Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Well-Watered Roots

I have been deep watering my trees over the past several weeks. The drought in our area (as in much of the U.S.) has me concerned for the health of my array of foliage. While we are cresting into fall and even anticipating some rain later today (for which I am very grateful), I could not help but think about how like my trees I am. Seasons of drought require rain. May I be planted by the waters.
 
Jeremiah 17:7-8
 
Amplified Bible (AMP)
[Most] blessed is the man who believes in, trusts in, and relies on the Lord, and whose hope and confidence the Lord is. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters that spreads out its roots by the river; and it shall not see and fear when heat comes; but its leaf shall be green. It shall not be anxious and full of care in the year of drought, nor shall it cease yielding fruit.
 
Common English Bible (CEB)
Happy are those who trust in the Lord, who rely on the Lord. They will be like trees planted by the streams, whose roots reach down to the water. They won’t fear drought when it comes; their leaves will remain green. They won’t be stressed in the time of drought or fail to bear fruit.
 
Lexham English Bible (LEB)
Blessed be the person who trusts in Yahweh, and Yahweh is his trust. For he will be like a tree planted by water, and to the stream it sends its roots, and it will not fear when heat comes, and its leaves will be luxuriant, and in the year of drought it will not be anxious, and it will not cease from the bearing of fruit.

The Message (MSG)
But blessed is the man who trusts me, God, the woman who sticks with God. They’re like trees replanted in Eden, putting down roots near the rivers - never a worry through the hottest of summers,
never dropping a leaf, Serene and calm through droughts, bearing fresh fruit every season.
 
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; sut its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.
 
New International Version (NIV)
But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.
 
New Living Translation (NLT)
But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.

1 comment:

  1. Were you at the Jill Briscoe retreat where she read Evergreen? A poem about Psalm 1? I have never forgotten it, and thought of it on Sunday as Psalm 1 was part of the lectionary. Love the Jeremiah verse.

    Love,
    Di

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