Day 304 of 365

¹ Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

² O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.

³ But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.

⁴ Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

⁵ Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.

⁶ There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

⁷ Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.

⁸ I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

¹ These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

² It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

³ The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

⁴ Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.

⁵ Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

⁶ Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:

⁷ For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.

⁸ Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

⁹ Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:

¹⁰ Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.

¹¹ A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

¹² As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

¹³ As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.

¹⁴ Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.

¹⁵ By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

¹⁶ Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

¹⁷ Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.

¹⁸ A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

¹⁹ Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

²⁰ As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.

²¹ If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

²² For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.

²³ The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.

²⁴ It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.

²⁵ As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

²⁶ A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.

²⁷ It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

²⁸ He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.