Day 139 of 365

¹ O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.

² Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

³ Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

⁴ For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

⁵ Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

⁷ Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

⁸ If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

⁹ If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

¹⁰ Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

¹¹ If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

¹² Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

¹³ For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.

¹⁴ I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

¹⁵ My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

¹⁶ Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

¹⁷ How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

¹⁸ If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

¹⁹ Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.

²⁰ For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.

²¹ Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

²² I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.

²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

²⁴ And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

¹ A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

² The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.

³ The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

⁴ A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

⁵ A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.

⁶ In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.

⁷ The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.

⁸ The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

⁹ The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.

¹⁰ Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.

¹¹ Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?

¹² A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.

¹³ A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

¹⁴ The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.

¹⁵ All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.

¹⁶ Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.

¹⁷ Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

¹⁸ A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.

¹⁹ The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.

²⁰ A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.

²¹ Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.

²² Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.

²³ A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!

²⁴ The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.

²⁵ The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.

²⁶ The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.

²⁷ He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.

²⁸ The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.

²⁹ The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.

³⁰ The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.

³¹ The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.

³² He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.

³³ The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.