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The LORD sustains the humble, but casts the wicked to the ground.

Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make music on the harp to our God,

Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make music on the harp to our God,

…who covers the sky with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who makes grass to grow on the hills.

He sends forth His command to the earth; His word runs swiftly.

He declares His word to Jacob, His statutes and judgments to Israel.

He declares His word to Jacob, His statutes and judgments to Israel.

He has raised up a horn for His people, the praise of all His saints, of Israel, a people near to Him. Hallelujah!

Hallelujah! Sing to the LORD a new song—His praise in the assembly of the godly.

Let them praise His name with dancing, and make music to Him with tambourine and harp.

…to inflict vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples,

…to bind their kings with chains and their nobles with shackles of iron,

…to execute the judgment written against them. This honor is for all His saints. Hallelujah!

To impart prudence to the simple and knowledge and discretion to the young,

To impart prudence to the simple and knowledge and discretion to the young,

To impart prudence to the simple and knowledge and discretion to the young,

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.

My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them.

For their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed blood.

For their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed blood.

How futile it is to spread the net where any bird can see it!

If you had repented at my rebuke, then surely I would have poured out my spirit on you; I would have made my words known to you.

For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD.

But whoever listens to me will dwell in safety, secure from the fear of evil.”

…if you incline your ear to wisdom and direct your heart to understanding,

…if you incline your ear to wisdom and direct your heart to understanding,

…if you truly call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding,

…if you truly call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding,

He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk with integrity,

…to guard the paths of justice and protect the way of His saints.

…to deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perversity,

…from those who leave the straight paths to walk in the ways of darkness,

For her house sinks down to death, and her tracks to the departed spirits.

For her house sinks down to death, and her tracks to the departed spirits.

None who go to her return or negotiate the paths of life.

So you will follow in the ways of the good, and keep to the paths of the righteous.

…for they will add length to your days, years and peace to your life.

…for they will add length to your days, years and peace to your life.

This will bring healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.

This will bring healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.

She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who lay hold of her are blessed.

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

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

Do not withhold good from the deserving when it is within your power to act.

…for the LORD detests the perverse, but He is a friend to the upright.

He mocks the mockers, but gives grace to the humble.

The wise will inherit honor, but fools are held up to shame.

Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.

When I was a son to my father, tender and the only child of my mother,

Hold on to instruction; do not let go. Guard it, for it is your life.

My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.

My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.

For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body.

For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body.

Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.

Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.

My son, pay attention to my wisdom; incline your ear to my insight,

My son, pay attention to my wisdom; incline your ear to my insight,

Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to Sheol.

Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to Sheol.

So now, my sons, listen to me, and do not turn aside from the words of my mouth.

…lest you concede your vigor to others, and your years to one who is cruel;

…lest you concede your vigor to others, and your years to one who is cruel;

I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my mentors.

I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my mentors.

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

…then do this, my son, to free yourself, for you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands: Go, humble yourself, and press your plea with your neighbor.

Allow no sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids.

Allow no sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids.

A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,

There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him:

…a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil,

When you walk, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.

For this commandment is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way to life,

…to keep you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.

Men do not despise the thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger.

Tie them to your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.

Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call understanding your kinsman,

…crossing the street near her corner, strolling down the road to her house,

Then a woman came out to meet him, with the attire of a harlot and cunning of heart.

She seizes him and kisses him; she brazenly says to him:

So I came out to meet you; I sought you, and I have found you.

He follows her on impulse, like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer bounding into a trap,

Now, my sons, listen to me, and attend to the words of my mouth.

Now, my sons, listen to me, and attend to the words of my mouth.

Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths.

For she has brought many down to death; her slain are many in number.

Her house is the road to Sheol, descending to the chambers of death.

Her house is the road to Sheol, descending to the chambers of death.

Beside the gates to the city, at the entrances she cries out:

“To you, O men, I call out, and my cry is to the sons of men.

“To you, O men, I call out, and my cry is to the sons of men.

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

For my mouth will speak the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips.

They are all plain to the discerning, and upright to those who find knowledge.

They are all plain to the discerning, and upright to those who find knowledge.

To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.

To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.

Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.

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