Day 28 of 365

¹ Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.

² Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.

³ Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.

⁴ Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert.

⁵ Because they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up.

⁶ Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.

⁷ The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

⁸ The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.

⁹ Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.

¹ The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.

² For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.

³ A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.

⁴ They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.

⁵ Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.

⁶ Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

⁷ Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.

⁸ He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.

⁹ He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

¹⁰ Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.

¹¹ The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.

¹² When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.

¹³ He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

¹⁴ Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

¹⁵ As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.

¹⁶ The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.

¹⁷ A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.

¹⁸ Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.

¹⁹ He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.

²⁰ A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.

²¹ To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.

²² He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.

²³ He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.

²⁴ Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.

²⁵ He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.

²⁶ He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

²⁷ He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.

²⁸ When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.