Day 157 - Proverbs 10-12

Proverbs 10

Proverbs of Solomon

¹ The proverbs of Solomon:
A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish son grief to his mother.

² Ill-gotten treasures are of no value,
but righteousness delivers from death.

³ The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry
but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.

⁴ Lazy hands make a man poor,
but diligent hands bring wealth.

⁵ He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son,
but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.

⁶ Blessings crown the head of the righteous,
but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked. ^a]">[a]

⁷ The memory of the righteous will be a blessing,
but the name of the wicked will rot.

⁸ The wise in heart accept commands,
but a chattering fool comes to ruin.

⁹ The man of integrity walks securely,
but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.

¹⁰ He who winks maliciously causes grief,
and a chattering fool comes to ruin.

¹¹ The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.

¹² Hatred stirs up dissension,
but love covers over all wrongs.

¹³ Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,
but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment.

¹⁴ Wise men store up knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.

¹⁵ The wealth of the rich is their fortified city,
but poverty is the ruin of the poor.

¹⁶ The wages of the righteous bring them life,
but the income of the wicked brings them punishment.

¹⁷ He who heeds discipline shows the way to life,
but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

¹⁸ He who conceals his hatred has lying lips,
and whoever spreads slander is a fool.

¹⁹ When words are many, sin is not absent,
but he who holds his tongue is wise.

²⁰ The tongue of the righteous is choice silver,
but the heart of the wicked is of little value.

²¹ The lips of the righteous nourish many,
but fools die for lack of judgment.

²² The blessing of the LORD brings wealth,
and he adds no trouble to it.

²³ A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct,
but a man of understanding delights in wisdom.

²⁴ What the wicked dreads will overtake him;
what the righteous desire will be granted.

²⁵ When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone,
but the righteous stand firm forever.

²⁶ As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
so is a sluggard to those who send him.

²⁷ The fear of the LORD adds length to life,
but the years of the wicked are cut short.

²⁸ The prospect of the righteous is joy,
but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.

²⁹ The way of the LORD is a refuge for the righteous,
but it is the ruin of those who do evil.

³⁰ The righteous will never be uprooted,
but the wicked will not remain in the land.

³¹ The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
but a perverse tongue will be cut out.

³² The lips of the righteous know what is fitting,
but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.

Proverbs 11

¹ The LORD abhors dishonest scales,
but accurate weights are his delight.

² When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with humility comes wisdom.

³ The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.

⁴ Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.

⁵ The righteousness of the blameless makes a straight way for them,
but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.

⁶ The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.

⁷ When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes;
all he expected from his power comes to nothing.

⁸ The righteous man is rescued from trouble,
and it comes on the wicked instead.

⁹ With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbor,
but through knowledge the righteous escape.

¹⁰ When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices;
when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.

¹¹ Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.

¹² A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor,
but a man of understanding holds his tongue.

¹³ A gossip betrays a confidence,
but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.

¹⁴ For lack of guidance a nation falls,
but many advisers make victory sure.

¹⁵ He who puts up security for another will surely suffer,
but whoever refuses to strike hands in pledge is safe.

¹⁶ A kindhearted woman gains respect,
but ruthless men gain only wealth.

¹⁷ A kind man benefits himself,
but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.

¹⁸ The wicked man earns deceptive wages,
but he who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.

¹⁹ The truly righteous man attains life,
but he who pursues evil goes to his death.

²⁰ The LORD detests men of perverse heart
but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.

²¹ Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished,
but those who are righteous will go free.

²² Like a gold ring in a pig's snout
is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.

²³ The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.

²⁴ One man gives freely, yet gains even more;
another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

²⁵ A generous man will prosper;
he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

²⁶ People curse the man who hoards grain,
but blessing crowns him who is willing to sell.

²⁷ He who seeks good finds goodwill,
but evil comes to him who searches for it.

²⁸ Whoever trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.

²⁹ He who brings trouble on his family will inherit only wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise.

³⁰ The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and he who wins souls is wise.

³¹ If the righteous receive their due on earth,
how much more the ungodly and the sinner!

Proverbs 12

¹ Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but he who hates correction is stupid.

² A good man obtains favor from the LORD,
but the LORD condemns a crafty man.

³ A man cannot be established through wickedness,
but the righteous cannot be uprooted.

⁴ A wife of noble character is her husband's crown,
but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.

⁵ The plans of the righteous are just,
but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.

⁶ The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
but the speech of the upright rescues them.

⁷ Wicked men are overthrown and are no more,
but the house of the righteous stands firm.

⁸ A man is praised according to his wisdom,
but men with warped minds are despised.

⁹ Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant
than pretend to be somebody and have no food.

¹⁰ A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal,
but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.

¹¹ He who works his land will have abundant food,
but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment.

¹² The wicked desire the plunder of evil men,
but the root of the righteous flourishes.

¹³ An evil man is trapped by his sinful talk,
but a righteous man escapes trouble.

¹⁴ From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things
as surely as the work of his hands rewards him.

¹⁵ The way of a fool seems right to him,
but a wise man listens to advice.

¹⁶ A fool shows his annoyance at once,
but a prudent man overlooks an insult.

¹⁷ A truthful witness gives honest testimony,
but a false witness tells lies.

¹⁸ Reckless words pierce like a sword,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

¹⁹ Truthful lips endure forever,
but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.

²⁰ There is deceit in the hearts of those who plot evil,
but joy for those who promote peace.

²¹ No harm befalls the righteous,
but the wicked have their fill of trouble.

²² The LORD detests lying lips,
but he delights in men who are truthful.

²³ A prudent man keeps his knowledge to himself,
but the heart of fools blurts out folly.

²⁴ Diligent hands will rule,
but laziness ends in slave labor.

²⁵ An anxious heart weighs a man down,
but a kind word cheers him up.

²⁶ A righteous man is cautious in friendship, ^b]">[b]
but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

²⁷ The lazy man does not roast ^c]">[c] his game,
but the diligent man prizes his possessions.

²⁸ In the way of righteousness there is life;
along that path is immortality.

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 10:6 Or but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence ; also in verse 11
2. Proverbs 12:26 Or man is a guide to his neighbor
3. Proverbs 12:27 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.

Day 156 - Proverbs 7-9

Proverbs 7

Warning Against the Adulteress

¹ My son, keep my words
and store up my commands within you.

² Keep my commands and you will live;
guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.

³ Bind them on your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart.

⁴ Say to wisdom, "You are my sister,"
and call understanding your kinsman;

⁵ they will keep you from the adulteress,
from the wayward wife with her seductive words.

⁶ At the window of my house
I looked out through the lattice.

⁷ I saw among the simple,
I noticed among the young men,
a youth who lacked judgment.

⁸ He was going down the street near her corner,
walking along in the direction of her house

⁹ at twilight, as the day was fading,
as the dark of night set in.

¹⁰ Then out came a woman to meet him,
dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.

¹¹ (She is loud and defiant,
her feet never stay at home;

¹² now in the street, now in the squares,
at every corner she lurks.)

¹³ She took hold of him and kissed him
and with a brazen face she said:

¹⁴ "I have fellowship offerings ^a]">[a] at home;
today I fulfilled my vows.

¹⁵ So I came out to meet you;
I looked for you and have found you!

¹⁶ I have covered my bed
with colored linens from Egypt.

¹⁷ I have perfumed my bed
with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.

¹⁸ Come, let's drink deep of love till morning;
let's enjoy ourselves with love!

¹⁹ My husband is not at home;
he has gone on a long journey.

²⁰ He took his purse filled with money
and will not be home till full moon."

²¹ With persuasive words she led him astray;
she seduced him with her smooth talk.

²² All at once he followed her
like an ox going to the slaughter,
like a deer ^b]">[b] stepping into a noose ^c]">[c]

²³ till an arrow pierces his liver,
like a bird darting into a snare,
little knowing it will cost him his life.

²⁴ Now then, my sons, listen to me;
pay attention to what I say.

²⁵ Do not let your heart turn to her ways
or stray into her paths.

²⁶ Many are the victims she has brought down;
her slain are a mighty throng.

²⁷ Her house is a highway to the grave, ^d]">[d]
leading down to the chambers of death.

Proverbs 8

Wisdom's Call

¹ Does not wisdom call out?
Does not understanding raise her voice?

² On the heights along the way,
where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

³ beside the gates leading into the city,
at the entrances, she cries aloud:

⁴ "To you, O men, I call out;
I raise my voice to all mankind.

⁵ You who are simple, gain prudence;
you who are foolish, gain understanding.

⁶ Listen, for I have worthy things to say;
I open my lips to speak what is right.

⁷ My mouth speaks what is true,
for my lips detest wickedness.

⁸ All the words of my mouth are just;
none of them is crooked or perverse.

⁹ To the discerning all of them are right;
they are faultless to those who have knowledge.

¹⁰ Choose my instruction instead of silver,
knowledge rather than choice gold,

¹¹ for wisdom is more precious than rubies,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.

¹² "I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
I possess knowledge and discretion.

¹³ To fear the LORD is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech.

¹⁴ Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
I have understanding and power.

¹⁵ By me kings reign
and rulers make laws that are just;

¹⁶ by me princes govern,
and all nobles who rule on earth. ^e]">[e]

¹⁷ I love those who love me,
and those who seek me find me.

¹⁸ With me are riches and honor,
enduring wealth and prosperity.

¹⁹ My fruit is better than fine gold;
what I yield surpasses choice silver.

²⁰ I walk in the way of righteousness,
along the paths of justice,

²¹ bestowing wealth on those who love me
and making their treasuries full.

²² "The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, ^f]">[f] , ^g]">[g]
before his deeds of old;

²³ I was appointed ^h]">[h] from eternity,
from the beginning, before the world began.

²⁴ When there were no oceans, I was given birth,
when there were no springs abounding with water;

²⁵ before the mountains were settled in place,
before the hills, I was given birth,

²⁶ before he made the earth or its fields
or any of the dust of the world.

²⁷ I was there when he set the heavens in place,
when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,

²⁸ when he established the clouds above
and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,

²⁹ when he gave the sea its boundary
so the waters would not overstep his command,
and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.

³⁰ Then I was the craftsman at his side.
I was filled with delight day after day,
rejoicing always in his presence,

³¹ rejoicing in his whole world
and delighting in mankind.

³² "Now then, my sons, listen to me;
blessed are those who keep my ways.

³³ Listen to my instruction and be wise;
do not ignore it.

³⁴ Blessed is the man who listens to me,
watching daily at my doors,
waiting at my doorway.

³⁵ For whoever finds me finds life
and receives favor from the LORD.

³⁶ But whoever fails to find me harms himself;
all who hate me love death."

Proverbs 9

Invitations of Wisdom and of Folly

¹ Wisdom has built her house;
she has hewn out its seven pillars.

² She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;
she has also set her table.

³ She has sent out her maids, and she calls
from the highest point of the city.

⁴ "Let all who are simple come in here!"
she says to those who lack judgment.

⁵ "Come, eat my food
and drink the wine I have mixed.

⁶ Leave your simple ways and you will live;
walk in the way of understanding.

⁷ "Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult;
whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse.

⁸ Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you;
rebuke a wise man and he will love you.

⁹ Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still;
teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.

¹⁰ "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

¹¹ For through me your days will be many,
and years will be added to your life.

¹² If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you;
if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer."

¹³ The woman Folly is loud;
she is undisciplined and without knowledge.

¹⁴ She sits at the door of her house,
on a seat at the highest point of the city,

¹⁵ calling out to those who pass by,
who go straight on their way.

¹⁶ "Let all who are simple come in here!"
she says to those who lack judgment.

¹⁷ "Stolen water is sweet;
food eaten in secret is delicious!"

¹⁸ But little do they know that the dead are there,
that her guests are in the depths of the grave. ^i]">[i]

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 7:14 Traditionally peace offerings
2. Proverbs 7:22 Syriac (see also Septuagint Hebrew fool
3. Proverbs 7:22 The meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.
4. Proverbs 7:27 Hebrew Sheol
5. Proverbs 8:16 Many Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts and nobles-all righteous rulers
6. Proverbs 8:22 Or way ; or dominion
7. Proverbs 8:22 Or The LORD possessed me at the beginning of his work ; or The LORD brought me forth at the beginning of his work
8. Proverbs 8:23 Or fashioned
9. Proverbs 9:18 Hebrew Sheol

Day 155 - Proverbs 4-6

Proverbs 4

Wisdom Is Supreme

¹ Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction;
pay attention and gain understanding.

² I give you sound learning,
so do not forsake my teaching.

³ When I was a boy in my father's house,
still tender, and an only child of my mother,

⁴ he taught me and said,
"Lay hold of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands and you will live.

⁵ Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or swerve from them.

⁶ Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.

⁷ Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have, ^a]">[a] get understanding.

⁸ Esteem her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.

⁹ She will set a garland of grace on your head
and present you with a crown of splendor."

¹⁰ Listen, my son, accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many.

¹¹ I guide you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.

¹² When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
when you run, you will not stumble.

¹³ Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life.

¹⁴ Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
or walk in the way of evil men.

¹⁵ Avoid it, do not travel on it;
turn from it and go on your way.

¹⁶ For they cannot sleep till they do evil;
they are robbed of slumber till they make someone fall.

¹⁷ They eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.

¹⁸ The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

¹⁹ But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what makes them stumble.

²⁰ My son, pay attention to what I say;
listen closely to my words.

²¹ Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;

²² for they are life to those who find them
and health to a man's whole body.

²³ Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life.

²⁴ Put away perversity from your mouth;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

²⁵ Let your eyes look straight ahead,
fix your gaze directly before you.

²⁶ Make level ^b]">[b] paths for your feet
and take only ways that are firm.

²⁷ Do not swerve to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.

Proverbs 5

Warning Against Adultery

¹ My son, pay attention to my wisdom,
listen well to my words of insight,

² that you may maintain discretion
and your lips may preserve knowledge.

³ For the lips of an adulteress drip honey,
and her speech is smoother than oil;

⁴ but in the end she is bitter as gall,
sharp as a double-edged sword.

⁵ Her feet go down to death;
her steps lead straight to the grave. ^c]">[c]

⁶ She gives no thought to the way of life;
her paths are crooked, but she knows it not.

⁷ Now then, my sons, listen to me;
do not turn aside from what I say.

⁸ Keep to a path far from her,
do not go near the door of her house,

⁹ lest you give your best strength to others
and your years to one who is cruel,

¹⁰ lest strangers feast on your wealth
and your toil enrich another man's house.

¹¹ At the end of your life you will groan,
when your flesh and body are spent.

¹² You will say, "How I hated discipline!
How my heart spurned correction!

¹³ I would not obey my teachers
or listen to my instructors.

¹⁴ I have come to the brink of utter ruin
in the midst of the whole assembly."

¹⁵ Drink water from your own cistern,
running water from your own well.

¹⁶ Should your springs overflow in the streets,
your streams of water in the public squares?

¹⁷ Let them be yours alone,
never to be shared with strangers.

¹⁸ May your fountain be blessed,
and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.

¹⁹ A loving doe, a graceful deer—
may her breasts satisfy you always,
may you ever be captivated by her love.

²⁰ Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress?
Why embrace the bosom of another man's wife?

²¹ For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD,
and he examines all his paths.

²² The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him;
the cords of his sin hold him fast.

²³ He will die for lack of discipline,
led astray by his own great folly.

Proverbs 6

Warnings Against Folly

¹ My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,
if you have struck hands in pledge for another,

² if you have been trapped by what you said,
ensnared by the words of your mouth,

³ then do this, my son, to free yourself,
since you have fallen into your neighbor's hands:
Go and humble yourself;
press your plea with your neighbor!

⁴ Allow no sleep to your eyes,
no slumber to your eyelids.

⁵ Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
like a bird from the snare of the fowler.

⁶ Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!

⁷ It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,

⁸ yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.

⁹ How long will you lie there, you sluggard?
When will you get up from your sleep?

¹⁰ A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest-

¹¹ and poverty will come on you like a bandit
and scarcity like an armed man. ^d]">[d]

¹² A scoundrel and villain,
who goes about with a corrupt mouth,

¹³ who winks with his eye,
signals with his feet
and motions with his fingers,

¹⁴ who plots evil with deceit in his heart—
he always stirs up dissension.

¹⁵ Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant;
he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.

¹⁶ There are six things the LORD hates,
seven that are detestable to him:

¹⁷ haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,

¹⁸ a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,

¹⁹ a false witness who pours out lies
and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

Warning Against Adultery

²⁰ My son, keep your father's commands
and do not forsake your mother's teaching.

²¹ Bind them upon your heart forever;
fasten them around your neck.

²² When you walk, they will guide you;
when you sleep, they will watch over you;
when you awake, they will speak to you.

²³ For these commands are a lamp,
this teaching is a light,
and the corrections of discipline
are the way to life,

²⁴ keeping you from the immoral woman,
from the smooth tongue of the wayward wife.

²⁵ Do not lust in your heart after her beauty
or let her captivate you with her eyes,

²⁶ for the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread,
and the adulteress preys upon your very life.

²⁷ Can a man scoop fire into his lap
without his clothes being burned?

²⁸ Can a man walk on hot coals
without his feet being scorched?

²⁹ So is he who sleeps with another man's wife;
no one who touches her will go unpunished.

³⁰ Men do not despise a thief if he steals
to satisfy his hunger when he is starving.

³¹ Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold,
though it costs him all the wealth of his house.

³² But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment;
whoever does so destroys himself.

³³ Blows and disgrace are his lot,
and his shame will never be wiped away;

³⁴ for jealousy arouses a husband's fury,
and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.

³⁵ He will not accept any compensation;
he will refuse the bribe, however great it is.

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 4:7 Or Whatever else you get
2. Proverbs 4:26 Or Consider the
3. Proverbs 5:5 Hebrew Sheol
4. Proverbs 6:11 Or like a vagrant / and scarcity like a beggar

Day 154 - Proverbs 1-3

Proverbs 1

Prologue: Purpose and Theme

¹ The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

² for attaining wisdom and discipline;
for understanding words of insight;

³ for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life,
doing what is right and just and fair;

⁴ for giving prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young-

⁵ let the wise listen and add to their learning,
and let the discerning get guidance-

⁶ for understanding proverbs and parables,
the sayings and riddles of the wise.

⁷ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools ^a]">[a] despise wisdom and discipline.

Exhortations to Embrace Wisdom

Warning Against Enticement

⁸ Listen, my son, to your father's instruction
and do not forsake your mother's teaching.

⁹ They will be a garland to grace your head
and a chain to adorn your neck.

¹⁰ My son, if sinners entice you,
do not give in to them.

¹¹ If they say, "Come along with us;
let's lie in wait for someone's blood,
let's waylay some harmless soul;

¹² let's swallow them alive, like the grave, ^b]">[b]
and whole, like those who go down to the pit;

¹³ we will get all sorts of valuable things
and fill our houses with plunder;

¹⁴ throw in your lot with us,
and we will share a common purse"-

¹⁵ my son, do not go along with them,
do not set foot on their paths;

¹⁶ for their feet rush into sin,
they are swift to shed blood.

¹⁷ How useless to spread a net
in full view of all the birds!

¹⁸ These men lie in wait for their own blood;
they waylay only themselves!

¹⁹ Such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain;
it takes away the lives of those who get it.

Warning Against Rejecting Wisdom

²⁰ Wisdom calls aloud in the street,
she raises her voice in the public squares;

²¹ at the head of the noisy streets ^c]">[c] she cries out,
in the gateways of the city she makes her speech:

²² "How long will you simple ones ^d]">[d] love your simple ways?
How long will mockers delight in mockery
and fools hate knowledge?

²³ If you had responded to my rebuke,
I would have poured out my heart to you
and made my thoughts known to you.

²⁴ But since you rejected me when I called
and no one gave heed when I stretched out my hand,

²⁵ since you ignored all my advice
and would not accept my rebuke,

²⁶ I in turn will laugh at your disaster;
I will mock when calamity overtakes you-

²⁷ when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind,
when distress and trouble overwhelm you.

²⁸ "Then they will call to me but I will not answer;
they will look for me but will not find me.

²⁹ Since they hated knowledge
and did not choose to fear the LORD,

³⁰ since they would not accept my advice
and spurned my rebuke,

³¹ they will eat the fruit of their ways
and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.

³² For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
and the complacency of fools will destroy them;

³³ but whoever listens to me will live in safety
and be at ease, without fear of harm."

Proverbs 2

Moral Benefits of Wisdom

¹ My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,

² turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding,

³ and if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,

⁴ and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,

⁵ then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.

⁶ For the LORD gives wisdom,
and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

⁷ He holds victory in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,

⁸ for he guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones.

⁹ Then you will understand what is right and just
and fair—every good path.

¹⁰ For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

¹¹ Discretion will protect you,
and understanding will guard you.

¹² Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men,
from men whose words are perverse,

¹³ who leave the straight paths
to walk in dark ways,

¹⁴ who delight in doing wrong
and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,

¹⁵ whose paths are crooked
and who are devious in their ways.

¹⁶ It will save you also from the adulteress,
from the wayward wife with her seductive words,

¹⁷ who has left the partner of her youth
and ignored the covenant she made before God. ^e]">[e]

¹⁸ For her house leads down to death
and her paths to the spirits of the dead.

¹⁹ None who go to her return
or attain the paths of life.

²⁰ Thus you will walk in the ways of good men
and keep to the paths of the righteous.

²¹ For the upright will live in the land,
and the blameless will remain in it;

²² but the wicked will be cut off from the land,
and the unfaithful will be torn from it.

Proverbs 3

Further Benefits of Wisdom

¹ My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,

² for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you prosperity.

³ Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.

⁴ Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.

⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;

⁶ in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight. ^f]">[f]

⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil.

⁸ This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.

⁹ Honor the LORD with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;

¹⁰ then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.

¹¹ My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline
and do not resent his rebuke,

¹² because the LORD disciplines those he loves,
as a father ^g]">[g] the son he delights in.

¹³ Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,
the man who gains understanding,

¹⁴ for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.

¹⁵ She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.

¹⁶ Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.

¹⁷ Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.

¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
those who lay hold of her will be blessed.

¹⁹ By wisdom the LORD laid the earth's foundations,
by understanding he set the heavens in place;

²⁰ by his knowledge the deeps were divided,
and the clouds let drop the dew.

²¹ My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment,
do not let them out of your sight;

²² they will be life for you,
an ornament to grace your neck.

²³ Then you will go on your way in safety,
and your foot will not stumble;

²⁴ when you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

²⁵ Have no fear of sudden disaster
or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,

²⁶ for the LORD will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from being snared.

²⁷ Do not withhold good from those who deserve it,
when it is in your power to act.

²⁸ Do not say to your neighbor,
"Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow"—
when you now have it with you.

²⁹ Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
who lives trustfully near you.

³⁰ Do not accuse a man for no reason—
when he has done you no harm.

³¹ Do not envy a violent man
or choose any of his ways,

³² for the LORD detests a perverse man
but takes the upright into his confidence.

³³ The LORD's curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the righteous.

³⁴ He mocks proud mockers
but gives grace to the humble.

³⁵ The wise inherit honor,
but fools he holds up to shame.

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 1:7 The Hebrew words rendered fool in Proverbs, and often elsewhere in the Old Testament, denote one who is morally deficient.
2. Proverbs 1:12 Hebrew Sheol
3. Proverbs 1:21 Hebrew; Septuagint / on the tops of the walls
4. Proverbs 1:22 The Hebrew word rendered simple in Proverbs generally denotes one without moral direction and inclined to evil.
5. Proverbs 2:17 Or covenant of her God
6. Proverbs 3:6 Or will direct your paths
7. Proverbs 3:12 Hebrew; Septuagint / and he punishes

Day 153 - Song of Solomon 1-8

Song of Solomon 1

¹ Solomon's Song of Songs.

Beloved ^a]">[a]

² Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—
for your love is more delightful than wine.

³ Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes;
your name is like perfume poured out.
No wonder the maidens love you!

⁴ Take me away with you—let us hurry!
Let the king bring me into his chambers.

Friends

We rejoice and delight in you ^b]">[b] ;
we will praise your love more than wine.

Beloved

How right they are to adore you!

⁵ Dark am I, yet lovely,
O daughters of Jerusalem,
dark like the tents of Kedar,
like the tent curtains of Solomon. ^c]">[c]

⁶ Do not stare at me because I am dark,
because I am darkened by the sun.
My mother's sons were angry with me
and made me take care of the vineyards;
my own vineyard I have neglected.

⁷ Tell me, you whom I love, where you graze your flock
and where you rest your sheep at midday.
Why should I be like a veiled woman
beside the flocks of your friends?

Friends

⁸ If you do not know, most beautiful of women,
follow the tracks of the sheep
and graze your young goats
by the tents of the shepherds.

Lover

⁹ I liken you, my darling, to a mare
harnessed to one of the chariots of Pharaoh.

¹⁰ Your cheeks are beautiful with earrings,
your neck with strings of jewels.

¹¹ We will make you earrings of gold,
studded with silver.

Beloved

¹² While the king was at his table,
my perfume spread its fragrance.

¹³ My lover is to me a sachet of myrrh
resting between my breasts.

¹⁴ My lover is to me a cluster of henna blossoms
from the vineyards of En Gedi.

Lover

¹⁵ How beautiful you are, my darling!
Oh, how beautiful!
Your eyes are doves.

Beloved

¹⁶ How handsome you are, my lover!
Oh, how charming!
And our bed is verdant.

Lover

¹⁷ The beams of our house are cedars;
our rafters are firs.

Song of Solomon 2

Beloved ^d]">[d]

¹ I am a rose ^e]">[e] of Sharon,
a lily of the valleys.

Lover

² Like a lily among thorns
is my darling among the maidens.

Beloved

³ Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest
is my lover among the young men.
I delight to sit in his shade,
and his fruit is sweet to my taste.

⁴ He has taken me to the banquet hall,
and his banner over me is love.

⁵ Strengthen me with raisins,
refresh me with apples,
for I am faint with love.

⁶ His left arm is under my head,
and his right arm embraces me.

⁷ Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you
by the gazelles and by the does of the field:
Do not arouse or awaken love
until it so desires.

⁸ Listen! My lover!
Look! Here he comes,
leaping across the mountains,
bounding over the hills.

⁹ My lover is like a gazelle or a young stag.
Look! There he stands behind our wall,
gazing through the windows,
peering through the lattice.

¹⁰ My lover spoke and said to me,
"Arise, my darling,
my beautiful one, and come with me.

¹¹ See! The winter is past;
the rains are over and gone.

¹² Flowers appear on the earth;
the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves
is heard in our land.

¹³ The fig tree forms its early fruit;
the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.
Arise, come, my darling;
my beautiful one, come with me."

Lover

¹⁴ My dove in the clefts of the rock,
in the hiding places on the mountainside,
show me your face,
let me hear your voice;
for your voice is sweet,
and your face is lovely.

¹⁵ Catch for us the foxes,
the little foxes
that ruin the vineyards,
our vineyards that are in bloom.

Beloved

¹⁶ My lover is mine and I am his;
he browses among the lilies.

¹⁷ Until the day breaks
and the shadows flee,
turn, my lover,
and be like a gazelle
or like a young stag
on the rugged hills. ^f]">[f]

Song of Solomon 3

¹ All night long on my bed
I looked for the one my heart loves;
I looked for him but did not find him.

² I will get up now and go about the city,
through its streets and squares;
I will search for the one my heart loves.
So I looked for him but did not find him.

³ The watchmen found me
as they made their rounds in the city.
"Have you seen the one my heart loves?"

⁴ Scarcely had I passed them
when I found the one my heart loves.
I held him and would not let him go
till I had brought him to my mother's house,
to the room of the one who conceived me.

⁵ Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you
by the gazelles and by the does of the field:
Do not arouse or awaken love
until it so desires.

⁶ Who is this coming up from the desert
like a column of smoke,
perfumed with myrrh and incense
made from all the spices of the merchant?

⁷ Look! It is Solomon's carriage,
escorted by sixty warriors,
the noblest of Israel,

⁸ all of them wearing the sword,
all experienced in battle,
each with his sword at his side,
prepared for the terrors of the night.

⁹ King Solomon made for himself the carriage;
he made it of wood from Lebanon.

¹⁰ Its posts he made of silver,
its base of gold.
Its seat was upholstered with purple,
its interior lovingly inlaid
by ^g]">[g] the daughters of Jerusalem.

¹¹ Come out, you daughters of Zion,
and look at King Solomon wearing the crown,
the crown with which his mother crowned him
on the day of his wedding,
the day his heart rejoiced.

Song of Solomon 4

Lover

¹ How beautiful you are, my darling!
Oh, how beautiful!
Your eyes behind your veil are doves.
Your hair is like a flock of goats
descending from Mount Gilead.

² Your teeth are like a flock of sheep just shorn,
coming up from the washing.
Each has its twin;
not one of them is alone.

³ Your lips are like a scarlet ribbon;
your mouth is lovely.
Your temples behind your veil
are like the halves of a pomegranate.

⁴ Your neck is like the tower of David,
built with elegance ^h]">[h] ;
on it hang a thousand shields,
all of them shields of warriors.

⁵ Your two breasts are like two fawns,
like twin fawns of a gazelle
that browse among the lilies.

⁶ Until the day breaks
and the shadows flee,
I will go to the mountain of myrrh
and to the hill of incense.

⁷ All beautiful you are, my darling;
there is no flaw in you.

⁸ Come with me from Lebanon, my bride,
come with me from Lebanon.
Descend from the crest of Amana,
from the top of Senir, the summit of Hermon,
from the lions' dens
and the mountain haunts of the leopards.

⁹ You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride;
you have stolen my heart
with one glance of your eyes,
with one jewel of your necklace.

¹⁰ How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride!
How much more pleasing is your love than wine,
and the fragrance of your perfume than any spice!

¹¹ Your lips drop sweetness as the honeycomb, my bride;
milk and honey are under your tongue.
The fragrance of your garments is like that of Lebanon.

¹² You are a garden locked up, my sister, my bride;
you are a spring enclosed, a sealed fountain.

¹³ Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates
with choice fruits,
with henna and nard,

¹⁴ nard and saffron,
calamus and cinnamon,
with every kind of incense tree,
with myrrh and aloes
and all the finest spices.

¹⁵ You are ^i]">[i] a garden fountain,
a well of flowing water
streaming down from Lebanon.

Beloved

¹⁶ Awake, north wind,
and come, south wind!
Blow on my garden,
that its fragrance may spread abroad.
Let my lover come into his garden
and taste its choice fruits.

Song of Solomon 5

Lover

¹ I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride;
I have gathered my myrrh with my spice.
I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey;
I have drunk my wine and my milk.

Friends

Eat, O friends, and drink;
drink your fill, O lovers.

Beloved

² I slept but my heart was awake.
Listen! My lover is knocking:
"Open to me, my sister, my darling,
my dove, my flawless one.
My head is drenched with dew,
my hair with the dampness of the night."

³ I have taken off my robe—
must I put it on again?
I have washed my feet—
must I soil them again?

⁴ My lover thrust his hand through the latch-opening;
my heart began to pound for him.

⁵ I arose to open for my lover,
and my hands dripped with myrrh,
my fingers with flowing myrrh,
on the handles of the lock.

⁶ I opened for my lover,
but my lover had left; he was gone.
My heart sank at his departure. ^j]">[j]
I looked for him but did not find him.
I called him but he did not answer.

⁷ The watchmen found me
as they made their rounds in the city.
They beat me, they bruised me;
they took away my cloak,
those watchmen of the walls!

⁸ O daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you—
if you find my lover,
what will you tell him?
Tell him I am faint with love.

Friends

⁹ How is your beloved better than others,
most beautiful of women?
How is your beloved better than others,
that you charge us so?

Beloved

¹⁰ My lover is radiant and ruddy,
outstanding among ten thousand.

¹¹ His head is purest gold;
his hair is wavy
and black as a raven.

¹² His eyes are like doves
by the water streams,
washed in milk,
mounted like jewels.

¹³ His cheeks are like beds of spice
yielding perfume.
His lips are like lilies
dripping with myrrh.

¹⁴ His arms are rods of gold
set with chrysolite.
His body is like polished ivory
decorated with sapphires. ^k]">[k]

¹⁵ His legs are pillars of marble
set on bases of pure gold.
His appearance is like Lebanon,
choice as its cedars.

¹⁶ His mouth is sweetness itself;
he is altogether lovely.
This is my lover, this my friend,
O daughters of Jerusalem.

Song of Solomon 6

Friends

¹Where has your lover gone,
most beautiful of women?
Which way did your lover turn,
that we may look for him with you?

Beloved

² My lover has gone down to his garden,
to the beds of spices,
to browse in the gardens
and to gather lilies.

³ I am my lover's and my lover is mine;
he browses among the lilies.

Lover

⁴ You are beautiful, my darling, as Tirzah,
lovely as Jerusalem,
majestic as troops with banners.

⁵ Turn your eyes from me;
they overwhelm me.
Your hair is like a flock of goats
descending from Gilead.

⁶ Your teeth are like a flock of sheep
coming up from the washing.
Each has its twin,
not one of them is alone.

⁷ Your temples behind your veil
are like the halves of a pomegranate.

⁸ Sixty queens there may be,
and eighty concubines,
and virgins beyond number;

⁹ but my dove, my perfect one, is unique,
the only daughter of her mother,
the favorite of the one who bore her.
The maidens saw her and called her blessed;
the queens and concubines praised her.

Friends

¹⁰ Who is this that appears like the dawn,
fair as the moon, bright as the sun,
majestic as the stars in procession?

Lover

¹¹ I went down to the grove of nut trees
to look at the new growth in the valley,
to see if the vines had budded
or the pomegranates were in bloom.

¹² Before I realized it,
my desire set me among the royal chariots of my people. ^l]">[l]

Friends

¹³ Come back, come back, O Shulammite;
come back, come back, that we may gaze on you!

Lover

Why would you gaze on the Shulammite
as on the dance of Mahanaim?

Song of Solomon 7

¹ How beautiful your sandaled feet,
O prince's daughter!
Your graceful legs are like jewels,
the work of a craftsman's hands.

² Your navel is a rounded goblet
that never lacks blended wine.
Your waist is a mound of wheat
encircled by lilies.

³ Your breasts are like two fawns,
twins of a gazelle.

⁴ Your neck is like an ivory tower.
Your eyes are the pools of Heshbon
by the gate of Bath Rabbim.
Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon
looking toward Damascus.

⁵ Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel.
Your hair is like royal tapestry;
the king is held captive by its tresses.

⁶ How beautiful you are and how pleasing,
O love, with your delights!

⁷ Your stature is like that of the palm,
and your breasts like clusters of fruit.

⁸ I said, "I will climb the palm tree;
I will take hold of its fruit."
May your breasts be like the clusters of the vine,
the fragrance of your breath like apples,

⁹ and your mouth like the best wine.

Beloved

May the wine go straight to my lover,
flowing gently over lips and teeth. ^m]">[m]

¹⁰ I belong to my lover,
and his desire is for me.

¹¹ Come, my lover, let us go to the countryside,
let us spend the night in the villages. ^n]">[n]

¹² Let us go early to the vineyards
to see if the vines have budded,
if their blossoms have opened,
and if the pomegranates are in bloom—
there I will give you my love.

¹³ The mandrakes send out their fragrance,
and at our door is every delicacy,
both new and old,
that I have stored up for you, my lover.

Song of Solomon 8

¹ If only you were to me like a brother,
who was nursed at my mother's breasts!
Then, if I found you outside,
I would kiss you,
and no one would despise me.

² I would lead you
and bring you to my mother's house—
she who has taught me.
I would give you spiced wine to drink,
the nectar of my pomegranates.

³ His left arm is under my head
and his right arm embraces me.

⁴ Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you:
Do not arouse or awaken love
until it so desires.

Friends

⁵ Who is this coming up from the desert
leaning on her lover?

Beloved

Under the apple tree I roused you;
there your mother conceived you,
there she who was in labor gave you birth.

⁶ Place me like a seal over your heart,
like a seal on your arm;
for love is as strong as death,
its jealousy ^o]">[o] unyielding as the grave. ^p]">[p]
It burns like blazing fire,
like a mighty flame. ^q]">[q]

⁷ Many waters cannot quench love;
rivers cannot wash it away.
If one were to give
all the wealth of his house for love,
it ^r]">[r] would be utterly scorned.

Friends

⁸ We have a young sister,
and her breasts are not yet grown.
What shall we do for our sister
for the day she is spoken for?

⁹ If she is a wall,
we will build towers of silver on her.
If she is a door,
we will enclose her with panels of cedar.

Beloved

¹⁰ I am a wall,
and my breasts are like towers.
Thus I have become in his eyes
like one bringing contentment.

¹¹ Solomon had a vineyard in Baal Hamon;
he let out his vineyard to tenants.
Each was to bring for its fruit
a thousand shekels ^s]">[s] of silver.

¹² But my own vineyard is mine to give;
the thousand shekels are for you, O Solomon,
and two hundred ^t]">[t] are for those who tend its fruit.

Lover

¹³ You who dwell in the gardens
with friends in attendance,
let me hear your voice!

Beloved

¹⁴ Come away, my lover,
and be like a gazelle
or like a young stag
on the spice-laden mountains.

Footnotes:

1. Song of Solomon 1:1 Primarily on the basis of the gender of the Hebrew pronouns used, male and female speakers are indicated in the margins by the captions Lover and Beloved respectively. The words of others are marked Friends . In some instances the divisions and their captions are debatable.
2. Song of Solomon 1:4 The Hebrew is masculine singular.
3. Song of Solomon 1:5 Or Salma
4. Song of Solomon 2:1 Or Lover
5. Song of Solomon 2:1 Possibly a member of the crocus family
6. Song of Solomon 2:17 Or the hills of Bether
7. Song of Solomon 3:10 Or its inlaid interior a gift of love / from
8. Song of Solomon 4:4 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
9. Song of Solomon 4:15 Or I am (spoken by the Beloved )
10. Song of Solomon 5:6 Or heart had gone out to him when he spoke
11. Song of Solomon 5:14 Or lapis lazuli
12. Song of Solomon 6:12 Or among the chariots of Amminadab ; or among the chariots of the people of the prince
13. Song of Solomon 7:9 Septuagint, Aquila, Vulgate and Syriac; Hebrew lips of sleepers
14. Song of Solomon 7:11 Or henna bushes
15. Song of Solomon 8:6 Or ardor
16. Song of Solomon 8:6 Hebrew Sheol
17. Song of Solomon 8:6 Or / like the very flame of the LORD
18. Song of Solomon 8:7 Or he
19. Song of Solomon 8:11 That is, about 25 pounds (about 11.5 kilograms also in verse 12
20. Song of Solomon 8:12 That is, about 5 pounds (about 2.3 kilograms)

Day 152 - Psalm 119:89-176

l Lamedh

⁸⁹ Your word, O LORD, is eternal;
it stands firm in the heavens.

⁹⁰ Your faithfulness continues through all generations;
you established the earth, and it endures.

⁹¹ Your laws endure to this day,
for all things serve you.

⁹² If your law had not been my delight,
I would have perished in my affliction.

⁹³ I will never forget your precepts,
for by them you have preserved my life.

⁹⁴ Save me, for I am yours;
I have sought out your precepts.

⁹⁵ The wicked are waiting to destroy me,
but I will ponder your statutes.

⁹⁶ To all perfection I see a limit;
but your commands are boundless.

m Mem

⁹⁷ Oh, how I love your law!
I meditate on it all day long.

⁹⁸ Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,
for they are ever with me.

⁹⁹ I have more insight than all my teachers,
for I meditate on your statutes.

¹⁰⁰ I have more understanding than the elders,
for I obey your precepts.

¹⁰¹ I have kept my feet from every evil path
so that I might obey your word.

¹⁰² I have not departed from your laws,
for you yourself have taught me.

¹⁰³ How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!

¹⁰⁴ I gain understanding from your precepts;
therefore I hate every wrong path.

n Nun

¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path.

¹⁰⁶ I have taken an oath and confirmed it,
that I will follow your righteous laws.

¹⁰⁷ I have suffered much;
preserve my life, O LORD, according to your word.

¹⁰⁸ Accept, O LORD, the willing praise of my mouth,
and teach me your laws.

¹⁰⁹ Though I constantly take my life in my hands,
I will not forget your law.

¹¹⁰ The wicked have set a snare for me,
but I have not strayed from your precepts.

¹¹¹ Your statutes are my heritage forever;
they are the joy of my heart.

¹¹² My heart is set on keeping your decrees
to the very end.

s Samekh

¹¹³ I hate double-minded men,
but I love your law.

¹¹⁴ You are my refuge and my shield;
I have put my hope in your word.

¹¹⁵ Away from me, you evildoers,
that I may keep the commands of my God!

¹¹⁶ Sustain me according to your promise, and I will live;
do not let my hopes be dashed.

¹¹⁷ Uphold me, and I will be delivered;
I will always have regard for your decrees.

¹¹⁸ You reject all who stray from your decrees,
for their deceitfulness is in vain.

¹¹⁹ All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross;
therefore I love your statutes.

¹²⁰ My flesh trembles in fear of you;
I stand in awe of your laws.

v Ayin

¹²¹ I have done what is righteous and just;
do not leave me to my oppressors.

¹²² Ensure your servant's well-being;
let not the arrogant oppress me.

¹²³ My eyes fail, looking for your salvation,
looking for your righteous promise.

¹²⁴ Deal with your servant according to your love
and teach me your decrees.

¹²⁵ I am your servant; give me discernment
that I may understand your statutes.

¹²⁶ It is time for you to act, O LORD;
your law is being broken.

¹²⁷ Because I love your commands
more than gold, more than pure gold,

¹²⁸ and because I consider all your precepts right,
I hate every wrong path.

p Pe

¹²⁹ Your statutes are wonderful;
therefore I obey them.

¹³⁰ The unfolding of your words gives light;
it gives understanding to the simple.

¹³¹ I open my mouth and pant,
longing for your commands.

¹³² Turn to me and have mercy on me,
as you always do to those who love your name.

¹³³ Direct my footsteps according to your word;
let no sin rule over me.

¹³⁴ Redeem me from the oppression of men,
that I may obey your precepts.

¹³⁵ Make your face shine upon your servant
and teach me your decrees.

¹³⁶ Streams of tears flow from my eyes,
for your law is not obeyed.

c Tsadhe

¹³⁷ Righteous are you, O LORD,
and your laws are right.

¹³⁸ The statutes you have laid down are righteous;
they are fully trustworthy.

¹³⁹ My zeal wears me out,
for my enemies ignore your words.

¹⁴⁰ Your promises have been thoroughly tested,
and your servant loves them.

¹⁴¹ Though I am lowly and despised,
I do not forget your precepts.

¹⁴² Your righteousness is everlasting
and your law is true.

¹⁴³ Trouble and distress have come upon me,
but your commands are my delight.

¹⁴⁴ Your statutes are forever right;
give me understanding that I may live.

q Qoph

¹⁴⁵ I call with all my heart; answer me, O LORD,
and I will obey your decrees.

¹⁴⁶ I call out to you; save me
and I will keep your statutes.

¹⁴⁷ I rise before dawn and cry for help;
I have put my hope in your word.

¹⁴⁸ My eyes stay open through the watches of the night,
that I may meditate on your promises.

¹⁴⁹ Hear my voice in accordance with your love;
preserve my life, O LORD, according to your laws.

¹⁵⁰ Those who devise wicked schemes are near,
but they are far from your law.

¹⁵¹ Yet you are near, O LORD,
and all your commands are true.

¹⁵² Long ago I learned from your statutes
that you established them to last forever.

r Resh

¹⁵³ Look upon my suffering and deliver me,
for I have not forgotten your law.

¹⁵⁴ Defend my cause and redeem me;
preserve my life according to your promise.

¹⁵⁵ Salvation is far from the wicked,
for they do not seek out your decrees.

¹⁵⁶ Your compassion is great, O LORD;
preserve my life according to your laws.

¹⁵⁷ Many are the foes who persecute me,
but I have not turned from your statutes.

¹⁵⁸ I look on the faithless with loathing,
for they do not obey your word.

¹⁵⁹ See how I love your precepts;
preserve my life, O LORD, according to your love.

¹⁶⁰ All your words are true;
all your righteous laws are eternal.

S Sin and Shin

¹⁶¹ Rulers persecute me without cause,
but my heart trembles at your word.

¹⁶² I rejoice in your promise
like one who finds great spoil.

¹⁶³ I hate and abhor falsehood
but I love your law.

¹⁶⁴ Seven times a day I praise you
for your righteous laws.

¹⁶⁵ Great peace have they who love your law,
and nothing can make them stumble.

¹⁶⁶ I wait for your salvation, O LORD,
and I follow your commands.

¹⁶⁷ I obey your statutes,
for I love them greatly.

¹⁶⁸ I obey your precepts and your statutes,
for all my ways are known to you.

t Taw

¹⁶⁹ May my cry come before you, O LORD;
give me understanding according to your word.

¹⁷⁰ May my supplication come before you;
deliver me according to your promise.

¹⁷¹ May my lips overflow with praise,
for you teach me your decrees.

¹⁷² May my tongue sing of your word,
for all your commands are righteous.

¹⁷³ May your hand be ready to help me,
for I have chosen your precepts.

¹⁷⁴ I long for your salvation, O LORD,
and your law is my delight.

¹⁷⁵ Let me live that I may praise you,
and may your laws sustain me.

¹⁷⁶ I have strayed like a lost sheep.
Seek your servant,
for I have not forgotten your commands.