Proverbs 28-31; Psalms 7 - Prayer Tents

28The wicked run away when no one is chasing them, but the godly are as bold as lions.H7563H5127H7291H6662H982H3715 2When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily. But wise and knowledgeable leaders bring stability.H6588H776H7227H8269H120H995H3045H3651H748 3A poor person who oppresses the poor is like a pounding rain that destroys the crops.H7326H1397H6231H1800H5502H4306H3899 4To reject the law is to praise the wicked; to obey the law is to fight them.H5800H8451H1984H7563H8104H8451H1624 5Evil people don’t understand justice, but those who follow the Lord understand completely.H7451H582H995H4941H1245H3068H995 6Better to be poor and honest than to be dishonest and rich.H2896H7326H1980H8537H6141H1870H6223 7Young people who obey the law are wise; those with wild friends bring shame to their parents.H5341H8451H995H1121H7462H2151H3637H1 8Income from charging high interest rates will end up in the pocket of someone who is kind to the poor.H5392H8636H7235H1952H6908H2603H1800 9God detests the prayers of a person who ignores the law.H5493H241H8085H8451H8605H8441 10Those who lead good people along an evil path will fall into their own trap, but the honest will inherit good things.H3477H7686H7451H1870H5307H7816H8549H2896H5157 11Rich people may think they are wise, but a poor person with discernment can see right through them.H6223H376H2450H5869H1800H995H2713 12When the godly succeed, everyone is glad. When the wicked take charge, people go into hiding.H6662H5970H7227H8597H7563H6965H120H2664 13People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.H3680H6588H6743H3034H5800H7355 14Blessed are those who fear to do wrong, but the stubborn are headed for serious trouble.H835H120H6342H8548H7185H3820H5307H7451 15A wicked ruler is as dangerous to the poor as a roaring lion or an attacking bear.H5098H738H8264H1677H7563H4910H1800H5971 16A ruler with no understanding will oppress his people, but one who hates corruption will have a long life.H5057H2638H8394H7227H4642H8130H1215H748H3117 17A murderer’s tormented conscience will drive him into the grave. Don’t protect him!H120H6231H1818H5315H5127H953H8551 18The blameless will be rescued from harm, but the crooked will be suddenly destroyed.H1980H8549H3467H6140H1870H5307H259 19A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies ends up in poverty.H5647H127H7646H3899H7291H7386H7389 20The trustworthy person will get a rich reward, but a person who wants quick riches will get into trouble.H530H376H7227H1293H213H6238H5352 21Showing partiality is never good, yet some will do wrong for a mere piece of bread.H5234H6440H2896H6595H3899H1397H6586 22Greedy people try to get rich quick but don’t realize they’re headed for poverty.H376H926H1952H7451H5869H3045H2639H935 23In the end, people appreciate honest criticism far more than flattery.H3198H120H310H4672H2580H2505H3956 24Anyone who steals from his father and mother and says, “What’s wrong with that?” is no better than a murderer.H1497H1H517H559H6588H2270H376H7843 25Greed causes fighting; trusting the Lord leads to prosperity.H7342H5315H1624H4066H982H3068H1878 26Those who trust their own insight are foolish, but anyone who walks in wisdom is safe.H982H3820H3684H1980H2451H4422 27Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to poverty will be cursed.H5414H7326H4270H5956H5869H7227H3994 28When the wicked take charge, people go into hiding. When the wicked meet disaster, the godly flourish.H7563H6965H120H5641H6H6662H7235

29Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be destroyed beyond recovery.H376H8433H7185H6203H6621H7665H4832 2When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan.H6662H7235H5971H8055H7563H4910H5971H584 3The man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but if he hangs around with prostitutes, his wealth is wasted.H376H157H2451H8055H1H7462H2181H6H1952 4A just king gives stability to his nation, but one who demands bribes destroys it.H4428H4941H5975H776H376H8641H2040 5To flatter friends is to lay a trap for their feet.H1397H2505H7453H6566H7568H6471 6Evil people are trapped by sin, but the righteous escape, shouting for joy.H6588H7451H376H4170H6662H7442H8056 7The godly care about the rights of the poor; the wicked don’t care at all.H6662H3045H1779H1800H7563H995H1847 8Mockers can get a whole town agitated, but the wise will calm anger.H3944H582H6315H7151H6315H2450H7725H639 9If a wise person takes a fool to court, there will be ranting and ridicule but no satisfaction.H2450H376H8199H191H376H7264H7832H5183 10The bloodthirsty hate blameless people, but the upright seek to help them.H582H1818H8130H8535H3477H1245H5315 11Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back.H3684H3318H7307H2450H7623H268 12If a ruler pays attention to liars, all his advisers will be wicked.H4910H7181H1697H8267H8334H7563 13The poor and the oppressor have this in common—the Lord gives sight to the eyes of both.H7326H8501H376H6298H3068H215H8147H5869 14If a king judges the poor fairly, his throne will last forever.H4428H571H8199H1800H3678H3559H5703 15To discipline a child produces wisdom, but a mother is disgraced by an undisciplined child.H7626H8433H5414H2451H5288H7971H517H954 16When the wicked are in authority, sin flourishes, but the godly will live to see their downfall.H7563H7235H6588H7235H6662H7200H4658 17Discipline your children, and they will give you peace of mind and will make your heart glad.H3256H1121H5117H5414H4574H5315 18When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful.H2377H5971H6544H8104H8451H835 19Words alone will not discipline a servant; the words may be understood, but they are not heeded.H5650H3256H1697H995H4617 20There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking.H2372H376H213H1697H8615H3684 21A servant pampered from childhood will become a rebel.H6445H5650H5290H4497H319 22An angry person starts fights; a hot-tempered person commits all kinds of sin.H639H376H1624H4066H2534H1167H7227H6588 23Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor.H120H1346H8213H3519H8551H8217H7307 24If you assist a thief, you only hurt yourself. You are sworn to tell the truth, but you dare not testify.H2505H1590H8130H5315H8085H423H5046 25Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety.H2731H120H5414H4170H982H3068H7682 26Many seek the ruler’s favor, but justice comes from the Lord.H7227H1245H4910H6440H376H4941H3068 27The righteous despise the unjust; the wicked despise the godly.H5766H376H8441H6662H3477H1870H8441H7563

The Sayings of Agur

30The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh contain this message. I am weary, O God; I am weary and worn out, O God.H1697H94H1121H3348H4853H1397H5002H384H384H401 2I am too stupid to be human, and I lack common sense.H1198H376H998H120 3I have not mastered human wisdom, nor do I know the Holy One.H3925H2451H3045H1847H6918 4Who but God goes up to heaven and comes back down? Who holds the wind in his fists? Who wraps up the oceans in his cloak? Who has created the whole wide world? What is his name—and his son’s name? Tell me if you know!H5927H8064H3381H622H7307H2651H6887H4325H8071H6965H657H776H8034H1121H8034H3045 5Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.H565H433H6884H4043H2620 6Do not add to his words, or he may rebuke you and expose you as a liar.H3254H1697H3198H3576 7O God, I beg two favors from you; let me have them before I die.H8147H7592H4513H4191 8First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.H7368H7723H1697H3577H5414H7389H6239H2963H3899H2706 9For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.H7646H3584H559H3068H3423H1589H8610H8034H430 10Never slander a worker to the employer, or the person will curse you, and you will pay for it.H3960H5650H113H7043H816 11Some people curse their father and do not thank their mother.H1755H7043H1H1288H517 12They are pure in their own eyes, but they are filthy and unwashed.H1755H2889H5869H7364H6675 13They look proudly around, casting disdainful glances.H1755H7311H5869H6079H5375 14They have teeth like swords and fangs like knives. They devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among humanity.H1755H8127H2719H4973H3979H398H6041H776H34H120 15The leech has two suckers that cry out, “More, more!” There are three things that are never satisfied—no, four that never say, “Enough!”.H5936H8147H1323H3051H3051H7969H7646H702H559H1952 16the grave, the barren womb, the thirsty desert, the blazing fire.H7585H6115H7356H776H7646H4325H784H559H1952 17The eye that mocks a father and despises a mother’s instructions will be plucked out by ravens of the valley and eaten by vultures.H5869H3932H1H936H3349H517H6158H5158H5365H1121H5404H398 18There are three things that amaze me—no, four things that I don’t understand.H7969H6381H702H3045 19how an eagle glides through the sky, how a snake slithers on a rock, how a ship navigates the ocean, how a man loves a woman.H1870H5404H8064H1870H5175H6697H1870H591H3820H3220H1870H1397H5959 20An adulterous woman consumes a man, then wipes her mouth and says, “What’s wrong with that?”H1870H5003H802H398H4229H6310H559H6466H205 21There are three things that make the earth tremble—no, four it cannot endure.H7969H776H7264H702H3201H5375 22a slave who becomes a king, an overbearing fool who prospers,H5650H4427H5036H7646H3899 23a bitter woman who finally gets a husband, a servant girl who supplants her mistress.H8130H1166H8198H3423H1404 24There are four things on earth that are small but unusually wise.H702H6996H776H2449H2450 25Ants—they aren’t strong, but they store up food all summer.H5244H5971H5794H3559H3899H7019 26Hyraxes—they aren’t powerful, but they make their homes among the rocks.H8227H6099H5971H7760H1004H5553 27Locusts—they have no king, but they march in formation.H697H4428H3318H2686 28Lizards—they are easy to catch, but they are found even in kings’ palaces.H8079H8610H3027H4428H1964 29There are three things that walk with stately stride—no, four that strut about.H7969H6806H3190H702H2895H3212 30the lion, king of animals, who won’t turn aside for anything,H3918H1368H929H7725H6440 31the strutting rooster, the male goat, a king as he leads his army.H4975H2223H8495H176H4428H510 32If you have been a fool by being proud or plotting evil, cover your mouth in shame.H5034H5375H2161H3027H6310 33As the beating of cream yields butter and striking the nose causes bleeding, so stirring up anger causes quarrels.H4330H2461H3318H2529H4330H639H3318H1818H4330H639H3318H7379

The Sayings of King Lemuel

31The sayings of King Lemuel contain this message, which his mother taught him.H1697H4428H3927H4853H517H32562O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows,H1248H1248H990H1248H50883do not waste your strength on women, on those who ruin kings.H5414H2428H802H1870H4229H44284It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine. Rulers should not crave alcohol.H4428H3927H4428H8354H3196H335H176H7336H79415For if they drink, they may forget the law and not give justice to the oppressed.H8354H7911H2710H8138H1779H1121H60406Alcohol is for the dying, and wine for those in bitter distress.H5414H7941H6H3196H4751H53157Let them drink to forget their poverty and remember their troubles no more.H8354H7911H7389H2142H59998Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.H6605H6310H483H1779H1121H24759Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.H6605H6310H8199H6664H1777H6041H34

A Wife of Noble Character

10Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies.H4672H2428H802H4377H7350H644311Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life.H3820H1167H982H2637H799812She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.H1580H2896H7451H3117H241613She finds wool and flax and busily spins it.H1875H6785H6593H6213H2656H370914She is like a merchant’s ship, bringing her food from afar.H5503H591H935H3899H480115She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.H6965H3915H5414H2964H1004H2706H529116She goes to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard.H2161H7704H3947H6529H3709H5193H375417She is energetic and strong, a hard worker.H2296H4975H5797H553H222018She makes sure her dealings are profitable; her lamp burns late into the night.H2938H5504H2896H5216H3518H391519Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber.H7971H3027H3601H3709H8551H641820She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy.H6566H3709H6041H7971H3027H3421She has no fear of winter for her household, for everyone has warm clothes.H3372H7950H1004H1004H3847H814422She makes her own bedspreads. She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.H6213H4765H3830H8336H71323Her husband is well known at the city gates, where he sits with the other civic leaders.H1167H3045H8179H3427H2205H77624She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants.H6213H5466H4376H5414H2289H366925She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.H5797H1926H3830H7832H3117H31426When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.H6605H6310H2451H3956H8451H261727She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness.H6822H1979H1979H1004H398H3899H610428Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her.H1121H6965H833H1167H198429“There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!”H7227H1323H6213H2428H592730Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.H2580H8267H3308H1892H802H3373H3068H198431Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.H5414H6529H3027H4639H1984H8179

7[A psalm of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning Cush of the tribe of Benjamin.] I come to you for protection, O LORD my God. Save me from my persecutors—rescue me!H7692H1732H7891H3068H1697H3568H1121H1145H3068H430H2620H3467H7291H5337 2If you don't, they will maul me like a lion, tearing me to pieces with no one to rescue me.H2963H5315H738H6561H5337 3O LORD my God, if I have done wrong or am guilty of injustice,H3068H430H6213H3426H5766H3709 4if I have betrayed a friend or plundered my enemy without cause,H1580H7451H7999H2502H7387H6887 5then let my enemies capture me. Let them trample me into the ground and drag my honor in the dust. InterludeH341H7291H5315H5381H7429H2416H776H7931H3519H6083H5542 6Arise, O LORD, in anger! Stand up against the fury of my enemies! Wake up, my God, and bring justice!H6965H3068H639H5375H5678H6887H5782H4941H6680 7Gather the nations before you. Rule over them from on high.H5712H3816H5437H7725H4791 8The LORD judges the nations. Declare me righteous, O LORD, for I am innocent, O Most High!H3068H1777H5971H8199H3068H6664H8537 9End the evil of those who are wicked, and defend the righteous. For you look deep within the mind and heart, O righteous God.H7451H7563H1584H3559H6662H6662H430H974H3826H3629 10God is my shield, saving those whose hearts are true and right.H4043H430H3467H3477H3820 11God is an honest judge. He is angry with the wicked every day.H430H8199H6662H410H2194H3117 12If a person does not repent, God will sharpen his sword; he will bend and string his bow.H7725H3913H2719H1869H7198H3559 13He will prepare his deadly weapons and shoot his flaming arrows.H3559H3627H4194H6466H2671H1814 14The wicked conceive evil; they are pregnant with trouble and give birth to lies.H2254H205H2029H5999H3205H8267 15They dig a deep pit to trap others, then fall into it themselves.H3738H953H2658H5307H7845H6466 16The trouble they make for others backfires on them. The violence they plan falls on their own heads.H5999H7725H7218H2555H3381H6936 17I will thank the LORD because he is just; I will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.H3034H3068H6664H2167H8034H3068H5945