His mouth is full of curses, lies, and oppression.
Beneath his tongue lie trouble and wickedness.
He hides in the shadows of the villages,
waiting to ambush and kill the innocent in dark corners.
He eyes the weak and the poor.
Ominously, like a lion in its lair,
he lurks in secret to waylay those who are downtrodden.
When he catches them, he draws them in and drags them off with his net.
Quietly crouching, lying low,
ready to overwhelm the next by his strength,
The wicked thinks in his heart, “God has forgotten us!
He has covered His face and will never notice!”
Arise, O Eternal, my True God. Lift up Your hand.
Do not forget the downtrodden.
Why does the wicked revile the True God?
He has decided, “He will not hold me responsible.”
But wait! You have seen,
and You will consider the trouble and grief he caused.
You will impose consequences for his actions.
The helpless, the orphans, commit themselves to You,
and You have been their Helper.
Break the arm of the one guilty of doing evil;
investigate all his wicked acts;
hold him responsible for every last one of them.
The Eternal will reign as King forever.
The other nations will be swept off His land.
O Eternal One, You have heard the longings of the poor and lowly.
You will strengthen them; You who are of heaven will hear them,
Vindicating the orphan and the oppressed
so that men who are of the earth will terrify them no more.
The Book of Psalms, Poem 10 (The Voice)
[Psalm 124]
A song of David for those journeying to worship.
If the Eternal had not been with us—
sing, Israel, sing—
If He had not been with us
when the villains came for us,
When their anger flamed around us,
they would have swallowed us up alive!
Their hatred was like a flood:
the waters were rising and would have engulfed us;
the streams were rushing past and would have overcome us.
The furious waters would have broken over us.
Battered and overwhelmed, we surely would have drowned!
Blessed be the Eternal
who did not leave us
to be torn by their fangs!
Our souls cry out: “We escaped with our lives like a bird
from the fowler’s snare!
The snare was broken,
and we escaped with our lives!”
Our help has come in the name of the Eternal,
the Maker of heaven and earth!
The Book of Psalms, Poem 124 (The Voice)
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I Kicked Oxy During a Pro Boxing Bout in Tijuana
On the shelf in front of me burned two prayer candles. The pre-fight ritual. One read, "Calm and Professional, Box-Box-Box." The other candle read, "Clean and Sober."
Yeah fucking right. Three days into detox, even my tears tasted like a pharmaceutical.
My eyes glazed over as I watched the flames slowly flicker and melt into the floor. In them I saw a highlight reel of all the mistakes that led me here.
I was sitting in the dusty coffin sized back room of what must have been an old military bunker, now corroding on the outskirts of Tijuana, waiting for my 13 th professional boxing bout, just days after my latest attempt to quit OxyContin.
Trembling, I pulled myself up and started to shawdowbox in tiny circles, trying to a get a decent sweat going. In reality, I had been profusely sweating all day. According to WebMD at the 72 hour mark is when the body goes into full opiate withdrawal. Seeing that I had flushed the last of my dope three days earlier, I was right on the money.
+ + +
Coach grabbed the Vaseline out of his bag and walked up to apply the pre coat. He smeared the grease across my eyebrows as I clenched my mouth shut, gritting my teeth to hide the stench of three-day-old tequila, still decaying on my breath.
In the past, this moment had been everything. A crucial point of contact between my coach and I, not to mention the reason I started fighting to begin with—human affection. The bond between a fighter and his trainer is deeper than anything most people will ever experience. I trusted him with my life. I closed my eyes and tried to gather what was left of my spirit, but I couldn't form a single thought.
Photo by Scott Leon
Outside the window I could hear wild dogs howling at the moon, scavenging through the streets of Tijuana for a fix to quiet their hunger. My eyes opened to a fogged mirror that scaled the locker room wall. I looked like a shell of the boxer I used to be.
+ + +
I wasn't your run-of-the-mill California beach kid. My early life consisted of acting out in Special Ed so I could spend the afternoon in detention. Detention kept me hidden from my abusive stepfather. At 13, I was shipped off to military school in south Texas. This was where I first learned how to box.
Being so unsure, unsettled and unsatisfied, three-minute intervals of requited brutality became a state of grace—free from sin. Boxing became my first safe space. A space where all the shitty cards I'd been dealt in life could be put on the table.
Poker face in full effect, evading you with a shit-eating grin, I'd circle the square. Sly as a fox, I became sugar coated in the sweet science—pickpocketing you with jabs, disappearing before you ever knew what happened. Besides, slight of hand was my second nature, to box was to lie and for me growing up, lying meant surviving.
I returned to LA with a new skill set and refused to let my stepfather put his hands on me again. But as much as boxing had given me confidence, my problems continued. I dropped out of high school at 16, not long after reconnecting and moving in with my biological father. He was in between prison sentences when we rekindled. Less than a year later, my dad and I were arrested together for going full Bonnie and Clyde on a crystal meth induced crime spree.
I remember the detective peering over his shoulder taking a mental note of the father/son duo in handcuffs. Cruising down Sherman Way, hog-tied in the back of a patrol car, another sad song of growing up in the Valley. The officer looked me in the face and said, "Son your father's been in and out of prison his entire life. After you get outta juvie, you may want to consider a different line of work."
When I got out of juvie about a month later, I didn't even have enough quarters to take a bus across the valley from Sylmar to Woodland Hills. But the driver let me slide, and I arrived at my father's abandoned apartment and peeled the eviction notice off the door as I picked the lock. I walked past the chaos the cops left behind and went straight for the bathroom. Lifting the top lid off the toilet, I desperately peeled away little pieces of tape that were glued to the bindle hiding the oxy and the eight ball. Using my fathers declined credit card, I swirled together beautiful blue and white lines.
+ + +
What I had realized, finally, was that I could no longer hide behind the masks I wore to survive my childhood. Three days earlier, I kicked oxy. The drug addict had to go, even if the boxer in me had to leave with him. But I still had to box.
I took my trunks out of my bag, white and speckled with the blood of my last five opponents. Never washed, I used to wear them like a badge of honor. That night, in that dark back room, I didn't feel that same confidence.
I pulled up my trunks and immediately threw my shirt back on—it wasn't the night for pre fight-flexing. I was fighting at Jr. Middleweight that night. That's a full weight class higher than I'd ever been. And there was no training camp—remember, I was just three days off the shit. I literally puked my way through a weight cut.
Wrapped up, gloved up, I started warming up on the mitts. Combinations that used to silence the room, echoing like a thunderstorm, were now drizzle, dissolving into my coaches hands.
"Come on kid, come on son, you got this," he said to me. But his words were hollow. He knew why my hands were shaking, and neither of us wanting talk about it. Not tonight. Not again.
+ + +
A man from the commission banged on the door. "Gringo, your up."
If ever boxing had a grim reaper, it was that guy. Coach tied a knot in my robe and I pulled the hood over my head. My body ached so badly, I could feel the silk sinking down the back of my skull. One foot in front of the other, in little pigeon-toed steps, I stuttered down the hallway, feeling uncontrollably sorry for myself.
"Fuck this sob story I tell about my father,," I said to myself as I walked in slow motion, the fans on each side of me cheering my opponent into the ring.
"Fuck my probation officer for introducing me to Freddie Roach.
"Fuck my coaches for loving me unconditionally, there's nothing worth saving here.
"Fuck bottle service girls, fake tits and bumps of cocaine.
"Fuck my fans for believing in this "All-Class" bullshit. I'm a junkie.
"Last but not least, fuck whatever cheese-dick DJ thought it'd be a good idea for my walk out song to be 'Eye of the Tiger.'"
Through a silver curtain, I entered the arena. Still hiding underneath the hood of my robe, I wasn't quite ready to be unveiled.
+ + +
I climbed through the ropes, coach following behind me. He pulled the silk knot from my waist, undressing my robe. I felt vulnerable, naked, and soft but there were no more drugs to hide behind. For the first time in long time, I was truly exposed.
Pulling the Vaseline out of his pocket he applied the final coat over my eyebrows. One final moment to just shut my eyes and feel loved. His arms wrapped around me as he gave me a kiss on the cheek. "This is it son, go get what your worth."
"Seconds out!" the ref yelled.
Coach slid between the ropes, waiting for the time-keeper to buzz the opening bell. Looking down at the floor, I could feel my opponents' eyes burning a hole through me from across the ring. I was too heartbroken to look him back in the eye.
I'm not a big puncher so I usually box gracefully, working off the jab, setting things up, picking my spots, but there was no way I could have pulled it off mid-withdrawal. I was going to have to hit that motherfucker with bad intentions if I wanted to make it out of the ring.
Ding! Ding! My opponent slid up to me, hands high in a poised stance. Fingernails digging into the leather, fists clenched, with every ounce of self-hate in my entire being, I started punching.
Punching for every time the dealer texted me at 2AM saying, "I got blues."
His nose splattered blood as his body crashes against the canvas. He gets up.
"Box!" yelled the ref!
I sent off another barrage of punches.
Punching for every time I put my hands in my own vomit, searching for a chunk of OxyContin that hadn't fully dissolved yet.
He dropped to his knees and the ref began the count. "Don't get up!" I thought to myself. I didn't have enough gas in the tank to get through another round.
His nose poured out a violent red waterfall, and he got up again. The official ordered for the fight to continue and I threw one last combination.
Punching for my coaches that loved me though all this, even when I put them through hell.
Punching for the years I lost, nodded out, and cried behind the curtain in my bathtub.
Punching for the countless overdose attempts, each time coming-to in front of friends and family, fucking humiliated.
Punching for every time I gave up on myself.
+ + +
And suddenly it was over.
Smearing blood from my gloves onto my trunks, I looked back at my coach, I said, "It's okay, I'm okay."
I had 3 days sober and if I made it to midnight, then that would make four. I made a promise to myself that I meant to keep. Even if meant this had to be my last fight.
Photo by Scott Leon
The ref grabbed my wrist, walking me to center ring. The microphone repelled down from the rafters and he leaned in to shout, "Winner by first round knockout... Fighting out of Hollywood California… Representing Wildcard Boxing Club…. ZACHARY "KID YAMAKA" WOHLMAN.
+ + +
Today is my 120 th day clean and sober. The kick is long gone but the memories of my drug use vividly remain. I wish I could sit here and tell you that was my first crack at the whole sobriety thing but that wouldn't be true. What I am hoping is that this is the last crack.
The fight in Tijuana changed me. Sick and miserable, punching through my addiction, I was able to leave the drug addict behind. And for now, I was able to keep the boxer in me alive.
I Kicked Oxy During a Pro Boxing Bout in Tijuana published first on http://ift.tt/2pLTmlv
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Today’s reading from the ancient book of Proverbs and book of Psalms
for September 1 of 2021 with Proverbs 1 and Psalm 1, accompanied by Psalm 74 for the 74th day of Astronomical Summer (simultaneously the first day of meteorological Autumn) and Psalm 94 for day 244 of the year (now with the consummate book of 150 Psalms in its 2nd revolution this year)
[Proverbs 1]
I, Solomon, David’s son and Israel’s king, pass on to you these proverbs—a treasury of wisdom—
So that you would recognize wisdom and value discipline;
that you would understand insightful teaching
And receive wise guidance to live a disciplined life;
that you would seek justice and have the ability to choose what is right and fair.
These proverbs teach the naive how to become clever;
they instruct the young in how to grow in knowledge and live with discretion.
The wise will pay attention to these words and will grow in learning,
and the discerning will receive divine guidance,
And they will be able to interpret the meaning of a proverb and a puzzle,
the twists and turns in the words of the wise and their riddles.
Let us begin. The worship of the Eternal One, the one True God, is the first step toward knowledge.
Fools, however, do not fear God and cannot stand wisdom or guidance.
So, my son, pay attention to your father’s guidance,
and do not ignore what your mother taught you—
Wear their wisdom as a badge of honor and maturity,
as fine jewelry around your neck.
My son, should your less honorable peers pressure you to do what is wrong,
you should be strong enough not to go along.
If they should say,
Evildoers: Come on! Everyone, hide and let’s wait to see whom we can beat to a pulp.
We’re going to jump some unsuspecting chumps for no reason at all.
We’ll have our way with them, and when we’re through, there will be nothing left,
as if their bodies were swallowed whole by the grave’s dark pit.
We’ll take whatever we want—all their wealth and their fancy clothes—
and when we’re through, we’ll have piles of their treasure for our own.
You have to join us; forget about God.
We’re going to rake in the goods, and we’ll share all we take!
My son, do not join them;
keep well away from their violent, destructive paths.
For they run right away, every time, to do wrong,
and they are thirsty for blood.
You see, it makes no sense to bait the net and set the trap
while the bird is watching,
But these hiding in the shadows and waiting to spill innocent blood
are really just hastening their own destruction!
By giving in to their sinful desires,
they set themselves up to be ambushed.
This is what happens to everyone who tries to profit by violence;
violence will eventually rob them of their very lives.
There’s another voice in town.
It belongs to Lady Wisdom, who calls out in the street.
She cries out in the town square,
At the city gates, in the noisy city streets,
you can hear her speaking over the racket.
Lady Wisdom: You simple, naive people, how long will you love your feeble ways?
You simpletons, how long will you enjoy making fun of what you don’t understand?
You fools, how long will you hate learning what truly matters?
Turn to me and receive my gentle correction;
Watch and I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will share with you my wise words in order to redirect your lives.
You hear, but you have refused to answer my call.
My hands reached out, but no one noticed.
All my advice, all my correction, all have been neglected—
you wanted nothing of them.
So I will be the laughter you hear when misfortune comes, and it will come.
I will be the mocking sound when panic grips you—
When panic comes like a stormy blast,
when misfortune sweeps in like a whirlwind,
when sorrow and anguish weigh you down.
This is when they will call on me, but I will not respond;
they will be frantic to find me, but they won’t be able.
Because they despised knowledge of my ways,
and they also refused to respect and honor the Eternal,
Because they rejected my advice
and turned down my correction,
They will surely get what’s coming to them:
they’ll be forced to eat the fruit of their wicked ways;
they’ll gorge themselves on the consequences of their choices.
You see, it’s turning away from me that brings death to the simple,
and it’s self-satisfaction that destroys the fools.
But those who listen to me now will live under divine protection;
they can rest knowing they are out of harm’s way.
The Book of Proverbs, Chapter 1 (The Voice)
[Book 1]
The Genesis Psalms
Psalms of man and creation
The Tree of Life
[Psalm 1]
God’s blessings follow you and await you at every turn:
when you don’t follow the advice of those who delight in wicked schemes,
When you avoid sin’s highway,
when judgment and sarcasm beckon you, but you refuse.
For you, the Eternal’s Word is your happiness.
It is your focus—from dusk to dawn.
You are like a tree,
planted by flowing, cool streams of water that never run dry.
Your fruit ripens in its time;
your leaves never fade or curl in the summer sun.
No matter what you do, you prosper.
For those who focus on sin, the story is different.
They are like the fallen husk of wheat, tossed by an open wind, left deserted and alone.
In the end, the wicked will fall in judgment;
the guilty will be separated from the innocent.
Their road suddenly will end in death,
yet the journey of the righteous has been charted by the Eternal.
The Book of Psalms, Poem 1 (The Voice)
[Psalm 74]
We Need You Now
Asaph’s poem of instruction
Are you really going to leave us, God?
Would you turn your back on us, rejecting your people?
We are yours, your very own.
Will your anger smolder against us forever?
Don’t forget that we are your beloved ones.
Wrap us back into your heart again, for you chose us.
You brought us out of our slavery and bondage
and made us your favored ones, your Zion-people,
your home on earth.
Turn your steps toward this devastation.
Come running to bring your restoring grace to these ruins,
to what the enemy has done to devastate your Holy Place.
They have come into the very midst of your dwelling place,
roaring like beasts, setting up their banners to flaunt their conquest.
Now everything is in shambles! They’ve totally destroyed it.
Like a forest chopped down to the ground,
there’s nothing left.
All of the beauty of the craftsmanship
of the inner place has been ruined,
smashed, broken, and shattered.
They’ve burned it all to the ground.
They’ve violated your sanctuary,
the very dwelling place of your glory and your name.
They boasted, “Let’s completely crush them!
Let’s wipe out every trace of this God.
Let’s burn up every sacred place where they worship this God.”
We don’t see any miraculous signs anymore.
There’s no longer a prophet among us
who can tell us how long this devastation will continue.
God, how much longer will you let this go on
and allow these barbarians to blaspheme your name?
Will you stand back and watch them get away with this forever?
Why don’t you do something?
You have the power to break in,
so why would you hide your great power from us?
Don’t hold back! Unleash your might and give them a final blow.
You have always been, and always will be, my King.
You are the mighty conqueror, working wonders all over the world.
It was you who split the sea in two by your glorious strength.
You smashed the power of Tannin, the sea monster.
You crushed the might of Leviathan, the great dragon,
then you took the crumbs and fed them to the sharks.
With your glory you opened up springs and fountains,
then you spoke, and the ever-flowing springs of Jordan
dried up so we could cross over.
You own the day and the night.
Sunlight and starlight call you Creator.
The four corners of the earth were formed by your hands,
and every changing season owes its beauty to you.
O Yahweh, don’t ever forget how these arrogant enemies,
like fools, have mocked your name.
Lord, aren’t we your beloved dove that praises you?
Protect us from these wild beasts who want to harm us.
Don’t leave us as lambs among wolves!
You can’t abandon us after all we’ve been through!
Remember your promises to us,
for darkness covers the land,
giving the violent ones a hiding place.
Don’t let these insults continue.
Can’t you see that we are your downtrodden
and oppressed people?
Make the poor and needy into a choir of praise to you!
Don’t ignore these ignorant words, this continual mocking.
Rise up, God; it’s time to defend yourself from all this.
Never forget what your adversaries are saying.
For their rage and uproar rise continually against you.
It’s time to stand up to them!
The Book of Psalms, Poem 74 (The Passion Translation)
[Psalm 94]
O Eternal God of vengeance,
O God who sets things right, shine upon us.
Rise, O Judge who presides over the earth,
and pronounce Your sentence upon the proud.
Give them what they deserve!
How long, O Eternal One, how long
will the guilty revel in their prosperity?
Arrogance pours from their mouths;
all these troublemakers brag of their exploits.
They have broken Your people to pieces, O Eternal One,
and brought ruin to Your future generations.
They slay a widow, kill a newcomer,
and murder an orphan.
Then they say, “The Eternal can’t see what we’re up to;
the God of Jacob’s people pays no attention to us.”
Think, brainless people;
stupid people, when will you get it?
Does the God who set the ear in its place not hear?
Does the God who made the eye not see?
Does the God who teaches the nations
and guides humanity to knowledge,
not exercise just correction?
The Eternal knows the highest thoughts of the wise,
and they are worthless.
How fortunate are those You discipline, O Eternal One,
those You train by Your divine law;
You relieve them in times of distress,
until a grave is dug for evildoers.
The Eternal will not abandon His people;
He will not turn away from those He redeemed
Because justice is coming for those who do what is right
and all the good-hearted will pursue it.
Who will back me up when evildoers come against me?
Who is willing to take my side against the wicked?
If the Eternal had not come to my rescue,
my soul would have descended to the land where death silences every voice.
When I said, “My foot is slipping!”
Your unfailing love, O Eternal One, held me up.
When anxiety overtakes me and worries are many,
Your comfort lightens my soul.
Can wicked tyrants be Your allies?
Will You align with rulers who create havoc with unjust decrees?
They have joined forces against the life of the just-living, the right-seeking,
and have sentenced the innocent to death.
But the Eternal has been my citadel;
my God, a sure safe haven.
He will fold their wickedness back upon them,
and because they are malicious, He will silence them.
The Eternal, our True God, will scatter them.
The Book of Psalms, Poem 94 (The Voice)
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Text
Today’s reading from the ancient books of Proverbs and Psalms
for Sunday, november 1 of 2020 with Proverbs 1 and Psalm 1 accompanied by Psalm 41 for the 41st day of Autumn and Psalm 6 for day 306 of the year (now with the consummate book of 150 Psalms in its 3rd revolution this year)
[Psalm 1]
Book 1
The Genesis Psalms
Psalms of man and creation
The Tree of Life
What delight comes to the one who follows God’s ways!
He won’t walk in step with the wicked,
nor share the sinner’s way,
nor be found sitting in the scorner’s seat.
His pleasure and passion is remaining true to the Word of “I Am,”
meditating day and night in the true revelation of light.
He will be standing firm like a flourishing tree
planted by God’s design,
deeply rooted by the brooks of bliss,
bearing fruit in every season of his life.
He is never dry, never fainting,
ever blessed, ever prosperous.
But how different are the wicked.
All they are is dust in the wind—
driven away to destruction!
The wicked will not endure the day of judgment,
for God will not defend them.
Nothing they do will succeed or endure for long,
for they have no part with those who walk in truth.
But how different it is for the righteous!
The Lord embraces their paths as they move forward
while the way of the wicked leads only to doom.
The Book of Psalms, Poem 1 (The Passion Translation)
[Proverbs 1]
I, Solomon, David’s son and Israel’s king, pass on to you these proverbs—a treasury of wisdom—
So that you would recognize wisdom and value discipline;
that you would understand insightful teaching
And receive wise guidance to live a disciplined life;
that you would seek justice and have the ability to choose what is right and fair.
These proverbs teach the naive how to become clever;
they instruct the young in how to grow in knowledge and live with discretion.
The wise will pay attention to these words and will grow in learning,
and the discerning will receive divine guidance,
And they will be able to interpret the meaning of a proverb and a puzzle,
the twists and turns in the words of the wise and their riddles.
Let us begin. The worship of the Eternal One, the one True God, is the first step toward knowledge.
Fools, however, do not fear God and cannot stand wisdom or guidance.
So, my son, pay attention to your father’s guidance,
and do not ignore what your mother taught you—
Wear their wisdom as a badge of honor and maturity,
as fine jewelry around your neck.
My son, should your less honorable peers pressure you to do what is wrong,
you should be strong enough not to go along.
If they should say,
Evildoers: Come on! Everyone, hide and let’s wait to see whom we can beat to a pulp.
We’re going to jump some unsuspecting chumps for no reason at all.
We’ll have our way with them, and when we’re through, there will be nothing left,
as if their bodies were swallowed whole by the grave’s dark pit.
We’ll take whatever we want—all their wealth and their fancy clothes—
and when we’re through, we’ll have piles of their treasure for our own.
You have to join us; forget about God.
We’re going to rake in the goods, and we’ll share all we take!
My son, do not join them;
keep well away from their violent, destructive paths.
For they run right away, every time, to do wrong,
and they are thirsty for blood.
You see, it makes no sense to bait the net and set the trap
while the bird is watching,
But these hiding in the shadows and waiting to spill innocent blood
are really just hastening their own destruction!
By giving in to their sinful desires,
they set themselves up to be ambushed.
This is what happens to everyone who tries to profit by violence;
violence will eventually rob them of their very lives.
There’s another voice in town.
It belongs to Lady Wisdom, who calls out in the street.
She cries out in the town square,
At the city gates, in the noisy city streets,
you can hear her speaking over the racket.
Lady Wisdom: You simple, naive people, how long will you love your feeble ways?
You simpletons, how long will you enjoy making fun of what you don’t understand?
You fools, how long will you hate learning what truly matters?
Turn to me and receive my gentle correction;
Watch and I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will share with you my wise words in order to redirect your lives.
You hear, but you have refused to answer my call.
My hands reached out, but no one noticed.
All my advice, all my correction, all have been neglected—
you wanted nothing of them.
So I will be the laughter you hear when misfortune comes, and it will come.
I will be the mocking sound when panic grips you—
When panic comes like a stormy blast,
when misfortune sweeps in like a whirlwind,
when sorrow and anguish weigh you down.
This is when they will call on me, but I will not respond;
they will be frantic to find me, but they won’t be able.
Because they despised knowledge of my ways,
and they also refused to respect and honor the Eternal,
Because they rejected my advice
and turned down my correction,
They will surely get what’s coming to them:
they’ll be forced to eat the fruit of their wicked ways;
they’ll gorge themselves on the consequences of their choices.
You see, it’s turning away from me that brings death to the simple,
and it’s self-satisfaction that destroys the fools.
But those who listen to me now will live under divine protection;
they can rest knowing they are out of harm’s way.
The Book of Proverbs, Chapter 1 (The Voice)
[Psalm 41]
I Need You, Lord
King David’s poetic song for the Pure and Shining One
God always blesses those who are kind to the poor and helpless.
They’re the first ones God helps
when they find themselves in any trouble.
The Lord will preserve and protect them.
They’ll be honored and esteemed
while their enemies are defeated.
When they are sick, God will restore them,
lying upon their bed of suffering.
He will raise them up again and restore them back to health.
So in my sickness I say to you,
“Lord, be my kind healer.
Heal my body and soul; heal me, God!
For I have confessed my sins to you.”
But those who hate me wish the worst for me, saying,
“When will he die and be forgotten?”
And when these “friends” come to visit me
with their pious sympathy and their hollow words
and with hypocrisy hidden in their hearts,
I can see right through it all.
For they come merely to gather gossip about me,
using all they find to mock me with malicious hearts of slander.
They are wicked whisperers who imagine the worst for me,
repeating their rumors, saying,
“He got what he deserved; it’s over for him!
The spirit of infirmity is upon him and
he’ll never get over this illness.”
Even my ally, my friend, has turned against me.
He was one I totally trusted with my life,
sharing supper with him,
and now he shows me nothing but betrayal and treachery.
He has sold me as an enemy.
So Lord, please don’t desert me when I need you!
Give me grace and get me back on my feet
so I can triumph over them all.
Then I’ll know you’re pleased with me
when you allow me to taste of victory over all my foes.
Now stand up for me and don’t let me fall,
for I’ve walked with integrity.
Keep me before your face forever.
Everyone praise the Lord God of Israel, always and forever!
For he is from eternity past
and will remain for the eternity to come.
That’s the way it will be forever.
Faithful is our King! Amen!
The Book of Psalms, Poem 41 (The Passion Translation)
[Psalm 6]
A Cry for Healing
For the Pure and Shining One
A song for the end, sung for the new day by King David
For the worship leader. A song of David accompanied by the lyre.
O Eternal One, don’t punish me in Your anger
or harshly correct me.
Show me grace, Eternal God. I am completely undone.
Bring me back together, Eternal One. Mend my shattered bones.
My soul is drowning in darkness.
How long can You, the Eternal, let things go on like this?
Come back, Eternal One, and lead me to Your saving light.
Rescue me because I know You are truly compassionate.
I’m alive for a reason—I can’t worship You if I’m dead.
If I’m six feet under, how can I thank You?
I’m exhausted. I cannot even speak, my voice fading as sighs.
Every day ends in the same place—lying in bed, covered in tears,
my pillow wet with sorrow.
My eyes burn, devoured with grief;
they grow weak as I constantly watch for my enemies.
All who are evil, stay away from me
because the Eternal hears my voice, listens as I cry.
The Eternal God hears my simple prayers;
He receives my request.
All who seek to destroy me will be humiliated;
they will turn away and suddenly crumble in shame.
The Book of Psalms, Poem 6 (The Passion Translation / The Voice)
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Text
Today’s reading from the ancient books of Proverbs and Psalms
for Thursday, October 1 of 2020 with Proverbs 1 and Psalm 1 accompanied by Psalm 10 for the 10th day of Autumn and Psalm 125 for day 275 of the year
[Psalm 1]
Book 1
The Genesis Psalms
Psalms of man and creation
The Tree of Life
What delight comes to the one who follows God’s ways!
He won’t walk in step with the wicked,
nor share the sinner’s way,
nor be found sitting in the scorner’s seat.
His pleasure and passion is remaining true to the Word of “I Am,”
meditating day and night in the true revelation of light.
He will be standing firm like a flourishing tree
planted by God’s design,
deeply rooted by the brooks of bliss,
bearing fruit in every season of his life.
He is never dry, never fainting,
ever blessed, ever prosperous.
But how different are the wicked.
All they are is dust in the wind—
driven away to destruction!
The wicked will not endure the day of judgment,
for God will not defend them.
Nothing they do will succeed or endure for long,
for they have no part with those who walk in truth.
But how different it is for the righteous!
The Lord embraces their paths as they move forward
while the way of the wicked leads only to doom.
The Book of Psalms, Poem 1 (The Passion Translation)
[Proverbs 1]
I, Solomon, David’s son and Israel’s king, pass on to you these proverbs—a treasury of wisdom—
So that you would recognize wisdom and value discipline;
that you would understand insightful teaching
And receive wise guidance to live a disciplined life;
that you would seek justice and have the ability to choose what is right and fair.
These proverbs teach the naive how to become clever;
they instruct the young in how to grow in knowledge and live with discretion.
The wise will pay attention to these words and will grow in learning,
and the discerning will receive divine guidance,
And they will be able to interpret the meaning of a proverb and a puzzle,
the twists and turns in the words of the wise and their riddles.
Let us begin. The worship of the Eternal One, the one True God, is the first step toward knowledge.
Fools, however, do not fear God and cannot stand wisdom or guidance.
So, my son, pay attention to your father’s guidance,
and do not ignore what your mother taught you—
Wear their wisdom as a badge of honor and maturity,
as fine jewelry around your neck.
My son, should your less honorable peers pressure you to do what is wrong,
you should be strong enough not to go along.
If they should say,
Evildoers: Come on! Everyone, hide and let’s wait to see whom we can beat to a pulp.
We’re going to jump some unsuspecting chumps for no reason at all.
We’ll have our way with them, and when we’re through, there will be nothing left,
as if their bodies were swallowed whole by the grave’s dark pit.
We’ll take whatever we want—all their wealth and their fancy clothes—
and when we’re through, we’ll have piles of their treasure for our own.
You have to join us; forget about God.
We’re going to rake in the goods, and we’ll share all we take!
My son, do not join them;
keep well away from their violent, destructive paths.
For they run right away, every time, to do wrong,
and they are thirsty for blood.
You see, it makes no sense to bait the net and set the trap
while the bird is watching,
But these hiding in the shadows and waiting to spill innocent blood
are really just hastening their own destruction!
By giving in to their sinful desires,
they set themselves up to be ambushed.
This is what happens to everyone who tries to profit by violence;
violence will eventually rob them of their very lives.
There’s another voice in town.
It belongs to Lady Wisdom, who calls out in the street.
She cries out in the town square,
At the city gates, in the noisy city streets,
you can hear her speaking over the racket.
Lady Wisdom: You simple, naive people, how long will you love your feeble ways?
You simpletons, how long will you enjoy making fun of what you don’t understand?
You fools, how long will you hate learning what truly matters?
Turn to me and receive my gentle correction;
Watch and I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will share with you my wise words in order to redirect your lives.
You hear, but you have refused to answer my call.
My hands reached out, but no one noticed.
All my advice, all my correction, all have been neglected—
you wanted nothing of them.
So I will be the laughter you hear when misfortune comes, and it will come.
I will be the mocking sound when panic grips you—
When panic comes like a stormy blast,
when misfortune sweeps in like a whirlwind,
when sorrow and anguish weigh you down.
This is when they will call on me, but I will not respond;
they will be frantic to find me, but they won’t be able.
Because they despised knowledge of my ways,
and they also refused to respect and honor the Eternal,
Because they rejected my advice
and turned down my correction,
They will surely get what’s coming to them:
they’ll be forced to eat the fruit of their wicked ways;
they’ll gorge themselves on the consequences of their choices.
You see, it’s turning away from me that brings death to the simple,
and it’s self-satisfaction that destroys the fools.
But those who listen to me now will live under divine protection;
they can rest knowing they are out of harm’s way.
The Book of Proverbs, Chapter 1 (The Voice)
[Psalm 10]
Why, O Eternal One, are You so far away?
Why can’t You be found during troubling times?
Mean and haughty people hunt down the poor.
May they get caught up in their own wicked schemes.
For the wicked celebrates the evil cravings of his heart
as the greedy curses and rejects the Eternal.
The arrogance of the wicked one keeps him from seeking the True God.
He truly thinks, “There is no God.”
His ways seem always to be successful;
Your judgments, too, seem far beyond him, out of his reach.
He looks down on all his enemies.
In his heart he has decided, “Nothing will faze me.
From generation to generation I will not face trouble.”
His mouth is full of curses, lies, and oppression.
Beneath his tongue lie trouble and wickedness.
He hides in the shadows of the villages,
waiting to ambush and kill the innocent in dark corners.
He eyes the weak and the poor.
Ominously, like a lion in its lair,
he lurks in secret to waylay those who are downtrodden.
When he catches them, he draws them in and drags them off with his net.
Quietly crouching, lying low,
ready to overwhelm the next by his strength,
The wicked thinks in his heart, “God has forgotten us!
He has covered His face and will never notice!”
Arise, O Eternal, my True God. Lift up Your hand.
Do not forget the downtrodden.
Why does the wicked revile the True God?
He has decided, “He will not hold me responsible.”
But wait! You have seen,
and You will consider the trouble and grief he caused.
You will impose consequences for his actions.
The helpless, the orphans, commit themselves to You,
and You have been their Helper.
Break the arm of the one guilty of doing evil;
investigate all his wicked acts;
hold him responsible for every last one of them.
The Eternal will reign as King forever.
The other nations will be swept off His land.
O Eternal One, You have heard the longings of the poor and lowly.
You will strengthen them; You who are of heaven will hear them,
Vindicating the orphan and the oppressed
so that men who are of the earth will terrify them no more.
The Book of Psalms, Poem 10 (The Voice)
[Psalm 125]
God’s Surrounding Presence
A song of the stairway
Those who trust in the Lord are as unshakeable,
as unmovable as mighty Mount Zion!
Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the Lord’s wrap-around presence
surrounds his people, protecting them now and forever.
The wicked will not always rule over the godly,
provoking them to do what is evil.
God, let your goodness be given away to your good people,
to all your godly lovers!
But those who turn away from truth,
you will turn them away from you, to follow their crooked ways.
You will give them just what they deserve.
May Israel experience peace and prosperity!
The Book of Psalms, Poem 125 (The Passion Translation)
0 notes
Text
Today’s reading in the ancient book of Proverbs and Psalms
for Wednesday, july 1 of 2020 with Proverbs 1 and Psalm 1 accompanied by Psalm 12 for the 12th day of Summer and Psalm 33 for day 183 of the year
To begin:
[Proverbs 1]
I, Solomon, David’s son and Israel’s king, pass on to you these proverbs—a treasury of wisdom—
So that you would recognize wisdom and value discipline;
that you would understand insightful teaching
And receive wise guidance to live a disciplined life;
that you would seek justice and have the ability to choose what is right and fair.
These proverbs teach the naive how to become clever;
they instruct the young in how to grow in knowledge and live with discretion.
The wise will pay attention to these words and will grow in learning,
and the discerning will receive divine guidance,
And they will be able to interpret the meaning of a proverb and a puzzle,
the twists and turns in the words of the wise and their riddles.
Let us begin. The worship of the Eternal One, the one True God, is the first step toward knowledge.
Fools, however, do not fear God and cannot stand wisdom or guidance.
So, my son, pay attention to your father’s guidance,
and do not ignore what your mother taught you—
Wear their wisdom as a badge of honor and maturity,
as fine jewelry around your neck.
My son, should your less honorable peers pressure you to do what is wrong,
you should be strong enough not to go along.
If they should say,
Evildoers: Come on! Everyone, hide and let’s wait to see whom we can beat to a pulp.
We’re going to jump some unsuspecting chumps for no reason at all.
We’ll have our way with them, and when we’re through, there will be nothing left,
as if their bodies were swallowed whole by the grave’s dark pit.
We’ll take whatever we want—all their wealth and their fancy clothes—
and when we’re through, we’ll have piles of their treasure for our own.
You have to join us; forget about God.
We’re going to rake in the goods, and we’ll share all we take!
My son, do not join them;
keep well away from their violent, destructive paths.
For they run right away, every time, to do wrong,
and they are thirsty for blood.
You see, it makes no sense to bait the net and set the trap
while the bird is watching,
But these hiding in the shadows and waiting to spill innocent blood
are really just hastening their own destruction!
By giving in to their sinful desires,
they set themselves up to be ambushed.
This is what happens to everyone who tries to profit by violence;
violence will eventually rob them of their very lives.
There’s another voice in town.
It belongs to Lady Wisdom, who calls out in the street.
She cries out in the town square,
At the city gates, in the noisy city streets,
you can hear her speaking over the racket.
Lady Wisdom: You simple, naive people, how long will you love your feeble ways?
You simpletons, how long will you enjoy making fun of what you don’t understand?
You fools, how long will you hate learning what truly matters?
Turn to me and receive my gentle correction;
Watch and I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will share with you my wise words in order to redirect your lives.
You hear, but you have refused to answer my call.
My hands reached out, but no one noticed.
All my advice, all my correction, all have been neglected—
you wanted nothing of them.
So I will be the laughter you hear when misfortune comes, and it will come.
I will be the mocking sound when panic grips you—
When panic comes like a stormy blast,
when misfortune sweeps in like a whirlwind,
when sorrow and anguish weigh you down.
This is when they will call on me, but I will not respond;
they will be frantic to find me, but they won’t be able.
Because they despised knowledge of my ways,
and they also refused to respect and honor the Eternal,
Because they rejected my advice
and turned down my correction,
They will surely get what’s coming to them:
they’ll be forced to eat the fruit of their wicked ways;
they’ll gorge themselves on the consequences of their choices.
You see, it’s turning away from me that brings death to the simple,
and it’s self-satisfaction that destroys the fools.
But those who listen to me now will live under divine protection;
they can rest knowing they are out of harm’s way.
The Book of Proverbs, Chapter 1 (The Voice)
[Psalm 1]
Book 1
The Genesis Psalms
Psalms of man and creation
The Tree of Life
What delight comes to the one who follows God’s ways!
He won’t walk in step with the wicked,
nor share the sinner’s way,
nor be found sitting in the scorner’s seat.
His pleasure and passion is remaining true to the Word of “I Am,”
meditating day and night in the true revelation of light.
He will be standing firm like a flourishing tree
planted by God’s design,
deeply rooted by the brooks of bliss,
bearing fruit in every season of his life.
He is never dry, never fainting,
ever blessed, ever prosperous.
But how different are the wicked.
All they are is dust in the wind—
driven away to destruction!
The wicked will not endure the day of judgment,
for God will not defend them.
Nothing they do will succeed or endure for long,
for they have no part with those who walk in truth.
But how different it is for the righteous!
The Lord embraces their paths as they move forward
while the way of the wicked leads only to doom.
The Book of Psalms, Poem 1 (The Passion Translation)
[Psalm 12]
Song for the New Day
For the Pure and Shining One
A song of smiting, sung for the new day by King David
Help, Lord! Save us! For godly ones are swiftly disappearing.
Where are the dependable, principled ones?
They’re a vanishing breed!
Everyone lies, everyone flatters, and everyone deceives.
Nothing but empty talk, smooth talk, and double-talk.
Where are the truthful?
I know the Lord will not deal gently with people like that!
You will destroy every proud liar who says, “We lie all we want.
Our words are our weapons, and we won’t be held accountable.
Who can stop us?”
May the Lord cut off their twisted tongues
and seal their lying lips.
May they all be silenced—those who boast and brag with their
high-minded talk about doing whatever they want.
But the Lord says, “Now I will arise!
I will defend the poor,
those who were plundered, the oppressed,
and the needy who groan for help.
I will arise to rescue and protect them!”
For every word God speaks is sure and every promise pure.
His truth is tested, found to be flawless, and ever faithful.
It’s as pure as silver refined seven times in a crucible of clay.
Lord, you will keep us forever safe,
out of the reach of the wicked.
Even though they strut and prowl,
tolerating and celebrating what is worthless and vile,
you will still lift up those who are yours!
The Book of Psalms, Poem 12 (The Passion Translation)
with these lines mirrored in The Message:
God’s words are pure words,
Pure silver words refined seven times
In the fires of his word-kiln,
Pure on earth as well as in heaven.
God, keep us safe from their lies,
From the wicked who stalk us with lies,
From the wicked who collect honors
For their wonderful lies.
The Book of Psalms, Poem 12:6-8 (The Message)
[Psalm 33]
Release your heart’s joy in sweet music to the Eternal.
When the upright passionately sing glory-filled songs to Him, everything is in its right place.
Worship the Eternal with your instruments, strings offering their praise;
write awe-filled songs to Him on the 10-stringed harp.
Sing to Him a new song;
play each the best way you can,
and don’t be afraid to be bold with your joyful feelings.
For the word of the Eternal is perfect and true;
His actions are always faithful and right.
He loves virtue and equity;
the Eternal’s love fills the whole earth.
The unfathomable cosmos came into being at the word of the Eternal’s imagination, a solitary voice in endless darkness.
The breath of His mouth whispered the sea of stars into existence.
He gathers every drop of every ocean as in a jar,
securing the ocean depths as His watery treasure.
Let all people stand in awe of the Eternal;
let every man, woman, and child live in wonder of Him.
For He spoke, and all things came into being.
A single command from His lips, and all creation obeyed and stood its ground.
The Eternal cripples the schemes of the other nations;
He impedes the plans of rival peoples.
The Eternal’s purposes will last to the end of time;
the thoughts of His heart will awaken and stir all generations.
The nation whose True God is the Eternal is truly blessed;
fortunate are all whom He chooses to inherit His legacy.
The Eternal peers down from heaven
and watches all of humanity;
He observes every soul
from His divine residence.
He has formed every human heart, breathing life into every human spirit;
He knows the deeds of each person, inside and out.
A king is not delivered by the might of his army.
Even the strongest warrior is not saved by his own strength.
A horse is not the way to victory;
its great strength cannot rescue.
Listen, the eye of the Eternal is upon those who live in awe of Him,
those who hope in His steadfast love,
That He may save them from the darkness of the grave
and be kept alive during the lean seasons.
We live with hope in the Eternal. We wait for Him,
for He is our Divine Help and Impenetrable Shield.
Our hearts erupt with joy in Him
because we trust His holy name.
O Eternal, drench us with Your endless love,
even now as we wait for You.
The Book of Psalms, Poem 33 (The Voice)
0 notes
Text
the first of december
coincides with the reading of the first chapter of the book of Proverbs and the first Psalm
[Proverbs 1]
I, Solomon, David’s son and Israel’s king, pass on to you these proverbs—a treasury of wisdom—
So that you would recognize wisdom and value discipline;
that you would understand insightful teaching
And receive wise guidance to live a disciplined life;
that you would seek justice and have the ability to choose what is right and fair.
These proverbs teach the naive how to become clever;
they instruct the young in how to grow in knowledge and live with discretion.
The wise will pay attention to these words and will grow in learning,
and the discerning will receive divine guidance,
And they will be able to interpret the meaning of a proverb and a puzzle,
the twists and turns in the words of the wise and their riddles.
Let us begin. The worship of the Eternal One, the one True God, is the first step toward knowledge.
Fools, however, do not fear God and cannot stand wisdom or guidance.
So, my son, pay attention to your father’s guidance,
and do not ignore what your mother taught you—
Wear their wisdom as a badge of honor and maturity,
as fine jewelry around your neck.
My son, should your less honorable peers pressure you to do what is wrong,
you should be strong enough not to go along.
If they should say,
Evildoers: Come on! Everyone, hide and let’s wait to see whom we can beat to a pulp.
We’re going to jump some unsuspecting chumps for no reason at all.
We’ll have our way with them, and when we’re through, there will be nothing left,
as if their bodies were swallowed whole by the grave’s dark pit.
We’ll take whatever we want—all their wealth and their fancy clothes—
and when we’re through, we’ll have piles of their treasure for our own.
You have to join us; forget about God.
We’re going to rake in the goods, and we’ll share all we take!
My son, do not join them;
keep well away from their violent, destructive paths.
For they run right away, every time, to do wrong,
and they are thirsty for blood.
You see, it makes no sense to bait the net and set the trap
while the bird is watching,
But these hiding in the shadows and waiting to spill innocent blood
are really just hastening their own destruction!
By giving in to their sinful desires,
they set themselves up to be ambushed.
This is what happens to everyone who tries to profit by violence;
violence will eventually rob them of their very lives.
There’s another voice in town.
It belongs to Lady Wisdom, who calls out in the street.
She cries out in the town square,
At the city gates, in the noisy city streets,
you can hear her speaking over the racket.
Lady Wisdom: You simple, naive people, how long will you love your feeble ways?
You simpletons, how long will you enjoy making fun of what you don’t understand?
You fools, how long will you hate learning what truly matters?
Turn to me and receive my gentle correction;
Watch and I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will share with you my wise words in order to redirect your lives.
You hear, but you have refused to answer my call.
My hands reached out, but no one noticed.
All my advice, all my correction, all have been neglected—
you wanted nothing of them.
So I will be the laughter you hear when misfortune comes, and it will come.
I will be the mocking sound when panic grips you—
When panic comes like a stormy blast,
when misfortune sweeps in like a whirlwind,
when sorrow and anguish weigh you down.
This is when they will call on me, but I will not respond;
they will be frantic to find me, but they won’t be able.
Because they despised knowledge of my ways,
and they also refused to respect and honor the Eternal,
Because they rejected my advice
and turned down my correction,
They will surely get what’s coming to them:
they’ll be forced to eat the fruit of their wicked ways;
they’ll gorge themselves on the consequences of their choices.
You see, it’s turning away from me that brings death to the simple,
and it’s self-satisfaction that destroys the fools.
But those who listen to me now will live under divine protection;
they can rest knowing they are out of harm’s way.
The Book of Proverbs, Chapter 1 (The Voice)
[Psalm 1]
Book 1
The Genesis Psalms
Psalms of man and creation
The Tree of Life
God’s blessings follow you and await you at every turn:
when you don’t follow the advice of those who delight in wicked schemes,
When you avoid sin’s highway,
when judgment and sarcasm beckon you, but you refuse.
For you, the Eternal’s Word is your happiness.
It is your focus—from dusk to dawn.
You are like a tree,
planted by flowing, cool streams of water that never run dry.
Your fruit ripens in its time;
your leaves never fade or curl in the summer sun.
No matter what you do, you prosper.
For those who focus on sin, the story is different.
They are like the fallen husk of wheat, tossed by an open wind, left deserted and alone.
In the end, the wicked will fall in judgment;
the guilty will be separated from the innocent.
Their road suddenly will end in death,
yet the journey of the righteous has been charted by the Eternal.
The Book of Psalms, Poem 1 (The Voice)
Instead you thrill to God’s Word,
you chew on Scripture day and night.
You’re a tree replanted in Eden,
bearing fresh fruit every month,
Never dropping a leaf,
always in blossom.
The Book of Psalms, Poem 1:2-3 (The Message)
my personal reading of the Scriptures for the first of december, the 70th day of Autumn and day 335 of the year:
0 notes
Text
Today’s reading from the ancient book of Proverbs and book of Psalms
for june 1 of 2021 with Proverbs 1 and Psalm 1, accompanied by Psalm 74 for the 74th day of Spring and Psalm 2 for day 152 of the year (now with the consummate book of 150 Psalms in its 2nd revolution this year)
[Proverbs 1]
I, Solomon, David’s son and Israel’s king, pass on to you these proverbs—a treasury of wisdom—
So that you would recognize wisdom and value discipline;
that you would understand insightful teaching
And receive wise guidance to live a disciplined life;
that you would seek justice and have the ability to choose what is right and fair.
These proverbs teach the naive how to become clever;
they instruct the young in how to grow in knowledge and live with discretion.
The wise will pay attention to these words and will grow in learning,
and the discerning will receive divine guidance,
And they will be able to interpret the meaning of a proverb and a puzzle,
the twists and turns in the words of the wise and their riddles.
Let us begin. The worship of the Eternal One, the one True God, is the first step toward knowledge.
Fools, however, do not fear God and cannot stand wisdom or guidance.
So, my son, pay attention to your father’s guidance,
and do not ignore what your mother taught you—
Wear their wisdom as a badge of honor and maturity,
as fine jewelry around your neck.
My son, should your less honorable peers pressure you to do what is wrong,
you should be strong enough not to go along.
If they should say,
Evildoers: Come on! Everyone, hide and let’s wait to see whom we can beat to a pulp.
We’re going to jump some unsuspecting chumps for no reason at all.
We’ll have our way with them, and when we’re through, there will be nothing left,
as if their bodies were swallowed whole by the grave’s dark pit.
We’ll take whatever we want—all their wealth and their fancy clothes—
and when we’re through, we’ll have piles of their treasure for our own.
You have to join us; forget about God.
We’re going to rake in the goods, and we’ll share all we take!
My son, do not join them;
keep well away from their violent, destructive paths.
For they run right away, every time, to do wrong,
and they are thirsty for blood.
You see, it makes no sense to bait the net and set the trap
while the bird is watching,
But these hiding in the shadows and waiting to spill innocent blood
are really just hastening their own destruction!
By giving in to their sinful desires,
they set themselves up to be ambushed.
This is what happens to everyone who tries to profit by violence;
violence will eventually rob them of their very lives.
There’s another voice in town.
It belongs to Lady Wisdom, who calls out in the street.
She cries out in the town square,
At the city gates, in the noisy city streets,
you can hear her speaking over the racket.
Lady Wisdom: You simple, naive people, how long will you love your feeble ways?
You simpletons, how long will you enjoy making fun of what you don’t understand?
You fools, how long will you hate learning what truly matters?
Turn to me and receive my gentle correction;
Watch and I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will share with you my wise words in order to redirect your lives.
You hear, but you have refused to answer my call.
My hands reached out, but no one noticed.
All my advice, all my correction, all have been neglected—
you wanted nothing of them.
So I will be the laughter you hear when misfortune comes, and it will come.
I will be the mocking sound when panic grips you—
When panic comes like a stormy blast,
when misfortune sweeps in like a whirlwind,
when sorrow and anguish weigh you down.
This is when they will call on me, but I will not respond;
they will be frantic to find me, but they won’t be able.
Because they despised knowledge of my ways,
and they also refused to respect and honor the Eternal,
Because they rejected my advice
and turned down my correction,
They will surely get what’s coming to them:
they’ll be forced to eat the fruit of their wicked ways;
they’ll gorge themselves on the consequences of their choices.
You see, it’s turning away from me that brings death to the simple,
and it’s self-satisfaction that destroys the fools.
But those who listen to me now will live under divine protection;
they can rest knowing they are out of harm’s way.
The Book of Proverbs, Chapter 1 (The Voice)
[Psalm 1]
Book 1
The Genesis Psalms
Psalms of man and creation
The Tree of Life
What delight comes to the one who follows God’s ways!
He won’t walk in step with the wicked,
nor share the sinner’s way,
nor be found sitting in the scorner’s seat.
His passion is to remain true to the Word of “I AM,”
meditating day and night on the true revelation of light.
He will be standing firm like a flourishing tree
planted by God’s design,
deeply rooted by the brooks of bliss,
bearing fruit in every season of life.
He is never dry, never fainting,
ever blessed, ever prosperous.
But how different are the wicked.
They are like chaff blown away by the wind.
The wicked will not endure the day of judgment,
for God will not defend them.
Nothing they do will succeed or endure for long,
for they have no part with those who walk in truth.
But how different it is for the righteous!
The Lord embraces their paths as they move forward
while the way of the wicked leads only to doom.
The Book of Psalms, Poem 1 (The Passion Translation)
[Psalm 74]
A contemplative song of Asaph.
This lament was written shortly after the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 586 b.c. Now in exile and separated from God, His city, and His land, the people of God experience pain that is palpable.
O True God, why have You turned Your back on us and abandoned us forever?
Why is Your anger seething and Your wrath smoldering against the sheep of Your pasture?
Remember the congregation of people You acquired long ago,
the tribe which You redeemed to be Your very own.
Remember Mount Zion, where You have chosen to live!
Come, direct Your attention to Your sanctuary;
our enemy has demolished everything and left it in complete ruin.
Your enemies roared like lions in Your sacred chamber;
they have claimed it with their own standards as signs.
They acted like lumberjacks swinging their axes
to cut down a stand of trees.
They hacked up all the beautifully carved items,
smashed them to splinters with their axes and hammers.
They have burned Your sanctuary to the ground;
they have desecrated the place where Your holy name lived in honor;
They have plotted in their hearts, “We will crush them and bring them to their knees!”
Then they scorched all of the places in the land where the True God met His people.
We no longer receive signs,
there are no more prophets who remain,
and not one of us knows how long this situation will last.
O True God, how much longer will the enemy mock us?
Will this insult continue against You forever?
Why do You stand by and do nothing?
Unleash Your power and finish them off!
Even so, the True God is my King from long ago,
bringing salvation to His people throughout the land.
You have divided the sea with Your power;
You shattered the skulls of the creatures of the sea;
You smashed the heads of Leviathan
and fed his remains to the people of the desert.
You broke open the earth and springs burst forth and streams filled the crevices;
You dried up the great rivers.
The day and the night are both Yours—
You fashioned the sun, moon, and all the lights that pierce the darkness.
You have arranged the earth, set all its boundaries;
You are the Architect of the seasons: summer and winter.
Eternal One, do not forget that the enemy has taunted You
and a company of fools has rejected Your name.
We are Your precious turtledoves;
don’t surrender our souls to the wild beasts.
Do not forget the lives of Your poor, afflicted, and brokenhearted ones forever.
Be mindful of Your covenant with us,
for the dark corners of the land are filled with pockets of violence.
Do not allow the persecuted to return without honor;
may the poor, wounded, and needy sing praises to You;
may they bring glory to Your name!
O True God, rise up and defend Your cause;
remember how the foolish man insults You every hour of the day.
Do not forget the voices of Your enemies,
the commotion and chaos of Your foes, which continually grow.
The Book of Psalms, Poem 74 (The Voice)
[Psalm 2]
You are wondering: What has provoked the nations to embrace anger and chaos?
Why are the people making plans to pursue their own vacant and empty greatness?
Leaders of nations stand united;
rulers put their heads together,
plotting against the Eternal One and His Anointed King, trying to figure out
How they can throw off the gentle reign of God’s love,
step out from under the restrictions of His claims to advance their own schemes.
At first, the Power of heaven laughs at their silliness.
The Eternal mocks their ignorant selfishness.
But His laughter turns to rage, and He rebukes them.
As God displays His righteous anger, they begin to know the meaning of fear. He says,
“I am the One who appointed My king who reigns from Zion, My mount of holiness.
He is the one in charge.”
I am telling all of you the truth. I have heard the Eternal’s decree.
He said clearly to me, “You are My son.
Today I have become your Father.
The nations shall be yours for the asking,
and the entire earth will belong to you.
They are yours to crush with an iron scepter,
yours to shatter like fragile, clay pots.”
So leaders, kings, and judges,
be wise, and be warned.
There is only one God, the Eternal;
worship Him with respect and awe;
take delight in Him and tremble.
Bow down before God’s son.
If you don’t, you will face His anger and retribution,
And you won’t stand a chance.
For it doesn’t take long to kindle royal wrath,
But blessings await all who trust in Him.
They will find God a gentle refuge.
The Book of Psalms, Poem 2 (The Voice)
0 notes
Text
Today’s reading from the ancient books of Proverbs and Psalms
for may 1 of 2021 with Proverbs 1 and Psalm 1, accompanied by Psalm 43 for the 43rd day of Spring and Psalm 121 for day 121 of the year
[Proverbs 1]
I, Solomon, David’s son and Israel’s king, pass on to you these proverbs—a treasury of wisdom—
So that you would recognize wisdom and value discipline;
that you would understand insightful teaching
And receive wise guidance to live a disciplined life;
that you would seek justice and have the ability to choose what is right and fair.
These proverbs teach the naive how to become clever;
they instruct the young in how to grow in knowledge and live with discretion.
The wise will pay attention to these words and will grow in learning,
and the discerning will receive divine guidance,
And they will be able to interpret the meaning of a proverb and a puzzle,
the twists and turns in the words of the wise and their riddles.
Let us begin. The worship of the Eternal One, the one True God, is the first step toward knowledge.
Fools, however, do not fear God and cannot stand wisdom or guidance.
So, my son, pay attention to your father’s guidance,
and do not ignore what your mother taught you—
Wear their wisdom as a badge of honor and maturity,
as fine jewelry around your neck.
My son, should your less honorable peers pressure you to do what is wrong,
you should be strong enough not to go along.
If they should say,
Evildoers: Come on! Everyone, hide and let’s wait to see whom we can beat to a pulp.
We’re going to jump some unsuspecting chumps for no reason at all.
We’ll have our way with them, and when we’re through, there will be nothing left,
as if their bodies were swallowed whole by the grave’s dark pit.
We’ll take whatever we want—all their wealth and their fancy clothes—
and when we’re through, we’ll have piles of their treasure for our own.
You have to join us; forget about God.
We’re going to rake in the goods, and we’ll share all we take!
My son, do not join them;
keep well away from their violent, destructive paths.
For they run right away, every time, to do wrong,
and they are thirsty for blood.
You see, it makes no sense to bait the net and set the trap
while the bird is watching,
But these hiding in the shadows and waiting to spill innocent blood
are really just hastening their own destruction!
By giving in to their sinful desires,
they set themselves up to be ambushed.
This is what happens to everyone who tries to profit by violence;
violence will eventually rob them of their very lives.
There’s another voice in town.
It belongs to Lady Wisdom, who calls out in the street.
She cries out in the town square,
At the city gates, in the noisy city streets,
you can hear her speaking over the racket.
Lady Wisdom: You simple, naive people, how long will you love your feeble ways?
You simpletons, how long will you enjoy making fun of what you don’t understand?
You fools, how long will you hate learning what truly matters?
Turn to me and receive my gentle correction;
Watch and I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will share with you my wise words in order to redirect your lives.
You hear, but you have refused to answer my call.
My hands reached out, but no one noticed.
All my advice, all my correction, all have been neglected—
you wanted nothing of them.
So I will be the laughter you hear when misfortune comes, and it will come.
I will be the mocking sound when panic grips you—
When panic comes like a stormy blast,
when misfortune sweeps in like a whirlwind,
when sorrow and anguish weigh you down.
This is when they will call on me, but I will not respond;
they will be frantic to find me, but they won’t be able.
Because they despised knowledge of my ways,
and they also refused to respect and honor the Eternal,
Because they rejected my advice
and turned down my correction,
They will surely get what’s coming to them:
they’ll be forced to eat the fruit of their wicked ways;
they’ll gorge themselves on the consequences of their choices.
You see, it’s turning away from me that brings death to the simple,
and it’s self-satisfaction that destroys the fools.
But those who listen to me now will live under divine protection;
they can rest knowing they are out of harm’s way.
The Book of Proverbs, Chapter 1 (The Voice)
Book 1
The Genesis Psalms
Psalms of man and creation
The Tree of Life
[Psalm 1]
God’s blessings follow you and await you at every turn:
when you don’t follow the advice of those who delight in wicked schemes,
When you avoid sin’s highway,
when judgment and sarcasm beckon you, but you refuse.
For you, the Eternal’s Word is your happiness.
It is your focus—from dusk to dawn.
You are like a tree,
planted by flowing, cool streams of water that never run dry.
Your fruit ripens in its time;
your leaves never fade or curl in the summer sun.
No matter what you do, you prosper.
For those who focus on sin, the story is different.
They are like the fallen husk of wheat, tossed by an open wind, left deserted and alone.
In the end, the wicked will fall in judgment;
the guilty will be separated from the innocent.
Their road suddenly will end in death,
yet the journey of the righteous has been charted by the Eternal.
The Book of Psalms, Poem 1 (The Passion Translation / The Voice)
[Psalm 43]
Plead for me; clear my name, O God. Prove me innocent
before immoral people;
Save me from their lies,
their unjust thoughts and deeds.
You are the True God—my shelter, my protector, the one whom I lean on.
Why have You turned away from me? Rejected me?
Why must I go around, overwrought, mourning,
suffering under the weight of my enemies?
O my God, shine Your light and truth
to help me see clearly,
To lead me to Your holy mountain,
to Your home.
Then I will go to God’s altar with nothing to hide.
I will go to God, my rapture;
I will sing praises to You and play my strings,
unloading my cares, unleashing my joys, to You, God, my God.
O my soul, why are you so overwrought?
Why are you so disturbed?
Why can’t I just hope in God? Despite all my emotions, I will hope in God again.
I will believe and praise the One
who saves me and is my life,
My Savior and my God.
The Book of Psalms, Poem 43 (The Voice)
[Psalm 121]
A song for those journeying to worship.
I look up at the vast size of the mountains—
from where will my help come in times of trouble?
The Eternal Creator of heaven and earth and these mountains
will send the help I need.
He holds you firmly in place;
He will not let you fall.
He who keeps you will never take His eyes off you and never drift off to sleep.
What a relief! The One who watches over Israel
never leaves for rest or sleep.
The Eternal keeps you safe,
so close to Him that His shadow is a cooling shade to you.
Neither bright light of sun
nor dim light of moon will harm you.
The Eternal will keep you safe
from all of life’s evils,
From your first breath to the last breath you breathe,
from this day and forever.
The Book of Psalms, Poem 121 (The Voice)
0 notes
Text
Today’s reading from the ancient books of Proverbs and Psalms
for Thursday, April 1 of 2021 with Proverbs 1 and Psalm 1, accompanied by Psalm 13 for the 13th day of Spring and Psalm 91 for day 91 of the year
[Proverbs 1]
I, Solomon, David’s son and Israel’s king, pass on to you these proverbs—a treasury of wisdom—
So that you would recognize wisdom and value discipline;
that you would understand insightful teaching
And receive wise guidance to live a disciplined life;
that you would seek justice and have the ability to choose what is right and fair.
These proverbs teach the naive how to become clever;
they instruct the young in how to grow in knowledge and live with discretion.
The wise will pay attention to these words and will grow in learning,
and the discerning will receive divine guidance,
And they will be able to interpret the meaning of a proverb and a puzzle,
the twists and turns in the words of the wise and their riddles.
Let us begin. The worship of the Eternal One, the one True God, is the first step toward knowledge.
Fools, however, do not fear God and cannot stand wisdom or guidance.
So, my son, pay attention to your father’s guidance,
and do not ignore what your mother taught you—
Wear their wisdom as a badge of honor and maturity,
as fine jewelry around your neck.
My son, should your less honorable peers pressure you to do what is wrong,
you should be strong enough not to go along.
If they should say,
Evildoers: Come on! Everyone, hide and let’s wait to see whom we can beat to a pulp.
We’re going to jump some unsuspecting chumps for no reason at all.
We’ll have our way with them, and when we’re through, there will be nothing left,
as if their bodies were swallowed whole by the grave’s dark pit.
We’ll take whatever we want—all their wealth and their fancy clothes—
and when we’re through, we’ll have piles of their treasure for our own.
You have to join us; forget about God.
We’re going to rake in the goods, and we’ll share all we take!
My son, do not join them;
keep well away from their violent, destructive paths.
For they run right away, every time, to do wrong,
and they are thirsty for blood.
You see, it makes no sense to bait the net and set the trap
while the bird is watching,
But these hiding in the shadows and waiting to spill innocent blood
are really just hastening their own destruction!
By giving in to their sinful desires,
they set themselves up to be ambushed.
This is what happens to everyone who tries to profit by violence;
violence will eventually rob them of their very lives.
There’s another voice in town.
It belongs to Lady Wisdom, who calls out in the street.
She cries out in the town square,
At the city gates, in the noisy city streets,
you can hear her speaking over the racket.
Lady Wisdom: You simple, naive people, how long will you love your feeble ways?
You simpletons, how long will you enjoy making fun of what you don’t understand?
You fools, how long will you hate learning what truly matters?
Turn to me and receive my gentle correction;
Watch and I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will share with you my wise words in order to redirect your lives.
You hear, but you have refused to answer my call.
My hands reached out, but no one noticed.
All my advice, all my correction, all have been neglected—
you wanted nothing of them.
So I will be the laughter you hear when misfortune comes, and it will come.
I will be the mocking sound when panic grips you—
When panic comes like a stormy blast,
when misfortune sweeps in like a whirlwind,
when sorrow and anguish weigh you down.
This is when they will call on me, but I will not respond;
they will be frantic to find me, but they won’t be able.
Because they despised knowledge of my ways,
and they also refused to respect and honor the Eternal,
Because they rejected my advice
and turned down my correction,
They will surely get what’s coming to them:
they’ll be forced to eat the fruit of their wicked ways;
they’ll gorge themselves on the consequences of their choices.
You see, it’s turning away from me that brings death to the simple,
and it’s self-satisfaction that destroys the fools.
But those who listen to me now will live under divine protection;
they can rest knowing they are out of harm’s way.
The Book of Proverbs, Chapter 1 (The Voice)
[Book 1]
The Genesis Psalms
Psalms of man and creation
The Tree of Life
[Psalm 1]
God’s blessings follow you and await you at every turn:
when you don’t follow the advice of those who delight in wicked schemes,
When you avoid sin’s highway,
when judgment and sarcasm beckon you, but you refuse.
For you, the Eternal’s Word is your happiness.
It is your focus—from dusk to dawn.
You are like a tree,
planted by flowing, cool streams of water that never run dry.
Your fruit ripens in its time;
your leaves never fade or curl in the summer sun.
No matter what you do, you prosper.
For those who focus on sin, the story is different.
They are like the fallen husk of wheat, tossed by an open wind, left deserted and alone.
In the end, the wicked will fall in judgment;
the guilty will be separated from the innocent.
Their road suddenly will end in death,
yet the journey of the righteous has been charted by the Eternal.
The Book of Psalms, Poem 1 (The Passion Translation / The Voice)
[Psalm 13]
Prayer Turns Depression into Delight
For the Pure and Shining One
A Psalm of David
Depression
I’m hurting, Lord—will you forget me forever?
How much longer, Lord?
Will you look the other way when I’m in need?
How much longer must I cling to this constant grief?
I’ve endured this shaking of my soul.
So how much longer will my enemy have the upper hand?
Intercession
Take a good look at me, Yahweh, my God, and answer me!
Breathe your life into my spirit.
Bring light to my eyes in this pitch-black darkness
or I will sleep the sleep of death.
Don’t let my enemy proclaim, “I’ve prevailed over him.”
For all my adversaries will celebrate when I fall.
I have always trusted in your kindness, so answer me.
I will spin in a circle of joy
when your salvation lifts me up.
I will sing my song of joy to you, Yahweh,
for in all of this you have strengthened my soul.
My enemies say that I have no Savior,
but I know that I have one in you!
The Book of Psalms, Poem 13 (The Passion Translation)
[Psalm 91]
Safe and Secure
When you abide under the shadow of Shaddai,
you are hidden in the strength of God Most High.
He’s the hope that holds me and the stronghold to shelter me,
the only God for me, and my great confidence.
He will rescue you from every hidden trap of the enemy,
and he will protect you from false accusation
and any deadly curse.
His massive arms are wrapped around you, protecting you.
You can run under his covering of majesty and hide.
His arms of faithfulness are a shield keeping you from harm.
You will never worry about an attack of demonic forces at night
nor have to fear a spirit of darkness coming against you.
Don’t fear a thing!
Whether by night or by day, demonic danger will not trouble you,
nor will the powers of evil be launched against you.
Even in a time of disaster, with thousands and thousands being killed,
you will remain unscathed and unharmed.
You will be a spectator as the wicked perish in judgment,
for they will be paid back for what they have done!
When we live our lives within the shadow of God Most High,
our secret hiding place, we will always be shielded from harm.
How then could evil prevail against us or disease infect us?
God sends angels with special orders to protect you wherever you go,
defending you from all harm.
If you walk into a trap, they’ll be there for you
and keep you from stumbling.
You’ll even walk unharmed among the fiercest powers of darkness,
trampling every one of them beneath your feet!
For here is what the Lord has spoken to me:
“Because you loved me, delighted in me, and have been loyal to my name,
I will greatly protect you.
I will answer your cry for help every time you pray,
and you will feel my presence
in your time of trouble.
I will deliver you and bring you honor.
I will satisfy you with a full life and with all that I do for you.
For you will enjoy the fullness of my salvation!”
The Book of Psalms, Poem 91 (The Passion Translation)
0 notes
Text
Today’s reading from the ancient books of Proverbs and Psalms
for monday, march 1 of 2021 with Proverbs 1 and Psalm 1, accompanied by Psalm 71 for the 71st day of Winter and Psalm 60 for day 60 of the year
Book 1
The Genesis Psalms
Psalms of man and creation
The Tree of Life
[Psalm 1]
God’s blessings follow you and await you at every turn:
when you don’t follow the advice of those who delight in wicked schemes,
When you avoid sin’s highway,
when judgment and sarcasm beckon you, but you refuse.
For you, the Eternal’s Word is your happiness.
It is your focus—from dusk to dawn.
You are like a tree,
planted by flowing, cool streams of water that never run dry.
Your fruit ripens in its time;
your leaves never fade or curl in the summer sun.
No matter what you do, you prosper.
For those who focus on sin, the story is different.
They are like the fallen husk of wheat, tossed by an open wind, left deserted and alone.
In the end, the wicked will fall in judgment;
the guilty will be separated from the innocent.
Their road suddenly will end in death,
yet the journey of the righteous has been charted by the Eternal.
The Book of Psalms, Poem 1 (The Passion Translation / The Voice)
[Psalm 71]
The Psalm of Old Age
Lord, you are my secure shelter. Don’t ever let me down!
Let your justice be my breakthrough.
Bend low to my whispered cry
and save me from all my enemies!
You’re the only place of protection for me.
I keep coming back to hide myself in you,
for you are like a mountain-cliff fortress where I’m kept safe.
Let me escape from these cruel and wicked men,
and save me from the hands of the evil one.
For you are my only hope, Lord!
I’ve hung on to you, trusting in you all my life.
It was you who supported me from the day I was born,
loving me, helping me through my life’s journey.
You’ve made me into a miracle;
no wonder I trust you and praise you forever!
Many marvel at my success,
but I know it is all because of you, my mighty protector!
I’m overflowing with your praise for all you’ve done,
and your splendor thrills me all day long.
Now that I’m old, don’t set me aside.
Don’t let go of me when my strength is spent.
For all my enemies whisper behind my back.
They’re waiting for me to fall so they can finish me off.
They’re convinced you’ve left me
and that you’ll never come to my rescue.
They’re saying, “Let’s get him now! He has no savior!”
O God, stay close to me!
Don’t just watch from a distance! Hurry to help me, my God!
Cover these accusers of mine with shame and failure!
Destroy them all, for they only want to kill me!
No matter what, I’ll trust in you to help me.
Nothing will stop me from praising you to magnify your glory!
I couldn’t begin to count the times you’ve been there for me.
With the skill of a poet I’ll never run out of things to say
of how you faithfully kept me from danger.
I will come forth in your mighty strength, O my Lord God.
I’ll tell everyone that you alone are the perfect one.
From my childhood you’ve been my teacher,
and I’m still telling everyone of your miracle-wonders!
God, now that I’m old and gray, don’t walk away.
Give me grace to demonstrate to the next generation
all your mighty miracles and your excitement,
to show them your magnificent power!
For your glorious righteousness reaches up to the high heavens.
No one could ever be compared to you!
Who is your equal, O God of marvels and wonders?
Even though you’ve let us sink down with trials and troubles,
I know you will revive us again,
lifting us up from the dust of death.
Give us even more greatness than before.
Turn and comfort us once again.
My loving God, the harp in my heart will praise you.
Your faithful heart toward us will be the theme of my song.
Melodies and music will rise to you, the Holy One of Israel.
I will shout and sing your praises for all you are to me—
Savior, lover of my soul!
I’ll never stop telling others how perfect you are
while all those who seek my harm slink away ashamed and defeated!
The Book of Psalms, Poem 71 (The Passion Translation)
[Psalm 60]
Has God Forgotten Us?
To the Pure and Shining One
King David’s poem for instruction composed when he fought against the Syrians with the outcome still uncertain and Joab turned back to kill 12,000 descendants of Esau in the Valley of Salt
To the tune of “Lily of the Covenant”
God, it seems like you walked off and left us!
Why have you turned against us?
You have been angry with us.
O Lord, we plead, come back and help us as a father.
The earth quivers and quakes before you,
splitting open and breaking apart.
Now come and heal it, for it is shaken to its depths.
You have taught us hard lessons
and made us drink the wine of bewilderment.
You have given miraculous signs to those who love you.
As we follow you we fly the flag of truth,
and all who love the truth will rally to it.
Pause in his presence
Come to your beloved ones and gently draw us out.
For Lord, you save those whom you love.
Come with your might and strength!
Then I heard the Lord speak in his holy splendor.
From his sanctuary I heard the Lord promise:
“In my triumph I will be the one to measure out
the portion of my inheritance to my people,
and I will secure the land as I promised you.
Shechem, Succoth, Gilead, Manasseh,
they are all still mine!” he says.
“Judah will continue to produce kings and lawgivers,
and Ephraim will produce great warriors.
Moab will become my lowly servant.
Edom will likewise serve my purposes.
I will lift up a shout of victory over the land of Philistia!
But who will bring my triumph into the strong city?
Who will lead me into Edom’s fortresses?”
Have you really rejected us, refusing to fight our battles?
Give us a father’s help when we face our enemies.
For to trust in any man is an empty hope.
With God’s help we will fight like heroes
and he will trample down our every foe!
The Book of Psalms, Poem 60 (The Passion Translation)
[Proverbs 1]
I, Solomon, David’s son and Israel’s king, pass on to you these proverbs—a treasury of wisdom—
So that you would recognize wisdom and value discipline;
that you would understand insightful teaching
And receive wise guidance to live a disciplined life;
that you would seek justice and have the ability to choose what is right and fair.
These proverbs teach the naive how to become clever;
they instruct the young in how to grow in knowledge and live with discretion.
The wise will pay attention to these words and will grow in learning,
and the discerning will receive divine guidance,
And they will be able to interpret the meaning of a proverb and a puzzle,
the twists and turns in the words of the wise and their riddles.
Let us begin. The worship of the Eternal One, the one True God, is the first step toward knowledge.
Fools, however, do not fear God and cannot stand wisdom or guidance.
So, my son, pay attention to your father’s guidance,
and do not ignore what your mother taught you—
Wear their wisdom as a badge of honor and maturity,
as fine jewelry around your neck.
My son, should your less honorable peers pressure you to do what is wrong,
you should be strong enough not to go along.
If they should say,
Evildoers: Come on! Everyone, hide and let’s wait to see whom we can beat to a pulp.
We’re going to jump some unsuspecting chumps for no reason at all.
We’ll have our way with them, and when we’re through, there will be nothing left,
as if their bodies were swallowed whole by the grave’s dark pit.
We’ll take whatever we want—all their wealth and their fancy clothes—
and when we’re through, we’ll have piles of their treasure for our own.
You have to join us; forget about God.
We’re going to rake in the goods, and we’ll share all we take!
My son, do not join them;
keep well away from their violent, destructive paths.
For they run right away, every time, to do wrong,
and they are thirsty for blood.
You see, it makes no sense to bait the net and set the trap
while the bird is watching,
But these hiding in the shadows and waiting to spill innocent blood
are really just hastening their own destruction!
By giving in to their sinful desires,
they set themselves up to be ambushed.
This is what happens to everyone who tries to profit by violence;
violence will eventually rob them of their very lives.
There’s another voice in town.
It belongs to Lady Wisdom, who calls out in the street.
She cries out in the town square,
At the city gates, in the noisy city streets,
you can hear her speaking over the racket.
Lady Wisdom: You simple, naive people, how long will you love your feeble ways?
You simpletons, how long will you enjoy making fun of what you don’t understand?
You fools, how long will you hate learning what truly matters?
Turn to me and receive my gentle correction;
Watch and I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will share with you my wise words in order to redirect your lives.
You hear, but you have refused to answer my call.
My hands reached out, but no one noticed.
All my advice, all my correction, all have been neglected—
you wanted nothing of them.
So I will be the laughter you hear when misfortune comes, and it will come.
I will be the mocking sound when panic grips you—
When panic comes like a stormy blast,
when misfortune sweeps in like a whirlwind,
when sorrow and anguish weigh you down.
This is when they will call on me, but I will not respond;
they will be frantic to find me, but they won’t be able.
Because they despised knowledge of my ways,
and they also refused to respect and honor the Eternal,
Because they rejected my advice
and turned down my correction,
They will surely get what’s coming to them:
they’ll be forced to eat the fruit of their wicked ways;
they’ll gorge themselves on the consequences of their choices.
You see, it’s turning away from me that brings death to the simple,
and it’s self-satisfaction that destroys the fools.
But those who listen to me now will live under divine protection;
they can rest knowing they are out of harm’s way.
The Book of Proverbs, Chapter 1 (The Voice)
0 notes
Text
Today’s reading from the ancient books of Proverbs and Psalms
for friday, january 1 of 2021 with Proverbs 1 and Psalm 1, accompanied by Psalm 12 for the 12th day of Winter
[Psalm 1]
Book 1
The Genesis Psalms
Psalms of man and creation
The Tree of Life
What delight comes to the one who follows God’s ways!
He won’t walk in step with the wicked,
nor share the sinner’s way,
nor be found sitting in the scorner’s seat.
His pleasure and passion is remaining true to the Word of “I Am,”
meditating day and night in the true revelation of light.
He will be standing firm like a flourishing tree
planted by God’s design,
deeply rooted by the brooks of bliss,
bearing fruit in every season of his life.
He is never dry, never fainting,
ever blessed, ever prosperous.
But how different are the wicked.
All they are is dust in the wind—
driven away to destruction!
The wicked will not endure the day of judgment,
for God will not defend them.
Nothing they do will succeed or endure for long,
for they have no part with those who walk in truth.
But how different it is for the righteous!
The Lord embraces their paths as they move forward
while the way of the wicked leads only to doom.
The Book of Psalms, Poem 1 (The Passion Translation)
[Proverbs 1]
I, Solomon, David’s son and Israel’s king, pass on to you these proverbs—a treasury of wisdom—
So that you would recognize wisdom and value discipline;
that you would understand insightful teaching
And receive wise guidance to live a disciplined life;
that you would seek justice and have the ability to choose what is right and fair.
These proverbs teach the naive how to become clever;
they instruct the young in how to grow in knowledge and live with discretion.
The wise will pay attention to these words and will grow in learning,
and the discerning will receive divine guidance,
And they will be able to interpret the meaning of a proverb and a puzzle,
the twists and turns in the words of the wise and their riddles.
Let us begin. The worship of the Eternal One, the one True God, is the first step toward knowledge.
Fools, however, do not fear God and cannot stand wisdom or guidance.
So, my son, pay attention to your father’s guidance,
and do not ignore what your mother taught you—
Wear their wisdom as a badge of honor and maturity,
as fine jewelry around your neck.
My son, should your less honorable peers pressure you to do what is wrong,
you should be strong enough not to go along.
If they should say,
Evildoers: Come on! Everyone, hide and let’s wait to see whom we can beat to a pulp.
We’re going to jump some unsuspecting chumps for no reason at all.
We’ll have our way with them, and when we’re through, there will be nothing left,
as if their bodies were swallowed whole by the grave’s dark pit.
We’ll take whatever we want—all their wealth and their fancy clothes—
and when we’re through, we’ll have piles of their treasure for our own.
You have to join us; forget about God.
We’re going to rake in the goods, and we’ll share all we take!
My son, do not join them;
keep well away from their violent, destructive paths.
For they run right away, every time, to do wrong,
and they are thirsty for blood.
You see, it makes no sense to bait the net and set the trap
while the bird is watching,
But these hiding in the shadows and waiting to spill innocent blood
are really just hastening their own destruction!
By giving in to their sinful desires,
they set themselves up to be ambushed.
This is what happens to everyone who tries to profit by violence;
violence will eventually rob them of their very lives.
There’s another voice in town.
It belongs to Lady Wisdom, who calls out in the street.
She cries out in the town square,
At the city gates, in the noisy city streets,
you can hear her speaking over the racket.
Lady Wisdom: You simple, naive people, how long will you love your feeble ways?
You simpletons, how long will you enjoy making fun of what you don’t understand?
You fools, how long will you hate learning what truly matters?
Turn to me and receive my gentle correction;
Watch and I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will share with you my wise words in order to redirect your lives.
You hear, but you have refused to answer my call.
My hands reached out, but no one noticed.
All my advice, all my correction, all have been neglected—
you wanted nothing of them.
So I will be the laughter you hear when misfortune comes, and it will come.
I will be the mocking sound when panic grips you—
When panic comes like a stormy blast,
when misfortune sweeps in like a whirlwind,
when sorrow and anguish weigh you down.
This is when they will call on me, but I will not respond;
they will be frantic to find me, but they won’t be able.
Because they despised knowledge of my ways,
and they also refused to respect and honor the Eternal,
Because they rejected my advice
and turned down my correction,
They will surely get what’s coming to them:
they’ll be forced to eat the fruit of their wicked ways;
they’ll gorge themselves on the consequences of their choices.
You see, it’s turning away from me that brings death to the simple,
and it’s self-satisfaction that destroys the fools.
But those who listen to me now will live under divine protection;
they can rest knowing they are out of harm’s way.
The Book of Proverbs, Chapter 1 (The Voice)
[Psalm 12]
A David Psalm
Quick, God, I need your helping hand!
The last decent person just went down,
All the friends I depended on gone.
Everyone talks in lie language;
Lies slide off their oily lips.
They doubletalk with forked tongues.
Slice their lips off their faces!
Pull the braggart tongues from their mouths!
I’m tired of hearing, “We can talk anyone into anything!
Our lips manage the world.”
Into the hovels of the poor,
Into the dark streets where the homeless groan, God speaks:
“I’ve had enough; I’m on my way
To heal the ache in the heart of the wretched.”
God’s words are pure words,
Pure silver words refined seven times
In the fires of his word-kiln,
Pure on earth as well as in heaven.
God, keep us safe from their lies,
From the wicked who stalk us with lies,
From the wicked who collect honors
For their wonderful lies.
The Book of Psalms, Poem 12 (The Message)
0 notes