The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.

And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.

Did he not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.”

Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her.

“Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her water jar on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring and drew water. I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’

He said to his brothers, “My money has been put back; here it is in the mouth of my sack!” At this their hearts failed them, and they turned trembling to one another, saying, “What is this that God has done to us?”

And they told him, “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” And his heart became numb, for he did not believe them.

Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, “Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.

And the Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.

But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt,

Still Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.

The First Plague: Water Turned to Blood

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh's heart is hardened; he refuses to let the people go.

But the magicians of Egypt did the same by their secret arts. So Pharaoh's heart remained hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.

Pharaoh turned and went into his house, and he did not take even this to heart.

But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart and would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.

Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.

But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and did not let the people go.

And Pharaoh sent, and behold, not one of the livestock of Israel was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.

But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did not listen to them, as the Lord had spoken to Moses.

But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet again and hardened his heart, he and his servants.

So the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people of Israel go, just as the Lord had spoken through Moses.

The Eighth Plague: Locusts

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may show these signs of mine among them,

But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the people of Israel go.

But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let them go.

Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh, and the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the people of Israel go out of his land.

And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.

And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the people of Israel while the people of Israel were going out defiantly.

And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen.

At the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up; the floods stood up in a heap; the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea.

“You shall not oppress a sojourner. You know the heart of a sojourner, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.

“Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me.

So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment on his heart, when he goes into the Holy Place, to bring them to regular remembrance before the Lord.

And in the breastpiece of judgment you shall put the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be on Aaron's heart, when he goes in before the Lord. Thus Aaron shall bear the judgment of the people of Israel on his heart before the Lord regularly.

Take from among you a contribution to the Lord. Whoever is of a generous heart, let him bring the Lord's contribution: gold, silver, and bronze;

And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the Lord's contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments.

So they came, both men and women. All who were of a willing heart brought brooches and earrings and signet rings and armlets, all sorts of gold objects, every man dedicating an offering of gold to the Lord.

All the women whose hearts stirred them to use their skill spun the goats' hair.

All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the Lord had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the Lord.

And Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whose mind the Lord had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work.

“Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering. The burnt offering shall be on the hearth on the altar all night until the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning on it.

“You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him.

then I will do this to you: I will visit you with panic, with wasting disease and fever that consume the eyes and make the heart ache. And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.

And as for those of you who are left, I will send faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies. The sound of a driven leaf shall put them to flight, and they shall flee as one flees from the sword, and they shall fall when none pursues.

so that I walked contrary to them and brought them into the land of their enemies—if then their uncircumcised heart is humbled and they make amends for their iniquity,

And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after.

Why will you discourage the heart of the people of Israel from going over into the land that the Lord has given them?

For when they went up to the Valley of Eshcol and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the people of Israel from going into the land that the Lord had given them.

Where are we going up? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, saying, “The people are greater and taller than we. The cities are great and fortified up to heaven. And besides, we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.”’

But Sihon the king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him, for the Lord your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that he might give him into your hand, as he is this day.

“Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children—

And you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, while the mountain burned with fire to the heart of heaven, wrapped in darkness, cloud, and gloom.

But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.

know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.

Oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever!

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.

“If you say in your heart, ‘These nations are greater than I. How can I dispossess them?’

And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.

Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you.

then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery,

Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’

“Do not say in your heart, after the Lord your God has thrust them out before you, ‘It is because of my righteousness that the Lord has brought me in to possess this land,’ whereas it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is driving them out before you.

Not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart are you going in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations the Lord your God is driving them out from before you, and that he may confirm the word that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

Circumcise Your Heart

“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,

Yet the Lord set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day.

Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn.

“And if you will indeed obey my commandments that I command you today, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,

Take care lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them;

“You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.

you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

“If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother,

Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, ‘The seventh year, the year of release is near,’ and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the Lord against you, and you be guilty of sin.

You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.

And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold.

that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.

And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?’—

and shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel, today you are drawing near for battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them,

And the officers shall speak further to the people, and say, ‘Is there any man who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go back to his house, lest he make the heart of his fellows melt like his own.’

“This day the Lord your God commands you to do these statutes and rules. You shall therefore be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your soul.

Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things,

And among these nations you shall find no respite, and there shall be no resting place for the sole of your foot, but the Lord will give you there a trembling heart and failing eyes and a languishing soul.

In the morning you shall say, ‘If only it were evening!’ and at evening you shall say, ‘If only it were morning!’ because of the dread that your heart shall feel, and the sights that your eyes shall see.

But to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear.

Beware lest there be among you a man or woman or clan or tribe whose heart is turning away today from the Lord our God to go and serve the gods of those nations. Beware lest there be among you a root bearing poisonous and bitter fruit,

one who, when he hears the words of this sworn covenant, blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall be safe, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart.’ This will lead to the sweeping away of moist and dry alike.

and return to the Lord your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul,

And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.

when you obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes that are written in this Book of the Law, when you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.

But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them,

he said to them, “Take to heart all the words by which I am warning you today, that you may command them to your children, that they may be careful to do all the words of this law.

And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.

The New Generation Circumcised

As soon as all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the people of Israel until they had crossed over, their hearts melted and there was no longer any spirit in them because of the people of Israel.

and the men of Ai killed about thirty-six of their men and chased them before the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them at the descent. And the hearts of the people melted and became as water.

For it was the Lord's doing to harden their hearts that they should come against Israel in battle, in order that they should be devoted to destruction and should receive no mercy but be destroyed, just as the Lord commanded Moses.

I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought him word again as it was in my heart.

But my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt; yet I wholly followed the Lord my God.

Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

“And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed.

He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord, the God of Israel.”

My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel who offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless the Lord.

the princes of Issachar came with Deborah, and Issachar faithful to Barak; into the valley they rushed at his heels. Among the clans of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.

Why did you sit still among the sheepfolds, to hear the whistling for the flocks? Among the clans of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.

And his mother's relatives spoke all these words on his behalf in the ears of all the leaders of Shechem, and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.”

And she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and you have not told me where your great strength lies.”

And he told her all his heart, and said to her, “A razor has never come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother's womb. If my head is shaved, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak and be like any other man.”

When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called the lords of the Philistines, saying, “Come up again, for he has told me all his heart.” Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hands.

And when their hearts were merry, they said, “Call Samson, that he may entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he entertained them. They made him stand between the pillars.

And the priest's heart was glad. He took the ephod and the household gods and the carved image and went along with the people.

And on the fourth day they arose early in the morning, and he prepared to go, but the girl's father said to his son-in-law, “Strengthen your heart with a morsel of bread, and after that you may go.”

So the two of them sat and ate and drank together. And the girl's father said to the man, “Be pleased to spend the night, and let your heart be merry.”

And on the fifth day he arose early in the morning to depart. And the girl's father said, “Strengthen your heart and wait until the day declines.” So they ate, both of them.

And when the man and his concubine and his servant rose up to depart, his father-in-law, the girl's father, said to him, “Behold, now the day has waned toward evening. Please, spend the night. Behold, the day draws to its close. Lodge here and let your heart be merry, and tomorrow you shall arise early in the morning for your journey, and go home.”

Gibeah's Crime

As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, worthless fellows, surrounded the house, beating on the door. And they said to the old man, the master of the house, “Bring out the man who came into your house, that we may know him.”

And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down.

And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?”

Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman.

Hannah's Prayer

And Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in the Lord; my horn is exalted in the Lord. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation.

The only one of you whom I shall not cut off from my altar shall be spared to weep his eyes out to grieve his heart, and all the descendants of your house shall die by the sword of men.

And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. And I will build him a sure house, and he shall go in and out before my anointed forever.

When he arrived, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city and told the news, all the city cried out.

Why should you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? After he had dealt severely with them, did they not send the people away, and they departed?

Samuel Judges Israel

And Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.”

When he turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart. And all these signs came to pass that day.

Saul also went to his home at Gibeah, and with him went men of valor whose hearts God had touched.

And Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart.

Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you.

But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”

And his armor-bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Do as you wish. Behold, I am with you heart and soul.”

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

Now Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men. And Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, “Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.”

And David said to Saul, “Let no man's heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”

And David took these words to heart and was much afraid of Achish the king of Gath.

Now come down, O king, according to all your heart's desire to come down, and our part shall be to surrender him into the king's hand.”

And afterward David's heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul's robe.

And Abigail came to Nabal, and behold, he was holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk. So she told him nothing at all until the morning light.

In the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.

David Flees to the Philistines

Then David said in his heart, “Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand.”

When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.

And Abner said to David, “I will arise and go and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

David and Michal

As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart.

And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.”

Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it.

And her brother Absalom said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? Now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother; do not take this to heart.” So Tamar lived, a desolate woman, in her brother Absalom's house.

Then Absalom commanded his servants, “Mark when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then kill him. Do not fear; have I not commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant.”

Now therefore let not my lord the king so take it to heart as to suppose that all the king's sons are dead, for Amnon alone is dead.”

Absalom Returns to Jerusalem

Now Joab the son of Zeruiah knew that the king's heart went out to Absalom.

Thus Absalom did to all of Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

David Flees Jerusalem

And a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom.”

Then even the valiant man, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will utterly melt with fear, for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and that those who are with him are valiant men.

Joab said, “I will not waste time like this with you.” And he took three javelins in his hand and thrust them into the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak.

And he swayed the heart of all the men of Judah as one man, so that they sent word to the king, “Return, both you and all your servants.”

and said to the king, “Let not my lord hold me guilty or remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. Do not let the king take it to heart.

Foreigners lost heart and came trembling out of their fortresses.

The Lord's Judgment of David's Sin

But David's heart struck him after he had numbered the people. And David said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O Lord, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly.”

that the Lord may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’

The king also said to Shimei, “You know in your own heart all the harm that you did to David my father. So the Lord will bring back your harm on your own head.

And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day.

Then the woman whose son was alive said to the king, because her heart yearned for her son, “Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and by no means put him to death.” But the other said, “He shall be neither mine nor yours; divide him.”

Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.

But the Lord said to David my father, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart.

and said, “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart;

whatever prayer, whatever plea is made by any man or by all your people Israel, each knowing the affliction of his own heart and stretching out his hands toward this house,

then hear in heaven your dwelling place and forgive and act and render to each whose heart you know, according to all his ways (for you, you only, know the hearts of all the children of mankind),

yet if they turn their heart in the land to which they have been carried captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captors, saying, ‘We have sinned and have acted perversely and wickedly,’

if they repent with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies, who carried them captive, and pray to you toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city that you have chosen, and the house that I have built for your name,

that he may incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments, his statutes, and his rules, which he commanded our fathers.

Let your heart therefore be wholly true to the Lord our God, walking in his statutes and keeping his commandments, as at this day.”

On the eighth day he sent the people away, and they blessed the king and went to their homes joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the Lord had shown to David his servant and to Israel his people.

And the Lord said to him, “I have heard your prayer and your plea, which you have made before me. I have consecrated this house that you have built, by putting my name there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time.

And as for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you, and keeping my statutes and my rules,

from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the people of Israel, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love.

He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart.

For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.

The Lord Raises Adversaries

And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice

And Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom will turn back to the house of David.

If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the temple of the Lord at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn again to their lord, to Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.”

He went up to the altar that he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, in the month that he had devised from his own heart. And he instituted a feast for the people of Israel and went up to the altar to make offerings.

and tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you, and yet you have not been like my servant David, who kept my commandments and followed me with all his heart, doing only that which was right in my eyes,

And he walked in all the sins that his father did before him, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father.

But the high places were not taken away. Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was wholly true to the Lord all his days.

Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.”

And Jezebel his wife said to him, “Do you now govern Israel? Arise and eat bread and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”

But he said to him, “Did not my heart go when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male servants and female servants?

And Jehu drew his bow with his full strength, and shot Joram between the shoulders, so that the arrow pierced his heart, and he sank in his chariot.

And when he departed from there, he met Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him. And he greeted him and said to him, “Is your heart true to my heart as mine is to yours?” And Jehonadab answered, “It is.” Jehu said, “If it is, give me your hand.” So he gave him his hand. And Jehu took him up with him into the chariot.

And the Lord said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in my eyes, and have done to the house of Ahab according to all that was in my heart, your sons of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.”

But Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam, which he made Israel to sin.

Jehoash Repairs the Temple

Jehoash said to the priests, “All the money of the holy things that is brought into the house of the Lord, the money for which each man is assessed—the money from the assessment of persons—and the money that a man's heart prompts him to bring into the house of the Lord,

You have indeed struck down Edom, and your heart has lifted you up. Be content with your glory, and stay at home, for why should you provoke trouble so that you fall, you and Judah with you?”

“Now, O Lord, please remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

because your heart was penitent, and you humbled yourself before the Lord, when you heard how I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the Lord.

And the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people joined in the covenant.

Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him.

David went out to meet them and said to them, “If you have come to me in friendship to help me, my heart will be joined to you; but if to betray me to my adversaries, although there is no wrong in my hands, then may the God of our fathers see and rebuke you.”

All these, men of war, arrayed in battle order, came to Hebron with a whole heart to make David king over all Israel. Likewise, all the rest of Israel were of a single mind to make David king.

And as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David dancing and celebrating, and she despised him in her heart.

Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!

And Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.”

For your servant's sake, O Lord, and according to your own heart, you have done all this greatness, in making known all these great things.

David said to Solomon, “My son, I had it in my heart to build a house to the name of the Lord my God.

Now set your mind and heart to seek the Lord your God. Arise and build the sanctuary of the Lord God, so that the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the holy vessels of God may be brought into a house built for the name of the Lord.”

Then King David rose to his feet and said: “Hear me, my brothers and my people. I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord and for the footstool of our God, and I made preparations for building.

David's Charge to Solomon

“And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.

Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.

I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you.

O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you.

Grant to Solomon my son a whole heart that he may keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, performing all, and that he may build the palace for which I have made provision.”

God answered Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked for possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have not even asked for long life, but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may govern my people over whom I have made you king,

Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.

But the Lord said to David my father, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart.

and said, “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven or on earth, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart,

then hear from heaven your dwelling place and forgive and render to each whose heart you know, according to all his ways, for you, you only, know the hearts of the children of mankind,

yet if they turn their heart in the land to which they have been carried captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captivity, saying, ‘We have sinned and have acted perversely and wickedly,’

if they repent with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity to which they were carried captive, and pray toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city that you have chosen and the house that I have built for your name,

On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people away to their homes, joyful and glad of heart for the prosperity that the Lord had granted to David and to Solomon and to Israel his people.

For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that my name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time.

And those who had set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel came after them from all the tribes of Israel to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the Lord, the God of their fathers.

And he did evil, for he did not set his heart to seek the Lord.

And they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul,

And all Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and had sought him with their whole desire, and he was found by them, and the Lord gave them rest all around.

But the high places were not taken out of Israel. Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was wholly true all his days.

For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars.”

His heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord. And furthermore, he took the high places and the Asherim out of Judah.

Nevertheless, some good is found in you, for you destroyed the Asheroth out of the land, and have set your heart to seek God.”

And he charged them: “Thus you shall do in the fear of the Lord, in faithfulness, and with your whole heart:

The high places, however, were not taken away; the people had not yet set their hearts upon the God of their fathers.

He searched for Ahaziah, and he was captured while hiding in Samaria, and he was brought to Jehu and put to death. They buried him, for they said, “He is the grandson of Jehoshaphat, who sought the Lord with all his heart.” And the house of Ahaziah had no one able to rule the kingdom.

And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, yet not with a whole heart.

You say, ‘See, I have struck down Edom,’ and your heart has lifted you up in boastfulness. But now stay at home. Why should you provoke trouble so that you fall, you and Judah with you?”

Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel, in order that his fierce anger may turn away from us.

Then Hezekiah said, “You have now consecrated yourselves to the Lord. Come near; bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of the Lord.” And the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all who were of a willing heart brought burnt offerings.

But the priests were too few and could not flay all the burnt offerings, so until other priests had consecrated themselves, their brothers the Levites helped them, until the work was finished—for the Levites were more upright in heart than the priests in consecrating themselves.

The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of the Lord.

who sets his heart to seek God, the Lord, the God of his fathers, even though not according to the sanctuary's rules of cleanness.”

And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered.

But Hezekiah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem.

But Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

And so in the matter of the envoys of the princes of Babylon, who had been sent to him to inquire about the sign that had been done in the land, God left him to himself, in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart.

because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and its inhabitants, and you have humbled yourself before me and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the Lord.

And the king stood in his place and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book.

He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. He stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the Lord, the God of Israel.

And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for the Lord had made them joyful and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, so that he aided them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.

Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem,

And the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart.” Then I was very much afraid.

Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me but the one on which I rode.

Lists of Returned Exiles

Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles and the officials and the people to be enrolled by genealogy. And I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and I found written in it:

You found his heart faithful before you, and made with him the covenant to give to his offspring the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite, and the Girgashite. And you have kept your promise, for you are righteous.

Queen Vashti's Refusal

On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha and Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus,

Haman Plans to Hang Mordecai

And Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai.

And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.

What is man, that you make so much of him, and that you set your heart on him,

He is wise in heart and mighty in strength —who has hardened himself against him, and succeeded?—

Yet these things you hid in your heart; I know that this was your purpose.

“If you prepare your heart, you will stretch out your hands toward him.

Why does your heart carry you away, and why do your eyes flash,

Since you have closed their hearts to understanding, therefore you will not let them triumph.

My days are past; my plans are broken off, the desires of my heart.

whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!

Receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.

God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me;

I hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go; my heart does not reproach me for any of my days.

The blessing of him who was about to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

if my step has turned aside from the way and my heart has gone after my eyes, and if any spot has stuck to my hands,

“If my heart has been enticed toward a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door,

and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand,

if I have concealed my transgressions as others do by hiding my iniquity in my heart,

My words declare the uprightness of my heart, and what my lips know they speak sincerely.

If he should set his heart to it and gather to himself his spirit and his breath,

“The godless in heart cherish anger; they do not cry for help when he binds them.

Elihu Proclaims God's Majesty

“At this also my heart trembles and leaps out of its place.

His heart is hard as a stone, hard as the lower millstone.

Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah

You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.

Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and may you establish the righteous— you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God!

My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.

I Will Recount Your Wonderful Deeds

To the choirmaster: according to Muth-labben. A Psalm of David.

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.

He says in his heart, “I shall not be moved; throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity.”

He says in his heart, “God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it.”

Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, “You will not call to account”?

O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear

for behold, the wicked bend the bow; they have fitted their arrow to the string to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;

Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.

How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.

The Fool Says, There Is No God

To the choirmaster. Of David.

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good.

He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart;

I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.

You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night, you have tested me, and you will find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.

They close their hearts to pity; with their mouths they speak arrogantly.

Foreigners lost heart and came trembling out of their fortresses.

the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

May he grant you your heart's desire and fulfill all your plans!

You have given him his heart's desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast;

The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord! May your hearts live forever!

He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.

The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses.

Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and my mind.

Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.

You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

Do not drag me off with the wicked, with the workers of evil, who speak peace with their neighbors while evil is in their hearts.

The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!

Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.

he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds.

For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.

Let them not say in their hearts, “Aha, our heart's desire!” Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up.”

How Precious Is Your Steadfast Love

To the choirmaster. Of David, the servant of the Lord.

Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes.

Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your righteousness to the upright of heart!

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.

I am feeble and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart.

My heart throbs; my strength fails me, and the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.

My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:

I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”

I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation.

For evils have encompassed me beyond number; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails me.

And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words, while his heart gathers iniquity; when he goes out, he tells it abroad.

Our heart has not turned back, nor have our steps departed from your way;

would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart.

Your Throne, O God, Is Forever

To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah; a love song.

My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.

Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; the peoples fall under you.

Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.

Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.

Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

There Is None Who Does Good

To the choirmaster: according to Mahalath. A Maskil of David.

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.

My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen upon me.

Let death steal over them; let them go down to Sheol alive; for evil is in their dwelling place and in their heart.

His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.

My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody!

No, in your hearts you devise wrongs; your hands deal out violence on earth.

from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I,

Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah

Put no trust in extortion; set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them.

They search out injustice, saying, “We have accomplished a diligent search.” For the inward mind and heart of a man are deep.

Let the righteous one rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him! Let all the upright in heart exult!

If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.

Reproaches have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none.

When the humble see it they will be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive.

Book Three

God Is My Strength and Portion Forever

A Psalm of Asaph.

Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies.

All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.

When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart,

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

I said, “Let me remember my song in the night; let me meditate in my heart.” Then my spirit made a diligent search:

and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.

They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved.

Their heart was not steadfast toward him; they were not faithful to his covenant.

With upright heart he shepherded them and guided them with his skillful hand.

So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels.

My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.

Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.

Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.

I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.

Remember, O Lord, how your servants are mocked, and how I bear in my heart the insults of all the many nations,

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.

When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.

do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,

For forty years I loathed that generation and said, “They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways.”

Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.

I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house;

A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil.

Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure.

My heart is struck down like grass and has withered; I forget to eat my bread.

and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man's heart.

Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!

He turned their hearts to hate his people, to deal craftily with his servants.

So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor; they fell down, with none to help.

With God We Shall Do Valiantly

A Song. A Psalm of David.

My heart is steadfast, O God! I will sing and make melody with all my being!

For I am poor and needy, and my heart is stricken within me.

Great Are the Lord's Works

Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.

He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.

His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.

Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart,

I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules.

With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!

I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart!

Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.

Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!

I entreat your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.

The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts;

their heart is unfeeling like fat, but I delight in your law.

May my heart be blameless in your statutes, that I may not be put to shame!

Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.

I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end.

Qoph

With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord! I will keep your statutes.

Sin and Shin

Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words.

Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts!

I Have Calmed and Quieted My Soul

A Song of Ascents. Of David.

O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.

Give Thanks to the Lord

Of David.

I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise;

Search Me, O God, and Know My Heart

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

O Lord, you have searched me and known me!

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!

who plan evil things in their heart and stir up wars continually.

Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies!

Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled.

making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding;

for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;

Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart

My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,

Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live.

Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart.

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

and you say, “How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof!

with perverted heart devises evil, continually sowing discord;

a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil,

Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck.

Do not desire her beauty in your heart, and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes;

bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.

And behold, the woman meets him, dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart.

Let not your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths,

The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.

The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth.

Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the Lord, but those of blameless ways are his delight.

Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.

Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but those who plan peace have joy.

A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims folly.

Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy.

Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief.

The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.

A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.

Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding, but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.

The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools.

Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord; how much more the hearts of the children of man!

A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.

The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.

The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the bones.

The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished.

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

The wise of heart is called discerning, and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.

The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious and adds persuasiveness to his lips.

The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.

A man of crooked heart does not discover good, and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Before destruction a man's heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.

An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

When a man's folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the Lord.

Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.

The purpose in a man's heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.

Who can say, “I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”?

The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.

Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin.

He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

Words of the Wise

Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge,

for he is like one who is inwardly calculating. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.

Apply your heart to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge.

My son, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad.

Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day.

Hear, my son, and be wise, and direct your heart in the way.

My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.

Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart utter perverse things.

for their hearts devise violence, and their lips talk of trouble.

If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?

Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,

As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable.

Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, and like vinegar on soda.

Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart.

Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart;

when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart;

Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.

Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him who reproaches me.

As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man.

Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.

The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.

And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with.

I said in my heart, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.”

And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind.

The Vanity of Self-Indulgence

I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity.

I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life.

And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil.

Then I said in my heart, “What happens to the fool will happen to me also. Why then have I been so very wise?” And I said in my heart that this also is vanity.

So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the toil of my labors under the sun,

What has a man from all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun?

For all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work.

I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts.

Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few.

For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.