I was sitting out on my neighbor’s deck one summer afternoon with my husband. It was an informal gathering.

Another couple was chatting with our hosts. The husband had a tattoo that wound around his calf. It was a Hebrew text in an old-fashioned script. It looked like a Biblical verse.

My Hebrew is pretty good, and I wanted a closer look. I introduced myself to the man and asked about his tattoo.

He told me that yes, it was a Biblical text, Zephaniah 3:17. Here’s a translation: “The Lord your God is near you, a warrior who redeems; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will soothe you with His love, He will celebrate you with song.”

I read the tattoo. Sure enough, it was a Biblical verse. But not that one. The indelible marks on his calf formed the words of Isaiah 42:13: “God shall go forth like a hero; like a warrior, He shall awaken envy, even shout against His enemies, He shall prevail.”

Better or Verse

I verified my off-the-cuff translation. (Yes, the pun is intended.) Everything was spelled correctly and the script was beautiful. It wasn’t the right text but it seemed like a worthy substitute. There’s a common theme to the two verses, of God as a warrior.

I told my new acquaintance that he had Isaiah instead of Zephaniah. He got angry. He insisted that it was Zephaniah, that he gave the text to the tattoo artist himself. I explained that he may have asked for Zephaniah but his leg had Isaiah.

He got angrier.

I don’t know whether he was angry at me, at himself, or at the tattoo artist. He left the party a few minutes later and I haven’t seen him since.

Don’t Ink Twice

It makes a good story — although it’s not funny, like the guy with the “matzah” tattoo pictured above — and it offers a few lessons:

1. We don’t control everything. My acquaintance gave the tattoo artist detailed instructions but got the wrong result.

2. Some mistakes can’t be fixed. Maybe he’ll have his preferred verse inked on the other leg. (The “matzah” tattoo guy is in a better position. He can add a little more ink to the final letter and he’ll have the Hebrew word for “strength.”)

3. Live and learn. We all experience setbacks. These are opportunities for growth. Take time to understand the lesson, act on it, and move on.

4. Be humble. When other people screw up, offer support. Seek to understand and connect. Don’t mock them, even behind their backs.

Above all, we can respond to others’ shortcomings — and our own — with the compassion that Zephaniah attributes to God: “He will soothe you with His love.”

And always remember that it may take only a little extra effort to turn a pile of crumbs into a symbol of strength.