From

Topaz from Cush cannot compare to it, nor can it be valued in pure gold.

From where, then, does wisdom come, and where does understanding dwell?

It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing and concealed from the birds of the air.

It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing and concealed from the birds of the air.

And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

The princes refrained from speaking and covered their mouths with their hands.

I shattered the fangs of the unjust and snatched the prey from his teeth.

Gaunt from poverty and hunger, they gnawed the dry land, and the desolate wasteland by night.

They were banished from among men, shouted at like thieves,

They abhor me and keep far from me; they do not hesitate to spit in my face.

They tear up my path; they profit from my destruction, with no one to restrain them.

For what is the allotment of God from above, or the heritage from the Almighty on high?

For what is the allotment of God from above, or the heritage from the Almighty on high?

If my steps have turned from the path, if my heart has followed my eyes, or if impurity has stuck to my hands,

…though from my youth I reared him as would a father, and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow—

…though from my youth I reared him as would a father, and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow—

…then may my arm fall from my shoulder and be torn from its socket.

…then may my arm fall from my shoulder and be torn from its socket.

For calamity from God terrifies me, and His splendor I cannot overpower.

…so that my heart was secretly enticed and my hand threw a kiss from my mouth,

My words are from an upright heart, and my lips speak sincerely what I know.

I am just like you before God; I was also formed from clay.

…to turn a man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride,

…to turn a man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride,

…to preserve his soul from the Pit and his life from perishing by the sword.

…to preserve his soul from the Pit and his life from perishing by the sword.

His flesh wastes away from sight, and his hidden bones protrude.

…to be gracious to him and say, ‘Spare him from going down to the Pit; I have found his ransom,’

He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and I will live to see the light.’

…to bring back his soul from the Pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of life.

Therefore listen to me, O men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wrong, and from the Almighty to act unjustly.

Therefore listen to me, O men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wrong, and from the Almighty to act unjustly.

…because they turned aside from Him and had no regard for any of His ways.

For you ask, ‘What does it profit me, and what benefit do I gain apart from sin?’

If you are righteous, what do you give Him, or what does He receive from your hand?

Men cry out under great oppression; they plead for relief from the arm of the mighty.

I get my knowledge from afar, and I will ascribe justice to my Maker.

He opens their ears to correction and commands that they turn from iniquity.

Indeed, He drew you from the jaws of distress to a spacious and broad place, to a table full of richness.

Can your wealth or all your mighty effort keep you from distress?

Do not long for the night, when people vanish from their homes.

All mankind has seen it; men behold it from afar.

For He draws up drops of water which distill the rain from the mist,

Furthermore, who can understand how the clouds spread out, how the thunder roars from His pavilion?

“At this my heart also pounds and leaps from its place.

Listen closely to the thunder of His voice and the rumbling that comes from His mouth.

The tempest comes from its chamber, and the cold from the driving north winds.

The tempest comes from its chamber, and the cold from the driving north winds.

Who enclosed the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb,

Light is withheld from the wicked, and their upraised arm is broken.

From whose womb does the ice emerge? Who gives birth to the frost from heaven,

From whose womb does the ice emerge? Who gives birth to the frost from heaven,

Who set the wild donkey free? Who released the swift donkey from the harness?

He laughs at fear, frightened of nothing; he does not turn back from the sword.

At the blast of the horn, he snorts with fervor. He catches the scent of battle from afar, the shouts of captains and the cry of war.

From there he spies out food; his eyes see it from afar.

From there he spies out food; his eyes see it from afar.

Firebrands stream from his mouth; fiery sparks shoot forth!

Smoke billows from his nostrils as from a boiling pot over burning reeds.

Smoke billows from his nostrils as from a boiling pot over burning reeds.

His breath sets coals ablaze, and flames pour from his mouth.

A Psalm of David, when he fled from his son Absalom. O LORD, how my foes have increased! How many rise up against me!

To the LORD I cry aloud, and He answers me from His holy mountain. Selah

For there is no mention of You in death; who can praise You from Sheol?

I am weary from groaning; all night I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears.

My eyes fail from grief; they grow dim because of all my foes.

Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity, for the LORD has heard my weeping.

A Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning the words of Cush, a Benjamite. O LORD my God, I take refuge in You; save me and deliver me from all my pursuers,

From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise on account of Your adversaries, to silence the enemy and avenger.

Be merciful to me, O LORD; see how my enemies afflict me! Lift me up from the gates of death,

He is secure in his ways at all times; Your lofty judgments are far from him; he sneers at all his foes.

He says to himself, “I will not be moved; from age to age I am free of distress.”

The LORD is King forever and ever; the nations perish from His land.

For behold, the wicked bend their bows. They set their arrow on the string to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.

For the choirmaster. According to Sheminith. A Psalm of David. Help, O LORD, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men.

You, O LORD, will keep us; You will forever guard us from this generation.

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?

The LORD looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God.

Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come from Zion! When the LORD restores His captive people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad!

He who walks with integrity and practices righteousness, who speaks the truth from his heart,

I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing.”

A prayer of David. Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer—it comes from lips free of deceit.

May my vindication come from Your presence; may Your eyes see what is right.

Show the wonders of Your loving devotion, You who save by Your right hand those who seek refuge from their foes.

…from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.

…from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.

Arise, O LORD, confront them! Bring them to their knees; deliver me from the wicked by Your sword,

…from such men, O LORD, by Your hand—from men of the world whose portion is in this life. May You fill the bellies of Your treasured ones and satisfy their sons, so they leave their abundance to their children.

…from such men, O LORD, by Your hand—from men of the world whose portion is in this life. May You fill the bellies of Your treasured ones and satisfy their sons, so they leave their abundance to their children.

For the choirmaster. Of David the servant of the LORD, who sang this song to the LORD on the day the LORD had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said: I love You, O LORD, my strength.

For the choirmaster. Of David the servant of the LORD, who sang this song to the LORD on the day the LORD had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said: I love You, O LORD, my strength.

I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.

In my distress I called upon the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for His help reached His ears.

Smoke rose from His nostrils, and consuming fire came from His mouth; glowing coals blazed forth.

Smoke rose from His nostrils, and consuming fire came from His mouth; glowing coals blazed forth.

From the brightness of His presence His clouds advanced—hailstones and coals of fire.

The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded—hailstones and coals of fire.

He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters.

He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from foes too mighty for me.

He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from foes too mighty for me.