#Secret Lair Mother’s Day 2021 | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

milkytheholy1 · 3 years

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TMNT Master list

Link to the second masterlist

Fluff = 🌸

Angst = 💢

Lime = 🌵

Requested = (R)

Prompt list

2012

Leo

Goodbye Leonardo, P2 - based on the events of broken foot, reader is done with Leo ignoring her. 💢 Female reader

Not traditional - Leo gets anxious about his feelings. (R) 🌸 male reader

Apocalyptic love series link.

I heard you - while Leo is in a comma, the reader speaks to him everyday. (R) 🌸 Female reader

Donnie

Hello nurse - April drags the reader to a costume party, but what will Donnie think of th costume? 🌸 Female reader

Well done science boy - Donnie's been working on a project all night and the reader congratulates him. 🌸 Gender neutral reader

Happy birthday! - it's the readers birthday, but they haven't told anyone, what happens when Donnie finds out? (R) 🌸 gender neutral reader

Hot - reader can't focus when Donnie talks science. (R) 🌸 Gender neutral reader

Wrong about me! - reader walks in on April cheating on donnie, but what does the genius think of it? (R) 💢 gender neutral reader

Raph

Heard you from a mile away - reader has the best hearing around, a certain red-handed turtle has to test them to their limits. (R) 🌸 gender neutral reader

Hots for you - reader comes out as bisexual. (R) 🌸 Female reader

2003

Leo

Third-base - reader has a surprise for Leo. 🌸 Female reader

Donnie

Drawn to you - works for any Donnie, just decided to put it here. 🌸 Gender neutral reader

Mikey

Turtle Titan to the rescue! - Mikey has to save the reader from the purple dragons, will he be able to keep his secret identity! (R) 🌸 Female reader

Bayverse

Donnie

Life is a dream, P1, P2, P3, P4 - life with Donnie is a dream, but it has to be real, right? 🌸💢 Gender neutral reader

Five Years - Donnie invents a time machine, him and the reader travel to 2021 to see a surprise. (R) 🌸 Gender neutral reader

Five years alternative ending

Radio Ga Ga - Donnie thinks the reader hates him, but after having a breakdown, was everything a lie? (R) 🌸 Female reader

Raph

I promise - Reader is haunted by her mother's marks, Raph is the only one who hears her out. (R) 💢 Female reader.

Seeing you - Reader feels Invincible, Raph comes to help them, boyfriend comes home. (R) 💢 female reader

Mikey

Parading in style! - Mikey finally gets to go to a pride parade with his boyfriend thanks to a watch Donnie made, reader has to stick up for him when trouble arises. (R) 🌸💢 male reader

RISE

Leo

Just trying to relax - 1, 2 - reader gets drunk and Leo decides to stop by to check on them. 🌸 Female reader

You're not gross - Leo gets sick and is ashamed to see the reader. (R) 🌸 gender neutral reader

Tired yet? - reader can't sleep, neither can Leo. (R) 🌸 gender neutral reader.

Online buds - Leo and reader are gaming buddies, but what happens when they both want more? (R) 🌸 male reader

Jealous much? - Leo gets jealous when the reader has to flirt with some bad guys. 🌸 Female reader

Candy crush - reader has magical abilities, Leo disrupts their game of candy crush and they take on some bad guys. (R) 🌸 gender neutral reader

Older brother to the rescue - Leo gets embarrassed when confessing to the reader, looks like big brother Raph has to step on. (R) 🌸 Gender neutral reader

I'm not mikey - reader compares Leo to Mikey which makes him extremely jealous and full of anxiety, meanwhile the boys are fighting a squid mutant in the lair. (R) 💢🌸 gender neutral reader

Distraction - Leo has to distract the reader long enough for his plan to work. (R) 🌸 gender neutral reader

Snow day - snow day hoorayyyyy. (R) 🌸 gender neutral reader

Busy - Leo and reader are in a full out make out session when his brothers interrupt. (R) 🌸 gender neutral reader

Winner - reader discovers the world of lair games, Leo's getting his crown back. 🌸 Gender neutral reader

Actions speak louder than words - Leo's ashamed of his stripes, reader comfort's him. (R) 🌸 Gender neutral reader

Problem - reader and Leo get into a fight. (R) 💢 Gender neutral reader

Pointy - reader is embarrassed about their elf ears, Leo doesn't help. (R) 🌸💢 Gender neutral reader

Anytime - Leo and reader get into a fight after Leo skips out on an important event. (R) 💢 Female reader

Dare - the gang play a game of truth or dare, what happens when the reader gets dared to kiss Leo? (R) 🌸 Gender neutral reader

Late night, deep thoughts - reader and Leo stay up late and share some deep thoughts. 🌸 Gender neutral reader

What's up, Doc? - Leo is jealous of Bug's Bunny. (R) 🌸 Gender neutral reader

I don't deserve you - reader doesn't think she deserves Leo, he doesn't get a choice. (R) 💢 female reader

Draw me any day - Leo finds the reader drawing him during training. (R) 🌸 Gender neutral reader

Boyfriend material - Leo is jealous. (R) 🌵 female reader

Why didn't you come? - Leo avoids the readers birthday party, but why? (R) 🌸💢 female reader

Donnie

I've got a date - Donnie's been trying to ask the reader out on a date for over a year, with the help of April and how brothers, will he get that date? 🌸 Gender neutral reader

Trust me - Donnie struggles to trust his feelings, April convinces him to confess. 🌸 Gender neutral reader

Doctor feelings strikes again - reader and Donnie are in a fight, time for doctor feelings. (R) 🌸💢 Female reader.

Can I pick? - reader joins in the fight much to Donnie's annoyance. (R) 🌸 gender neutral reader

Bad to the bone - Donnie's bad boy persona will be the death of him. (R) 🌸 Female reader

We're not done here - reader is self conscious, Donnie wants to help. (R) 🌸 gender neutral reader

Coward - Donnie's been ignoring the reader, April takes it into her own hands. (R) 🌸💢 Gender neutral reader

Tough cookie - reader has been friends with the turtles for a while, all but one. (R) 🌸 gender neutral reader

Why? - reader wants to know more about Donnie's tech. (R) 🌸 gender neutral reader

Experimental Bo - Donnie invites the reader to watch him to test his new weapon, what's the best way to test it by fighting bad guys? 🌸 Gender neutral reader

Record breaking dive - Donnie's avoiding the obvious interest he has in the reader, what happens when he overhears your conversation with April on the phone? (R) 🌸 Gender neutral reader

Daydream Believer - reader is self conscious about her singing, Donnie happens to hear it for himself. (R) 🌸 Female reader

Proposition - reader hates talking about their problems, Donnie hates hugs, what's the middle ground? (R) 🌸 Gender neutral reader

Say it - Donnie's been in his lab a little too long, only one way to get him out. (R) 🌸🌵 female reader

Bad boy got game - the turtles accidentally break the reader's camera, it's up to Donnie to fix it, but can he protect his bad boy image? (R) 🌸 Gender neutral reader

Lip locked - Donnie keeps getting distracted by the reader boring their lip, he has to take action. (R) 🌸 Female reader

Mikey

I don't hate you - Mikey is determined that the reader hates him, he couldn't be more wrong. (R) 🌸 Gender neutral reader

Raph

Get well soon - reader has just come back from surgery, Raph wants to make sure his best friend is feeling okay. (R) 🌸 Gender neutral reader

I'm here - reader can't bare being on their own, what's Raph going to do? (R) 🌸 Gender neutral reader

Into the sewers - Raph gets lost in the sewers, oh no. (R) 🌸 Gender neutral reader

Little nightmares - reader struggled with nightmares and can't sleep, all they needed was a snapping turtle. (R) 🌸 Gender neutral reader

All turtles (platonic)

Lunchtime blues - reader is getting picked on, the boys surprise them when they visit reader at school. (R) 🌸💢 Gender neutral reader

A little TLC - reader hasn't been having a good time lately and it's up to the brothers to help. (R) 🌸 Female reader

Headcanons

HC #1 - 'freak'

HC #2 - weapons

HC #3 - mornings

HC #4 - fashion

HC #5 - boyfriend Raph

HC #6 - Leo's cheerleader

HC #7 - Badass reader

HC #8 - Leo's cheerleader part 2

HC #9 - Hair care

HC #10 - Boyfriend Leo

HC #11 - Dead weight

HC #12 - Eczema

HC #13 - Vision be damned

HC #14 - Dance partner

HC #15 - The Last Airbender

HC #16 - Cheesy smiles

HC #17 - Facials

HC #18 - Boyfriend Donnie

HC #19 - 2012Donnie busy

HC #20 - Periods

HC #21 - Mikey's sick boyfriend

HC #22 - Ballerina S/O

HC #23 - Aches and pain

HC #24 - Non-binary

HC #25 - shell scratches

HC #26 - first kiss

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365days365movies · 3 years

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March 16, 2021: Legend (1985) (Part One)

Hi, Tim Curry. How are you doing today?

Yeah, that tracks. Been a while, always good to see you. Man, actually, when is the last time I saw you? Clone Wars? I think so, although I don’t know if that really counts. I think, in person, it was...oof, Criminal Minds in 2012?

Yeah, dude, you were FUCKING TERRIFYING, HOLY SHIT. I feel like people don’t talk about that performance as much, but you were goddamn amazing, buddy. Sorry I didn’t open with this, but...you were my childhood, Ti. Like, from Clue to The Wild Thornberrys to Muppet Treasure Goddamn Island GOD I LOVE YOU IN THAT MOVIE TOO

Amazing. And let’s not forget Ferngully, of course. Look...I love you, OK? You’re beautiful. And I know that recently, you’ve been through a lot of health struggles, and I wish you the absolute best, I sincerely do. You’re the best, man. Hang in there.

Actually, while I have you...settle a bet for me, I’ve got it with myself. Have I...have I already seen this movie? Because I feel like I might have, but I don’t think so. It’s like the Mandela effect, y’know? I mean, if I’d seen it before...would I not remember you in this get-up?

I mean...come ON, RIGHT? I know FOR A FACT that I’ve attempted to watch this movie with friends before, and that didn’t happen. Then, I tried to watch it on my own, and that didn’t pan out because I’m pretty sure I fell asleep after 15 minutes. It had been a long day, I’m sorry. But...I don’t get it, Tim Curry? What the hell happened?

Well...whatever. I guess we’re going to take care of this ONCE AND FOR ALL. Now, who directed this movie?

Oh shit, REALLY? RIDLEY SCOTT! Kick-ass, he did Alien, and this -

And then this -

OOH, and this!

Oh, and we can’t forget this!

And also this!

And...and this...

...And this...

Oh. Fuck, and this.

...

OH GOD STOP I FORGOT ABOUT 1492

...OK, this could either be a very good movie, or a very VERY bad one. I mean...it’s got Tim Curry in it, so it can’t be that bad? And hey, Scott was on a hotstreak at the time, right? What could go wrong? Let’s do this!

SPOILERS AHEADOH FUCK IS THAT TOM CRUISE

Recap (1/2)

...Ahem. Um. OK. Maybe I imagined that image, or it’s from a different movie. Cool. Let’s keep going, nothing to see here.

The opening text scroll tells us that once, long ago, before time was even a concept, the world was shrouded in darkness. But Darkness hid from the light, which brought to the world laughter, love, and...unicorns. Yeah, really. Unicorns harbor the Light in their souls, as the most mytsical of all creatures. They’re safe from Darkness, and can only be found by a pure-hearted mortal, like Jack, a denizen of the forest. He is loved by Lily, and both believe only in goodness. But not for long, as a struggle for the balance between Darkness and Light is about to commence, and in that struggle will be born...Legend (1985), dir. Ridley Scott.

As the opening credits roll and confirm that Tom Cruise is in fact in this movie, I take a brief moment to vomit lightly.

At night, walking through the forest, there is a creature with some...bad-ass makeup and costume design GODDAMN. Like, yeah, that category’s already looking good. Anyway, the creature goes through the forest, and finds a den of fire and torture, all lorded over by a horned man, who speaks Mother Night, asking for her protection.

This is Darkness (Tim Curry), and...fuck me, holy shit, I GET it. Like, this dude began an entire movement and aethestic, and it makes a fuckton of sense. THis dude must have given birth to, like 10,000 goth children, goddamn. Anyway, he commands his goblin henchman Blix (Alice Playten) to find a unicorn and kill it, and to bring its horn back to him. Blix, the rhyming cretin, asks how to find them. And Darkness answers with the perfect lure: innocence.

That innocence is symbolized by Princess Lily (Mia Sara), a maiden cavorting happily about the wood, without a care in the goddamn world. She visits her friend Nell (Tina Martin), and briefly has a vision of winter in the cottage. Nell notes that it’s time for her to grow up a bit, but Lily’s only concerned with finding her sweetheart, Jack.

And Jack is...well, Jack o’ the Green (Tom Cruise) is a young man who lives in the forest, with his animal friends. An innocent himself, he’s basically Peter Pan, with Lily playing his Wendy. Except, well, they’re not THAT innocent, because they, like, IMMEDIATELY make out on the forest floor. Which has to be uncomfortable, real goddamn talk.

Jack teaches Lily to speak with the birds, then takes her to see something wonderful and rare. All the while, they’re being followed by Blix, who believes that their innocence will attract the mystical unicorns. And, uh, yeah, Blix is entirely correct about that, because here they come! And they’re making whale noises?

Apparently, as long as unicorns roam the Earth, evil can never harm the pure of heart. They express only love and laughter, and dark thoughts are unknown to them. Which Lily takes as an opportunity to go hang out with them, despite Jack’s urgings.

But the unicorns seem receptive to her, to Jack’s...frustration? He just kinda leaves her behind for some reason. And Blix takes the opportunity to hit one of the unicorns with a poison dart, causing them to be startled and storm off. Lily flees into the forest, and is immediately scolded by Jack, saying that what she did is forbidden by magic forest law. OK. She’s as confused about that as I am, but she still apologizes to him.

The two kiss, and Lily makes a promise to him and the universe, I guess, and says that whomever finds her ring will have the right to marry her. She throws it, and Jack IMMEDIATELY JUMPS OFF A CLIFF AFTER IT GODDAMN MY MAN! Lily screams hysterically after him for...some reason?

However, this isn’t great timing, because Blix and the goblins have caught up to the poisoned unicorn, and they cut off its horn, immediately plunging the forest into a fierce winter, similar to what Lily saw in her vision. Jack, in the river looking for the ring, is trapped underwater, beneath ice. By the time he breaks out, Lily’s already run away, to Nell’s place. Nell is frozen solid for some reason, and the goblins are also coming off after Lily for...some reason.

Lily hides, as Blix and his two companions Pox (Peter O’Farrell) and Blunder (Kiran Shah) exposit the whole thing so that Lily’s caught up on her fault in all of this, and once they leave, she promises to make it right. No idea how she’s gonna do that, but sure.

Jack, meanwhile has collapsed in the woods and snow. He’s woken up by a spirit of the forest named Honeythorn Gump (David Bennent), who is...interesting. He asks Jack what in the FUCK happened, and Jack admits that Lily, a mortal, touched a unicorn, which is apparently the ultimate no-no. Gump’s pissed, but the ACTUAL SECOND that Jack says that it was for love, Gump’s just...totally cool with it? They have a drink with Brown Tom (Cork Hubbert), and agree to help him find Lily...like, immediately.

They quickly find the dead unicorn, and yeah, the unicorn is FUCKING DEAD after losing its horn, and its mate shows up to mourn. Jack and Gump mourn with the magical creature, which looks REALLY BIG for a horse, Jesus. She stays with her fallen mate, and Jack goes back to the group, delivering the news that they’re cursed? No idea where that came from.

To lift the curse and get the horn back, they must find a champion bold in heart and spirit. Gump IMMEDIATELY nominates Jack, and takes him to some cave where he can find weapons and armor. He’s guided by Oona (Annabelle Lanyon), a fairy who is LITERALLY NAVI FROM ZELDA, I CANNOT STRESS THAT ENOUGH

Oona reveals her true form to him secretly, then notes that she could be anything he wants her to be, even his heart’s desire. COMIN’ ON A LITTLE STRONG THERE OONA. Anyway, in the vault of golden weapons and armor and...gold, Jack grabs a sword.

Meanwhile, Lily follows Blix and his group, where Blix uses the magic of the Unicorn Horn (or the Alicorn) to demonstrate his newly found prowess. But as he’s claiming to take over Darkness’ kingdom. Just then, Darkness shows up and claims the Horn for himself, and kills Blunder when he talks back. Darkness asks whether or not the Unicorns are both dead, and reveals that his power will not be complete until the female Unicorn is also dead.

Lily runs off and makes her way back to the Unicorn and Brown Tom, and warns them of the Goblin’s approach to kill the Mare. Brown Tom, who I think is either a leprechaun or a brownie, fends the Goblins off, while Lily and the Mare...DON’T RUN? FUCKING RUN YOU ASSHOLES!

Tom gets shot by an arrow...in the hat. He immediately falls dead, despite being totally fine, the dick. And Lily and the mare are captured, BECAUSE THEY DIDN’T FUCKING RUN WHEN THEY SHOULD’VE. Jack, Gump, and the leprechaun/gnome/brownie/halfling Screwball (Billy Barty) come to “rescue” him. He tells them that Lily’s alive, and Gump takes Jack to the Great Tree for the next step, accompanied by Screwball and Tom. There, they find...

WOW. THAT SHIT IS COOL. This is Meg Mucklebone *Robert Picardo), and this thing is absolutely my favorite thing in the movie so far...AND THEN JACK KILLS HER IMMEDIATELY. JAAAAAAACK, WHAT THE HELL, she was really cool. Goddamn it.

The group gets to the great tree, then falls into an underground prison, where Blunder is also held. The group is NOT where they want to be, right in Darkness’ lair. Nice job, Gump. In the prison, the guys, now joined by fellow brownie/dwarf/gnome thing Blunder, hide from one of Darkness’ men, as he takes Blunder away to the torture table.

Stuck in the cell, Jack suggests that Oona go and get the keys. However, her ability to transform into a humanoid form was a secret between her and Jack, and she’s upset by him revealing it. Gump’s also upset by the secret in and of itself, but she defends that her secrets are hers to keep. You tell him, Oona!

She then says that she’ll only do what Jack wants if he kisses her, GODDAMN IT OONA. NOW IS NOT THE TIE TO GO ALL TINKERBELL IN HOOK! He gives her a little peck, but she transforms into Lily to make him give her a real kiss, dear lord that is CREEPY, OONA! Jack almost kisses her, but refuses at the last second. He notes that human hearts can’t be won over that way, which greatly upsets Oona. Still, she ends up getting the keys for them regardless, and sets them free.

And at this point, we are halfway through, so FUCK IT. PART TWO! See you there.

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jonbupp · 2 years

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Secret Lair: Mother's Day 2021 #magicthegathering #mtgfam #mtginstagramcommunity #mtg #knightofbupps #crackingpacks https://www.instagram.com/p/CWRg2C9AOJqGK0no-DyFrEDrGgnmCtuN1na_z80/?utm_medium=tumblr

#magicthegathering #mtgfam #mtginstagramcommunity #mtg #knightofbupps #crackingpacks

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dfroza · 3 years

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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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un-lovely · 3 years

Text

AUs

Paranormal AU:

Adan accidentally loses control one night and wakes up in an unknown bed with no memory of the night before. Unbeknownst to him, he has incurred the wrath of Diana, a powerful werewolf that has made it her mission to indebt many Other to her. But as the truth unravels, Adan find himself caught in a lair of secrets deeper than he would have ever expected...

Paranormal AU, Prologue:

Rhea has lived in under scrutiny her entire life, having only left her home to attend private school. Now, she has been given the chance to attend college far from home, all alone. On the train ride there, she meets Sebastian, a quiet young man she presumes to be human, but as the days pass, she realizes he's her dorm neighbor. Not only that, but he's Other as well...

Pirate AU:

Adan considers himself married to the sea, having lived as a sailor his entire life in the hopes of one day buying his own ship. An opportunity rises up on the Iron Maiden, promising a sum that seems too good to be true. Under the incomprehensible Captain Angela, he sets on a journey to an unknown destination, with the chance of death at every turn. But the more he learns about the voyage, the more confusing things seem. Not to mention that Angela, nicknamed Lady Death, is rumored to have no heart...

Pirate AU, Prologue:

Ever since the assassination of her mother, Rhea has feared leading her kingdom as its monarch and only surviving matriarch. She spends her days in the background of her own castle, until even her own people see her as weak. Everything changes when Prince Sebastian charges into her court, asking for her hand in marriage in return for a lifetime of protection from their strongest magic users. But their families have been at war for centuries, murder and betrayal embedded deep into their ancestry. However, he finally makes an offer she can't refuse: to find the person responsible for her mother's death...

Older AU:

After 25 years, Diana and Adan meet during an accident, causing them to come into contact again. Having divorced a few years prior himself, Adan is surprised to hear she has had 3 children yet lives alone. But Diana's health is unstable and she won't reveal anything to him, especially since she seems to be hiding one very important secret...

Runaway AU:

"Promise me you won't have any regrets..."

When Rhea's mother, Adelita, dies after a long, arduous battle with a chronic illness, she leaves Rhea with a promise. Determined to start living her life, she asks to accompany her childhood best friend Sebastian on his road trip back to college. Over the course of the trip Rhea battles an unrequited crush, grief, selfishness, and what it means to be truly alone.

Last updated: December 4, 2021

#au #AUs #paranormal au #pirate au #older au #ocs #oc blog #diana #adan #diadan #rhea #sebastian #sebrhea

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ftb-writes · 3 years

Text

Happy 2021, everyone! Here's the story for 2020's Novel Writing November!

"Have a seat, stranger," the innkeep says. They pass their business partner a cleaned plate and motion to the busy dining room. "If you can find one," they chuckle. "It's become quite the watering hole; my brother and I never expected to make it this far! We have a fire, some stew that's been simmering all day, some crusty loaves fresh out the oven; if you'd like a drink, my brother can give you a proper list of vintages."

A laugh echoes across the room, and many more voices join in. The stranger watches the innkeep and their business partner -- their brother, the stranger supposes -- as the two's eyes soften and warm. These two clearly care very much for every patron. "That'll be Adramelech. He and Pahliah just got back from their honeymoon, and Adra is still a bit shocked it's real."

"I don't have any money," the stranger explains. "I am but a humble storyteller; if you don't mind, I just need a place to rest for the night."

"Nonsense," the brother snorts. "We deal in stories here, stranger. You'll get a meal and a room for a story or two."

"A storyteller?" a patron calls. "Come, friend, sit by the fire, spin us a tale!"

"Well, if it's alright," the storyteller concedes. "But I warn you, some of my stories have a bite."

"You wouldn't be alone in that," the innkeep chuckles.

"Someone pull up a chair for the newcomer! Come, friend, you can share our table," the patron shouts.

The table is already occupied by seven other people -- one of whom is perched in another's lap. "Hello, there," greets the percher, the one who had apparently been calling the storyteller. "Tyrel! Bandit extraordinaire! This is my Troupe! And Brail," he finishes with a giggle, smooching the man whose lap he's occupying. "Come, friend, tell a story, and the first rounds on me!"

The storyteller settles into a chair, takes a mug from a smiling wendigo, and clears her throat.

There was once a shopkeeper who sold potions, teas, and candles. He was a worshipper of the old gods, and his wares often carried favors of them.

A man in the corner wearing an amulet with the likeness of Odin perks up, clearly interested in the mention of a fellow.

One day, he was brewing a potion for Eostra, and a sudden caller startled him so badly, he spilled the potion onto himself! It would take three days for the potion to wear off, and the whole time, the shopkeeper was sprouting saplings from wooden floorboards--

The man in the corner loudly clears his own throat, looking uncomfortable. "Where did you hear this tale, stranger?"

"What's wrong, Zelvin?" A woman with a small dragon in her lap snickers. "Hit a bit close to home?"

"Isabelle, that's exactly the reason I bought a new bell for my shop door. Eostra potions are rough."

"Did anybody else notice her story was in a completely different color than her normal speaking text," the innkeep's brother asks them quietly.

"I suddenly have a bad feeling," the innkeep agrees. "You don't think--"

"What about a different story," a woman with a full cast on her leg suggests. She's covered in half-healed cuts and bruises, and the man next to her has been mothering her this entire time.

"Tell us a story about a dragon!" This, from a blue-scaled dragon with about twenty-five children and an old knight tucked under her wings. The knight rolls his eyes fondly.

"A dragon?" The storyteller frowns, thinking. "I know a few stories about dragons."

"Wonderful!" The blue-scaled dragon passes over a bowl of soup and a hunk of hearty bread.

It is very dark when Bynelvin pokes his large head out of the cave. Dawn is still some hours off, and Markus shifts quietly in his sleep, already searching, unconsciously, for the warmth the dragon offers. Bynelvin feels the tug of sleep still -- much too early to be awake, and his new mate curled alone under a wool blanket. Now that is a title he never thought to attach to a human before this little arrangement. 'Mate', yet Markus has proven himself worthy of it over the past few weeks, lavishing Bynelvin with gifts and affections.

In the farthest corner, two men, one with large arching horns and the other seemingly ordinary, share a confused glance. The horned one has his companion tucked into his side, protected from what little chill even the fire cannot completely stave off.

But Bynelvin knows his task -- secret as it may be -- is an important one. Even now, safe in the embrace of a dragon, Markus is plagued with night-terrors of the assault he suffered. Bynelvin's proud, draconic heart roars for vengeance, rages for Markus's slumber being disturbed by the memory that such cruelty exists in his little valley.

Bynelvin will burn the whole family of his mate's attacker if he must. Markus will be safe.

He silently takes to the sky. Bynelvin dares not leave his mate unattended for long -- not only because of the night-terrors; if another dragon were to come upon his lair, Markus alone -- Bynelvin did not wish to think about the outcome of such a scenario.

He swoops low over the small settlement that he has been lording over for centuries. The home is near the center of town, and Bynelvin is not surprised that most of the village stumble out, bleary-eyed and still half-asleep, to greet him.

The two men in the far corner share another look, and the human styles more comfortably into his horned companion's side. "Did you really--?" the human begins to murmur in question.

"I will say," Bynelvin growls, towering over the villagers Markus had, until recently, lived amongst. "I never thought I would need to come down here and tell such short-lived beings to be kind to each other."

The humans are clearly confused, looking to each other with questions in their eyes.

"Oh, great Bynelvin," one of the elders begins, "what can we do for you?"

"Where is the village weaponsmith?" Bynelvin watches as murmurs spread, and a, frankly, massive man steps forward. He's nearly a head taller than the next tallest human Bynelvin's ever seen, and that had been a Berserker from the north. His shoulders are broad, his arms thick as tree trunks. Despite his size, he's nervously wringing his hat in his huge hands.

'Don't hurt Ralof!' Bynelvin remembers Markus crying when the dragon had rages that his mate had been hurt so. 'He doesn't know, and he's a kind and just man. Ralof couldn't hurt a fly! Well, physically, maybe, but emotionally?'

"Ralof, Markus speaks highly of you."

Bynelvin's words calm the smith immediately. "Oh, Markus is with you? Thank the gods. I've been worried. Kept an eye on him after that accident with his folks, so when he left in the middle of the night, I--" he stopped and swallowed. "He's safe?"

"No harm will come to him," Bynelvin assures. "However, he -- opened up to me a bit, after he realized I would not devour him. He had not meant to, but once the first part of it had come out, he told me everything."

Ralof's face softens. "Had something happened? Did someone hurt him?"

Bynelvin draws himself up and freezes the smith with a harsh smile. "Where is your eldest daughter, Ralof?"

The two men share a third look. The human appears rather upset, while the horned man smiles sheepishly.

"You said you'd left it alone!" the human hisses.

"I did!" the horned man whispers back. "After I threatened her a bit…"

"Honestly, Byn," the human sighs," you're lucky that I've realized how cute you are."

The horned man flushes. "Cute?"

"Another story!" the human calls, panicked.

There was, one day, a newly infected wendigo curled up against the toilet in a tiny apartment. Lyner hates the lack of research, the experimenting with food -- his husband's cooking is phenomenal, but it's hit or miss with what Lyner can and can't eat now. He can't begin to imagine how hard it is on Marshal -- they'd been married all of two months when Lyner was diagnosed, and it's only been three since.

Marshal is rubbing Lyner's back, making notes -- concise, in-depth notes in a little black notebook that's already had extra pages stuffed into it. Marshal has intimate patience, it seems, though Lyner has broken out and wreaked havoc four times already. He can see their wedding photos hung on the wall through the open bathroom door.

The diagnosis had taken everything from them, despite Doctor Ignaz and Chase trying as hard as they can to help. He and Marshal had sold their house, are 'wendigo-proofing' the dingy apartment. Lyner is shocked that he continues to wake up to Marshal next to him.

"Maybe we could try only cooking my portion of beef? Weird that you can still eat chicken cooked though…"

"Why," Lyner croaks, fat tears rolling down his cheeks.

"It might have something to do with poultry in general--" Marshal starts to say, scribbling.

"Why haven't you given up yet? I'm a monster now, Marshal."

His husband's gaze snaps up to him -- Marshal looks surprised at Lyner's outburst, and more than a bit hurt. "What do you mean?"

"Things like me--" Lyner has to stop to hurl up more of tonight's doomed dinner. "Things like me eat sweet guys like you."

"Do you want to eat me?" Marshal asks, innocent curiosity.

Lyner's stomach turns anew. "No!" ha snarls. "I love you!"

"And you would stay with me if you weren't a wendigo?"

"Yes, Marshal, what part of 'I love you'--"

"You don't regret loving me?"

The accusation hurts worse than a punch. "No!" Lyner cries.

"Now, Lyner, you remember what vows we spoke on our wedding day?" Marshal's voice has hardened; Lyner hasn't heard this tone from his husband in years, and he's ashamed to have caused it.

"Of course I do."

"In sickness and in health," Marshal reminds him anyway. "In life and in death. For richer or for poorer--"

"Forever," Lyner finishes. "Marshal…"

"I married you," Marshal tells him, "not knowing what the future held for us. You're it for me, Lyner, and I'm with you through thick and thin. Never dare imply I'd drop you like a bad penny now that you have a craving for human flesh. Have I made myself clear?"

Lyner whined quietly -- a relatively new sound for him to be able to make, but it makes Marshal laugh and lean into Lyner's shoulder to kiss his neck. "I'm sorry," Lyner whispered. "I think the wendigo thing might be messing with my head."

"We'll talk to Ignaz about it at your next appointment," Marshal murmurs back.

"Fuck, you're so good to me, sweetheart. I'm sorry this shit's screwing me up so bad." Lyner swallows. "I think I'm done hurling."

"Sickness and health, babe," Marshal chuckles. "Water?"

On the far wall, two men and a woman somberly raise their glasses and swig.

The storyteller once again clears her throat. "That's the last for tonight, everyone. But if someone buys me breakfast tomorrow, I may be persuaded to tell a few more."

Slowly, the other patrons trickle out, calling goodbyes and promises to see each other tomorrow. After a few minutes, it's just the storyteller, the innkeep, and the innkeep's brother.

"I'll be off to bed in a moment or two, but you go on, Dy. I'll finish up." The innkeep shoos him upstairs and approaches the storyteller. They sit in silence together in front of the fire for a minute.

"It's been a while since the first story we told," the storyteller finally says. "It was a fanfiction about your friends in third grade, wasn't it?"

"Gods, it was so bad," the innkeep groans. "I still have it, tucked away. An old friend you haven't seen in -- what's it been since we wrote it? Fourteen, fifteen years?"

"Almost sixteen, now," the storyteller corrects.

"Fuck, I'm getting old," the innkeep sighs. "Our first story. It's absolute shit, I don't know what happened to any of those people after we moved on. I've never re-read it."

The storyteller smiles. "You've come so far. But you know we both know why we don't revisit them. Because we wrote them as me."

The storyteller lowers her hood. When she blinks up at the innkeep, it's like the innkeep is looking in a mirror that de-ages the viewer -- a young girl with thick-lensed glasses in the height of her middle school years. "A little girl named Shelby who thought she was straight. But that's not the truth, and we both know that. We need to accept that."

"We -- I have," the innkeep says. "I have. I have. That wasn't me. That was you."

"I'm you," the storyteller tells them. That's what you need to accept. Those stories are just as much a part of you as the ones from tonight."

The storyteller silently hands the innkeep a beat-up, red, spiral-bound notebook. There's atrocious handwriting all over the cover, half-faded with age. The innkeep looks up at the storyteller; she's disappeared, leaving them alone with the notebook. The innkeep opens to a random page and winces.

As an answer, she kissed him --

The innkeep slams the notebook closed and shudders. They sit for a while, swallowing the surge of emotions and slowly, they re-open the notebook.

There's a soft puff of magic, and the innkeep looks up to see stacks upon stack of worn journals, loose pages, and fading notebooks covering the table next to them. A bright, orange sticky-note reads: 'They're yours. Even the bad ones. They're part of your story.'

The innkeep takes a deep breath and reads.

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dfroza · 3 years

Text

Today’s reading from the ancient book of Proverbs and book of Psalms

for August 10 of 2021 with Proverbs 10 and Psalm 10, accompanied by Psalm 52 for the 52nd day of Astronomical Summer and Psalm 72 for day 222 of the year (now with the consummate book of 150 Psalms in its 2nd revolution this year)

[Proverbs 10]

The proverbs of Solomon:

A wise son makes his father glad,

but a foolish one fills his mother with sorrow.

Riches gained through dishonest means will eventually vanish,

but doing what is right avoids a deadly consequence.

The Eternal does not allow the right-living to go hungry,

but He will frustrate the plans of the wicked.

A slack hand produces nothing but poverty,

but an industrious hand soon takes hold of riches.

A wise son stores up for the winter months while it is still summer,

but a shameful son lies around even during the harvest.

Blessings come to those who do what is right,

but words spoken by the wicked cover up violent schemes.

The memory of one who lived with integrity brings joy,

but the legacy of a wrongdoer will rot away.

The wise at heart will gladly obey direction,

but one who fills the air with meaningless talk will fall into ruin.

The path of integrity is always safe,

but a person who follows a crooked way will be exposed.

Whoever winks his eye signals trouble,

and whoever fills the air with meaningless talk will fall into ruin.

The mouth of the righteous is a spring of life,

but words spoken by the wicked cover up violent schemes.

Hatred fuels dissension,

but love calms all rebellions.

Wisdom lives where insightful words are spoken,

but harsh punishment awaits the senseless.

The wise store up knowledge as a safeguard,

but the meaningless chatter of fools means that chaos is near.

The wealth of the rich is their powerful fortress;

the poverty of the poor reduces them to rubble.

The reward of those who do right is a satisfied life,

but the profits gained by those who do wrong is used to sin.

Those who accept instruction are travelers on the road to a meaningful life,

but those who refuse correction wander off and pave a path to ruin.

Lips that lie cover deep-seated hatred,

and whoever spreads a libelous rumor is acting as a fool.

The more you talk, the more likely you will cross the line and say the wrong thing;

but if you are wise, you’ll speak less and with restraint.

The speech of those who do right is of greater value than the finest silver,

but the thoughts of wrongdoers are worthless.

The right-living teach many,

but fools die with no clue how to live well.

The blessing of the Eternal is what makes someone rich,

and He doesn’t add pain to it.

Mischief is the sport of fools,

but wise actions bring joy to a person with insight.

Whatever wrongdoers fear the most will happen to them,

but those who do right will receive what they long for.

After the storm passes, the wrongdoers are blown away,

but those who do right are safe and sound on their firm foundations forever.

As vinegar vexes the teeth, and as smoke irritates the eyes,

so a slacker annoys his boss.

Reverence for the Eternal makes for a long and peaceful life,

but a wrongdoer will have years taken away.

The hope of those who do right is joy and celebration,

but the only prospect for those who do wrong is futility.

The way of the Eternal offers safety to those who love justice,

but it destroys those who perpetrate evil.

The right-living will never have their land taken away,

but wrongdoers will be uprooted.

Wisdom flows from the mouths of those who do right,

but tongues that twist the truth will be cut out.

The lips of the right-living understand what is proper,

but the mouths of wrongdoers twist and pervert the truth.

The Book of Proverbs, Chapter 10 (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 52]

The Fate of Cynics

For the Pure and Shining One

A song of instruction by King David composed when Doeg the Edomite betrayed David to Saul, saying, “David has come to the house of Ahimilech!”

You call yourself a mighty man, a big shot?

Why do you boast in the evil you have done?

Yet God’s loyal love will protect me and carry the day!

Listen, O deceiver, trickster of others:

Your words are wicked, harming and hurting all who hear them.

You love evil and hate what is good and right.

You would rather lie than tell the truth.

Pause in his presence

You love to distort, devour, and deceive,

using your sly tongue to spin the truth.

But the Almighty will strike you down forever!

He will pull you up by your roots

and drag you away to the darkness of death.

Pause in his presence

The godly will see all this and will be awestruck.

Then they will laugh at the wicked, saying,

“See what happens to those great in their own eyes

who don’t trust in the Most High to save them!

Look how they trusted only in their wealth

and made their living from wickedness.”

But I am like a flourishing olive tree, anointed in the house of God.

I trust in the unending love of God;

his passion toward me is forever and ever.

Because it is finished,

I will praise you forever and give you thanks.

Before all your godly lovers I will proclaim your beautiful name!

The Book of Psalms, Poem 52 (The Passion Translation)

with Psalm 52 mirrored in The Message:

[Psalm 52]

Why do you brag of evil, “Big Man”?

God’s mercy carries the day.

You scheme catastrophe;

your tongue cuts razor-sharp,

artisan in lies.

You love evil more than good,

you call black white.

You love malicious gossip,

you foul-mouth.

God will tear you limb from limb,

sweep you up and throw you out,

Pull you up by the roots

from the land of life.

Good people will watch and

worship. They’ll laugh in relief:

“Big Man bet on the wrong horse,

trusted in big money,

made his living from catastrophe.”

And I’m an olive tree,

growing green in God’s house.

I trusted in the generous mercy

of God then and now.

I thank you always

that you went into action.

And I’ll stay right here,

your good name my hope,

in company with your faithful friends.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 52 (The Message)

[Psalm 72]

A song of Solomon.

True God, bestow Your honest judgments upon the king

and anoint the king’s son with Your righteousness.

May he be honest and fair in his judgments over Your people

and offer justice to the burdened and suffering.

Under his reign, may this land of mountains and hills know peace

and experience justice for all the people.

May the king offer justice to the burdened and suffering,

rescue the poor and needy,

and demolish the oppressor!

[May the people fear You] for as long as the sun shines,

as long as the moon rises in the night sky, throughout the generations.

May the king be like the refreshing rains, which fall upon fields of freshly mown grass—

like showers that cool and nourish the earth.

May good and honest people flourish for as long as he reigns,

and may peace fill the land until the moon no longer rises.

May the king rule from one sea to the next,

and may his rule extend from the Euphrates River to the far reaches of the earth.

Let the desert wanderers bow down before him

and his enemies lay prostrate and taste the dirt.

Let the kings of Tarshish and the island kings

shower him with gifts

And the kings of Sheba and Seba bring him presents as well.

Let every king on earth bow down before him

and every nation be in his service.

For he will rescue the needy when they ask for help!

He will save the burdened and come to the aid of those who have no other help.

He offers compassion to the weak and the poor;

he will help and protect the lives of the needy!

He will liberate them from the fierce sting of persecution and violence;

in his eyes, their blood is precious.

May he live a long, long time

and the gold of Sheba be given to him.

May the people constantly lift up prayers for him,

and may they call upon God to bless him always.

Let grain grow plentifully in this land of promise,

let it sway in the breeze on the hilltops,

let it grow strong as do the cedars of Lebanon,

And may those who live in the city bloom and flourish

just as the grass of the fields and meadows.

May his name live on forever

and his reputation grow for as long as the sun gives light.

May people from all nations find in him a blessing;

may all peoples declare him blessed.

May the Eternal God, the God of Israel, be blessed,

for He alone works miracles and wonders!

May His glorious name be blessed forever

and the whole earth be filled with His eternal glory!

Amen. Amen.

The prayers of King David, Jesse’s son, are ended.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 72 (The Voice)

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dfroza · 3 years

Text

Today’s reading from the ancient books of Proverbs and Psalms

for Saturday, April 10 of 2021 with Proverbs 10 and Psalm 10, accompanied by Psalm 22 for the 22nd day of Spring and Psalm 100 for day 100 of the year

[Proverbs 10]

The proverbs of Solomon:

A wise son makes his father glad,

but a foolish one fills his mother with sorrow.

Riches gained through dishonest means will eventually vanish,

but doing what is right avoids a deadly consequence.

The Eternal does not allow the right-living to go hungry,

but He will frustrate the plans of the wicked.

A slack hand produces nothing but poverty,

but an industrious hand soon takes hold of riches.

A wise son stores up for the winter months while it is still summer,

but a shameful son lies around even during the harvest.

Blessings come to those who do what is right,

but words spoken by the wicked cover up violent schemes.

The memory of one who lived with integrity brings joy,

but the legacy of a wrongdoer will rot away.

The wise at heart will gladly obey direction,

but one who fills the air with meaningless talk will fall into ruin.

The path of integrity is always safe,

but a person who follows a crooked way will be exposed.

Whoever winks his eye signals trouble,

and whoever fills the air with meaningless talk will fall into ruin.

The mouth of the righteous is a spring of life,

but words spoken by the wicked cover up violent schemes.

Hatred fuels dissension,

but love calms all rebellions.

Wisdom lives where insightful words are spoken,

but harsh punishment awaits the senseless.

The wise store up knowledge as a safeguard,

but the meaningless chatter of fools means that chaos is near.

The wealth of the rich is their powerful fortress;

the poverty of the poor reduces them to rubble.

The reward of those who do right is a satisfied life,

but the profits gained by those who do wrong is used to sin.

Those who accept instruction are travelers on the road to a meaningful life,

but those who refuse correction wander off and pave a path to ruin.

Lips that lie cover deep-seated hatred,

and whoever spreads a libelous rumor is acting as a fool.

The more you talk, the more likely you will cross the line and say the wrong thing;

but if you are wise, you’ll speak less and with restraint.

The speech of those who do right is of greater value than the finest silver,

but the thoughts of wrongdoers are worthless.

The right-living teach many,

but fools die with no clue how to live well.

The blessing of the Eternal is what makes someone rich,

and He doesn’t add pain to it.

Mischief is the sport of fools,

but wise actions bring joy to a person with insight.

Whatever wrongdoers fear the most will happen to them,

but those who do right will receive what they long for.

After the storm passes, the wrongdoers are blown away,

but those who do right are safe and sound on their firm foundations forever.

As vinegar vexes the teeth, and as smoke irritates the eyes,

so a slacker annoys his boss.

Reverence for the Eternal makes for a long and peaceful life,

but a wrongdoer will have years taken away.

The hope of those who do right is joy and celebration,

but the only prospect for those who do wrong is futility.

The way of the Eternal offers safety to those who love justice,

but it destroys those who perpetrate evil.

The right-living will never have their land taken away,

but wrongdoers will be uprooted.

Wisdom flows from the mouths of those who do right,

but tongues that twist the truth will be cut out.

The lips of the right-living understand what is proper,

but the mouths of wrongdoers twist and pervert the truth.

The Book of Proverbs, Chapter 10 (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 22]

For the worship leader. A song of David to the tune “Deer of the Dawn.”

My God, my God, why have You turned Your back on me?

Your ears are deaf to my groans.

O my God, I cry all day and You are silent;

my tears in the night bring no relief.

Still, You are holy;

You make Your home on the praises of Israel.

Our mothers and fathers trusted in You;

they trusted, and You rescued them.

They cried out to You for help and were spared;

they trusted in You and were vindicated.

But I am a worm and not a human being,

a disgrace and an object of scorn.

Everyone who sees me laughs at me;

they whisper to one another I’m a loser; they sneer and mock me, saying,

“He relies on the Eternal; let the Eternal rescue him

and keep him safe because He is happy with him.”

But You are the One who granted me life;

You endowed me with trust as I nursed at my mother’s breast.

I was dedicated to You at birth;

You’ve been my God from my mother’s womb.

Stay close to me—

trouble is at my door;

no one else can help me.

I’m surrounded by many tormenters;

like strong bulls of Bashan, they circle around me with their taunts.

They open their mouths wide at me

like ravenous, roaring lions.

My life is poured out like water,

and all my bones have slipped out of joint.

My heart melts like wax inside me.

My strength is gone, dried up like shards of pottery;

my dry tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;

You lay me in the dust of death.

A throng of evil ones has surrounded me

like a pack of wild dogs;

They pierced my hands and ripped a hole in my feet.

I count all my bones;

people gawk and stare at me.

They make a game out of dividing my clothes among themselves;

they cast lots for the clothes on my back.

But You, O Eternal, stay close;

O You, my help, hurry to my side.

Save my life from violence,

my sweet life from the teeth of the wild dog.

Rescue me from the mouth of the lion.

From the horns of the wild oxen, You responded to my plea.

I will speak Your Name to my brothers and sisters

when I praise You in the midst of the community.

You who revere the Eternal, praise Him—

descendants of Jacob, worship Him;

be struck with wonder before Him, all you children of Israel.

He’s not put off

by the suffering of the suffering one;

He doesn’t pretend He hasn’t seen him;

when he pleaded for help, He listened.

You stir my praise in the great assembly;

I will fulfill my vows before those who humble their hearts before Him.

Those who are suffering will eat and be nourished;

those who seek Him will praise the Eternal.

May your hearts beat strong forever!

Those from the farthest reaches of the earth will remember

and turn back to look for the Eternal;

All the families of the nations

will worship You.

The Eternal owns the world;

He exercises His gentle rule over all the nations.

All the wealthy of the world will eat and worship;

all those who fall in the dust will bow before Him,

even the life that is headed to the grave.

Our children will serve Him;

future generations will hear the story of how the Lord rescued us.

They will tell the generations to come

of the righteousness of the Lord,

of what He has done.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 22 (The Voice)

[Psalm 100]

A song of thanks.

Raise your voices;

make a beautiful noise to the Eternal, all the earth.

Serve the Eternal gladly;

enter into His presence singing songs of joy!

Know this: the Eternal One Himself is the True God.

He is the One who made us;

we have not made ourselves;

we are His people, like sheep grazing in His fields.

Go through His gates, giving thanks;

walk through His courts, giving praise.

Offer Him your gratitude and praise His holy name.

Because the Eternal is good,

His loyal love and mercy will never end,

and His truth will last throughout all generations.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 100 (The Voice)

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