Be

May all who hate Zion be turned back in shame.

May they be like grass on the rooftops, which withers before it can grow,

May none who pass by say to them, “The blessing of the LORD be on you; we bless you in the name of the LORD.”

O Lord, hear my voice; let Your ears be attentive to my plea for mercy.

But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be feared.

May Your priests be clothed with righteousness, and Your saints shout for joy.

Blessed be the LORD from Zion—He who dwells in Jerusalem. Hallelujah!

Your eyes saw my unformed body; all my days were written in Your book and ordained for me before one of them came to be.

Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; do not promote their evil plans, lest they be exalted. Selah

May the heads of those who surround me be covered in the trouble their lips have caused.

May burning coals fall on them; may they be thrown into the fire, into the miry pits, never to rise again.

May no slanderer be established in the land; may calamity hunt down the man of violence.

May my prayer be set before You like incense; my uplifted hands, like the evening offering.

Do not let my heart be drawn to any evil thing or take part in works of wickedness with men who do iniquity; let me not feast on their delicacies.

Let the righteous man strike me; let his rebuke be an act of loving devotion. It is oil for my head; let me not refuse it. For my prayer is ever against the deeds of the wicked.

Answer me quickly, O LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide Your face from me, or I will be like those who descend to the Pit.

Of David. Blessed be the LORD, my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.

Then our sons will be like plants nurtured in their youth, our daughters like corner pillars carved to adorn a palace.

Our storehouses will be full, supplying all manner of produce; our flocks will bring forth thousands, tens of thousands in our fields.

Our oxen will bear great loads. There will be no breach in the walls, no going into captivity, and no cry of lament in our streets.

Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; His greatness is unsearchable.

May the high praises of God be in their mouths, and a double-edged sword in their hands,

So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

…but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the unfaithful will be uprooted.

…but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the unfaithful will be uprooted.

Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

…then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.

They will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck.

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you rest, your sleep will be sweet.

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you rest, your sleep will be sweet.

…for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from the snare.

Listen, my son, and receive my words, and the years of your life will be many.

When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; when you run, you will not stumble.

Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure.

Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers.

Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers.

May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth:

A loving doe, a graceful fawn—may her breasts satisfy you always; may you be captivated by her love forever.

Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress, or embrace the bosom of a stranger?

Therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in an instant he will be shattered beyond recovery.

Can a man embrace fire and his clothes not be burned?

Wounds and dishonor will befall him, and his reproach will never be wiped away.

He will not be appeased by any ransom, or persuaded by lavish gifts.

O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.

Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.

Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.

For through wisdom your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.

For through wisdom your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.

He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.

What the wicked man dreads will overtake him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.

The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be cut short.

The righteous will never be shaken, but the wicked will not inhabit the land.

The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out.

Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape.

A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

He who brings trouble on his house will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.

A man cannot be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted.

A man cannot be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted.

Better to be lightly esteemed yet have a servant, than to be self-important but lack food.

Better to be lightly esteemed yet have a servant, than to be self-important but lack food.

One pretends to be rich, but has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

One pretends to be rich, but has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

Dishonest wealth will dwindle, but what is earned through hard work will be multiplied.

He who despises instruction will pay the penalty, but the one who respects a command will be rewarded.

He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.

The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.

A mocker does not love to be reproved, nor will he consult the wise.

Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be achieved.

Everyone who is proud in heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured that he will not go unpunished.

It is better to be lowly in spirit among the humble than to divide the spoil with the proud.

An evil man seeks only rebellion; a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

All the brothers of a poor man hate him—how much more do his friends avoid him! He may pursue them with pleading, but they are nowhere to be found.

Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be party to his death.

Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days.

The desire of a man is loving devotion; better to be poor than a liar.

Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness.

An inheritance gained quickly will not be blessed in the end.

He who loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will never be rich.

He who sows injustice will reap disaster, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.

A generous man will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.

The slacker says, “There is a lion outside! I will be slain in the streets!”

So that your trust may be in the LORD, I instruct you today—yes, you.

Do not be one who gives pledges, who puts up security for debts.

If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you?

Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men.

Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.

For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

Listen, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right course.

May your father and mother be glad, and may she who gave you birth rejoice!

You will be like one sleeping on the high seas or lying on the top of a mast:

He who plots evil will be called a schemer.

Know therefore that wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, there is a future for you, and your hope will never be cut off.

Do not fret over evildoers, and do not be envious of the wicked.

For the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.

As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings cannot be searched.

Remove the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.

…for it is better to be told, “Come up here!” than to be demoted in the presence of the prince. Even what you have seen with your own eyes,

…for it is better to be told, “Come up here!” than to be demoted in the presence of the prince. Even what you have seen with your own eyes,

Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.