[ Don’t Blame Fate When Things Go Wrong ] “Call for help, Job, if you think anyone will answer! To which of the holy angels will you turn? The hot temper of a fool eventually kills him, the jealous anger of a simpleton does her in. I’ve seen it myself—seen fools putting down roots, and then, suddenly, their houses are cursed. Their children out in the cold, abused and exploited, with no one to stick up for them. Hungry people off the street plunder their harvests, cleaning them out completely, taking thorns and all, insatiable for everything they have. Don’t blame fate when things go wrong— trouble doesn’t come from nowhere. It’s human! Mortals are born and bred for trouble, as certainly as sparks fly upward.
[ From God We Learn How to Live ] “True wisdom and real power belong to God; from him we learn how to live, and also what to live for. If he tears something down, it’s down for good; if he locks people up, they’re locked up for good. If he holds back the rain, there’s a drought; if he lets it loose, there’s a flood. Strength and success belong to God; both deceived and deceiver must answer to him. He strips experts of their vaunted credentials, exposes judges as witless fools. He divests kings of their royal garments, then ties a rag around their waists. He strips priests of their robes, and fires high officials from their jobs. He forces trusted sages to keep silence, deprives elders of their good sense and wisdom. He dumps contempt on famous people, disarms the strong and mighty. He shines a spotlight into caves of darkness, hauls deepest darkness into the noonday sun. He makes nations rise and then fall, builds up some and abandons others. He robs world leaders of their reason, and sends them off into no-man’s-land. They grope in the dark without a clue, lurching and staggering like drunks.”
If we had forgotten to pray to our God or madefools of ourselves with store-bought gods, Wouldn’t God have figured this out? We can’t hide things from him. No, you decided to make us martyrs, lambs assigned for sacrifice each day.
Anyone can see that the brightest and best die, wiped out right along with fools and dunces. They leave all their prowess behind, move into their new home, The Coffin, The cemetery their permanent address. And to think they named counties after themselves!
I can’t wait to hear what he’ll say. God’s about to pronounce his people well, The holy people he loves so much, so they’ll never again live like fools. See how close his salvation is to those who fear him? Our country is home base for Glory!
You made me so happy, God I saw your work and I shouted for joy. How magnificent your work, God! How profound your thoughts! Dullards never notice what you do; fools never do get it. When the wicked popped up like weeds and all the evil men and women took over, You mowed them down, finished them off once and for all. You, God, are High and Eternal. Look at your enemies, God! Look at your enemies—ruined! Scattered to the winds, all those hirelings of evil!
Well, think again, you idiots, fools—how long before you get smart? Do you think Ear-Maker doesn’t hear, Eye-Shaper doesn’t see? Do you think the trainer of nations doesn’t correct, the teacher of Adam doesn’t know? God knows, all right— knows your stupidity, sees your shallowness.
[ Start with God ] Start with God—the first step in learning is bowing down to God; only foolsthumb their noses at such wisdom and learning.
Liars secretly hoard hatred; fools openly spread slander.
Fools are headstrong and do what they like; wise people take advice.
Fools have short fuses and explode all too quickly; the prudent quietly shrug off insults.
Prudent people don’t flaunt their knowledge; talkative fools broadcast their silliness.
A commonsense person lives good sense;fools litter the country with silliness.
Souls who follow their hearts thrive; fools bent on evil despise matters of soul.
Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.
Escape quickly from the company of fools; they’re a waste of your time, a waste of your words.
The wisdom of the wise keeps life on track; the foolishness of fools lands them in the ditch.
The wise watch their steps and avoid evil;fools are headstrong and reckless.
The wise accumulate wisdom; fools get stupider by the day.
Lady Wisdom is at home in an understanding heart— fools never even get to say hello.
Knowledge flows like spring water from the wise; fools are leaky faucets, dripping nonsense.
Perceptive words spread knowledge; fools are hollow—there’s nothing to them.
An intelligent person is always eager to take in more truth; fools feed on fast-food fads and fancies.
True intelligence is a spring of fresh water, while fools sweat it out the hard way.
We don’t expect eloquence from fools, nor do we expect lies from our leaders.