Day 203 of 365

¹ The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.

² God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.

³ Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

⁴ Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread: they have not called upon God.

⁵ There were they in great fear, where no fear was: for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put them to shame, because God hath despised them.

⁶ Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

¹ Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.

² A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.

³ The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.

⁴ A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

⁵ Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

⁶ Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

⁷ Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.

⁸ A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

⁹ He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

¹⁰ A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.

¹¹ An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

¹² Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

¹³ Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

¹⁴ The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

¹⁵ He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.

¹⁶ Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?

¹⁷ A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

¹⁸ A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

¹⁹ He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.

²⁰ He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

²¹ He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.

²² A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

²³ A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.

²⁴ Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

²⁵ A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.

²⁶ Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.

²⁷ He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

²⁸ Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.