Day 282 of 365

¹ Lord, remember David, and all his afflictions:

² How he sware unto the LORD, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob;

³ Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed;

⁴ I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids,

⁵ Until I find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.

⁶ Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood.

⁷ We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool.

⁸ Arise, O LORD, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength.

⁹ Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.

¹⁰ For thy servant David’s sake turn not away the face of thine anointed.

¹¹ The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.

¹² If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore.

¹³ For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.

¹⁴ This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.

¹⁵ I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread.

¹⁶ I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.

¹⁷ There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed.

¹⁸ His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon himself shall his crown flourish.

¹ My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

² For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

³ Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

⁴ So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

⁵ Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

⁷ Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

⁸ It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

⁹ Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

¹⁰ So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

¹¹ My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:

¹² For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

¹³ Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

¹⁴ For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

¹⁵ She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

¹⁶ Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

¹⁷ Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

¹⁸ She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

¹⁹ The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

²⁰ By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

²¹ My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:

²² So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

²³ Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.

²⁴ When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

²⁵ Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.

²⁶ For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

²⁷ Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

²⁸ Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.

²⁹ Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.

³⁰ Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

³¹ Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.

³² For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.

³³ The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.

³⁴ Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.

³⁵ The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.