Proverbs 22-24; Psalms 5 - Prayer Tents

22Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.H8034H977H7227H6239H2896H2580H3701H2091 2The rich and poor have this in common. The Lord made them both.H6223H7326H6298H3068H6213 3A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.H6175H7200H7451H5641H5641H6612H5674H6064 4True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honor, and long life.H6118H6038H3374H3068H6239H3519H2416 5Corrupt people walk a thorny, treacherous road; whoever values life will avoid it.H6791H6341H1870H6141H8104H5315H7368 6Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.H2596H5288H1870H6310H2204H5493 7Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender.H6223H4910H7326H3867H5650H376H3867 8Those who plant injustice will harvest disaster, and their reign of terror will come to an end.H2232H5766H7114H205H7626H5678H3615 9Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor.H2896H5869H1288H5414H3899H1800 10Throw out the mocker, and fighting goes, too. Quarrels and insults will disappear.H1644H3887H4066H3318H1779H7036H7673 11Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speech will have the king as a friend.H157H2890H2889H3820H2580H8193H4428H7453 12The Lord preserves those with knowledge, but he ruins the plans of the treacherous.H5869H3068H5341H1847H5557H1697H898 13The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion out there! If I go outside, I might be killed!”H6102H559H738H2351H7523H8432H7339 14The mouth of an immoral woman is a dangerous trap; those who make the Lord angry will fall into it.H6310H2114H6013H7745H2194H3068H5307 15A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness, but physical discipline will drive it far away.H200H7194H3820H5288H7626H4148H7368 16A person who gets ahead by oppressing the poor or by showering gifts on the rich will end in poverty.H6231H1800H7235H5414H6223H4270

Sayings of the Wise

17Listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to my instruction.H5186H241H8085H1697H2450H7896H3820H1847 18For it is good to keep these sayings in your heart and always ready on your lips.H5273H8104H990H3162H3559H8193 19I am teaching you today—yes, you—so you will trust in the Lord.H4009H3068H3045H3117 20I have written thirty sayings for you, filled with advice and knowledge.H3789H8032H7991H4156H1847 21In this way, you may know the truth and take an accurate report to those who sent you.H3045H7189H561H571H7725H561H571H7971 22Don’t rob the poor just because you can, or exploit the needy in court.H1497H1800H1800H1792H6041H8179 23For the Lord is their defender. He will ruin anyone who ruins them.H3068H7378H7379H6906H5315H6906 24Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people,H7462H639H1167H2534H376H935 25or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul.H502H734H3947H4170H5315 26Don’t agree to guarantee another person’s debt or put up security for someone else.H8628H3709H6148H4859 27If you can’t pay it, even your bed will be snatched from under you.H7999H3947H4904 28Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers set up by previous generations.H5253H5769H1366H1H6213 29Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people.H2372H376H4106H4399H3320H6440H4428H3320H6440H2823

23While dining with a ruler, pay attention to what is put before you.H3427H3898H4910H995H995H6440 2If you are a big eater, put a knife to your throat;H7760H7915H3930H1167H5315 3don’t desire all the delicacies, for he might be trying to trick you.H183H4303H3577H3899 4Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit.H3021H6238H2308H998 5In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle.H5774H5774H5869H6213H6213H3671H5774H5774H5404H8064 6Don’t eat with people who are stingy; don’t desire their delicacies.H3898H3899H7451H5869H183H4303 7They are always thinking about how much it costs. “Eat and drink,” they say, but they don’t mean it.H8176H5315H398H8354H559H3820 8You will throw up what little you’ve eaten, and your compliments will be wasted.H6595H398H6958H7843H5273H1697 9Don’t waste your breath on fools, for they will despise the wisest advice.H1696H241H3684H936H7922H4405 10Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers; don’t take the land of defenseless orphans.H5253H5769H1366H935H7704H3490 11For their Redeemer is strong; he himself will bring their charges against you.H1350H2389H7378H7379 12Commit yourself to instruction; listen carefully to words of knowledge.H935H3820H4148H241H561H1847 13Don’t fail to discipline your children. They won’t die if you spank them.H4513H4148H5288H5221H7626H4191 14Physical discipline may well save them from death.H5221H7626H5337H5315H7585 15My child, if your heart is wise, my own heart will rejoice!H1121H3820H2449H3820H8055H589 16Everything in me will celebrate when you speak what is right.H3629H5937H8193H1696H4339 17Don’t envy sinners, but always continue to fear the Lord.H3820H7065H2400H3374H3068H3117 18You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed.H3426H319H8615H3772 19My child, listen and be wise. Keep your heart on the right course.H8085H1121H2449H833H3820H1870 20Do not carouse with drunkards or feast with gluttons,H3196H5433H2151H1320 21for they are on their way to poverty, and too much sleep clothes them in rags.H5433H2151H3423H5124H3847H7168 22Listen to your father, who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.H8085H1H3205H936H517H2204 23Get the truth and never sell it; also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment.H7069H571H4376H2451H4148H998 24The father of godly children has cause for joy. What a pleasure to have children who are wise.H1H6662H1524H1523H3205H2450H8055 25So give your father and mother joy! May she who gave you birth be happy.H1H517H8055H3205H1523 26O my son, give me your heart. May your eyes take delight in following my ways.H1121H5414H3820H5869H7521H5341H1870 27A prostitute is a dangerous trap; a promiscuous woman is as dangerous as falling into a narrow well.H2181H6013H7745H5237H6862H875 28She hides and waits like a robber, eager to make more men unfaithful.H693H2863H3254H898H120 29Who has anguish? Who has sorrow? Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining? Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?H188H17H4079H4066H7879H6482H2600H2448H5869 30It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns, trying out new drinks.H309H3196H935H2713H4469 31Don’t gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down.H7200H3196H119H5414H5869H3563H3599H1980H4339 32For in the end it bites like a poisonous snake; it stings like a viper.H319H5391H5175H6567H6848 33You will see hallucinations, and you will say crazy things.H5869H7200H2114H3820H1696H8419 34You will stagger like a sailor tossed at sea, clinging to a swaying mast.H7901H3820H3220H7901H7218H2260 35And you will say, “They hit me, but I didn’t feel it. I didn’t even know it when they beat me up. When will I wake up so I can look for another drink?”H5221H2470H1986H3045H6974H1245H3254

24Don’t envy evil people or desire their company.H7065H7451H582H183 2For their hearts plot violence, and their words always stir up trouble.H3820H1897H7701H8193H1696H5999 3A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense.H2451H1004H1129H8394H3559 4Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables.H1847H2315H4390H3368H5273H1952 5The wise are mightier than the strong, and those with knowledge grow stronger and stronger.H2450H1397H5797H376H1847H553H3581 6So don’t go to war without wise guidance; victory depends on having many advisers.H8458H6213H4421H7230H3289H8668 7Wisdom is too lofty for fools. Among leaders at the city gate, they have nothing to say.H2454H7311H191H6605H6310H8179 8A person who plans evil will get a reputation as a troublemaker.H2803H7489H7121H4209H1167 9The schemes of a fool are sinful; everyone detests a mocker.H2154H200H2403H3887H8441H120 10If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small.H7503H3117H6869H3581H6862 11Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die; save them as they stagger to their death.H2820H5337H3947H4194H4131H2027 12Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.” For God understands all hearts, and he sees you. He who guards your soul knows you knew. He will repay all people as their actions deserve.H559H3045H8505H3826H995H5341H5315H3045H7725H120H6467 13My child, eat honey, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to the taste.H1121H398H1706H2896H5317H4966H2441 14In the same way, wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, you will have a bright future, and your hopes will not be cut short.H3045H2451H5315H4672H3426H319H8615H3772 15Don’t wait in ambush at the home of the godly, and don’t raid the house where the godly live.H693H7563H5116H6662H7703H7258 16The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.H6662H5307H7651H6965H7563H3782H7451 17Don’t rejoice when your enemies fall; don’t be happy when they stumble.H8055H341H5307H3820H1523H3782 18For the Lord will be displeased with you and will turn his anger away from them.H3068H7200H7489H5869H7725H639 19Don’t fret because of evildoers; don’t envy the wicked.H2734H7489H7065H7563 20For evil people have no future; the light of the wicked will be snuffed out.H319H7451H5216H7563H1846 21My child, fear the Lord and the king. Don’t associate with rebels,H1121H3372H3068H4428H6148H8138 22for disaster will hit them suddenly. Who knows what punishment will come from the Lord and the king?H343H6965H6597H3045H6365H8147

More Sayings of the Wise

23Here are some further sayings of the wise. It is wrong to show favoritism when passing judgment.H2450H2896H5234H6440H4941 24A judge who says to the wicked, “You are innocent,” will be cursed by many people and denounced by the nations.H559H7563H6662H5971H5344H3816H2194 25But it will go well for those who convict the guilty; rich blessings will be showered on them.H3198H5276H2896H1293H935 26An honest answer is like a kiss of friendship.H5401H8193H7725H5228H1697 27Do your planning and prepare your fields before building your house.H3559H4399H2351H6257H7704H310H1129H1004 28Don’t testify against your neighbors without cause; don’t lie about them.H5707H7453H2600H6601H8193 29And don’t say, “Now I can pay them back for what they’ve done to me! I’ll get even with them!”H559H6213H6213H7725H376H6467 30I walked by the field of a lazy person, the vineyard of one with no common sense.H5674H7704H376H6102H3754H120H2638H3820 31I saw that it was overgrown with nettles. It was covered with weeds, and its walls were broken down.H5927H7063H2738H3680H6440H68H1444H2040 32Then, as I looked and thought about it, I learned this lesson.H2372H7896H3820H7200H3947H4148 33A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—H4592H8142H4592H8572H4592H2264H3027H7901 34then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.H7389H935H1980H4270H4043H376

5[For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by the flute.] O LORD, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my groaning.H5329H5155H4210H1732H238H561H3068H995H1901 2Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to no one but you.H7181H6963H7773H4428H430H6419 3Listen to my voice in the morning, LORD. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.H6963H8085H1242H3068H1242H6186H6822 4O God, you take no pleasure in wickedness; you cannot tolerate the sins of the wicked.H410H2655H7562H7451H1481 5Therefore, the proud may not stand in your presence, for you hate all who do evil.H1984H3320H5869H8130H6466H205 6You will destroy those who tell lies. The LORD detests murderers and deceivers.H6H1696H3577H3068H8581H1818H4820H376 7Because of your unfailing love, I can enter your house; I will worship at your Temple with deepest awe.H935H1004H7230H2617H3374H7812H6944H1964 8Lead me in the right path, O LORD, or my enemies will conquer me. Make your way plain for me to follow.H5148H3068H6666H8324H1870H3474H6440 9My enemies cannot speak a truthful word. Their deepest desire is to destroy others. Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave. Their tongues are filled with flattery.H3559H6310H7130H1942H1627H6605H6913H2505H3956 10O God, declare them guilty. Let them be caught in their own traps. Drive them away because of their many sins, for they have rebelled against you.H816H430H5307H4156H5080H7230H6588H4784 11But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy.H2620H8055H5769H7442H5526H157H8034H5970 12For you bless the godly, O LORD; you surround them with your shield of love.H3068H1288H6662H7522H5849H6793