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Help finding text in Bible that's similar to Desiderata poem

Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 11:55 am
by joaodasilva
Hello!
I remember reading in the Bible (Old Testament) a text very similar to the poem "Desiderata" (for the ones who don't know it, the poem starts like this: "Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence..."). Here is a link to the poem:
http://www.poetseers.org/the_great_poets/misc/desid
In Bible, the words were a bit different, but the meaning was the same. However, I can't fint the text in Bible that contained the ideas of this poem (it's harder than finding a needle in a haystack)...
Could someone help me or at least say a text in the Bible that is similar to Desiderata?

Re: Help finding text in Bible that's similar to Desiderata poem

Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 6:41 pm
by cslewislover
It is like some of the proverbs.

"As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons," is like Romans 12:18: "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."

I like Francis of Assisi's A Simple Prayer much more. A little reading to ground one in the right place.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, let me sow pardon.
Where there is doubt, let me sow faith.
Where there is despair, let me sow hope.
Where there is sadness, let me sow joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.
It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.


Re: Help finding text in Bible that's similar to Desiderata poem

Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 5:48 am
by nd925
Good poem. It does sound like some Proverbs. You could try doing some searches on blueletterbible.org or download and install e-sword bible software. Both have some good search tools that might help you find what you're looking for.