Day 294 of 365

¹ Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:

² My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.

³ LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!

⁴ Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.

⁵ Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.

⁶ Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.

⁷ Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children;

⁸ Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

⁹ I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.

¹⁰ It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword.

¹¹ Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:

¹² That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:

¹³ That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets:

¹⁴ That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets.

¹⁵ Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.

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.