The wisest of her ladies answer her; indeed, she keeps saying to herself,

Now the Israelites had been saying, “Do you see how this man keeps coming out? He comes out to defy Israel. The king will give great wealth to the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter in marriage and will exempt his family from taxes in Israel.”

It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.

Then I said: “Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments,

“Now therefore, our God, the great God, mighty and awesome, who keeps his covenant of love, do not let all this hardship seem trifling in your eyes—the hardship that has come on us, on our kings and leaders, on our priests and prophets, on our ancestors and all your people, from the days of the kings of Assyria until today.

The eye of the adulterer watches for dusk; he thinks, ‘No eye will see me,’ and he keeps his face concealed.

He fastens my feet in shackles; he keeps close watch on all my paths.’

He keeps company with evildoers; he associates with the wicked.

who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the Lord; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind;

It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.

A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.

Folly brings joy to one who has no sense, but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course.

A discerning person keeps wisdom in view, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.

Casting the lot settles disputes and keeps strong opponents apart.

Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life, but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die.

They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.

Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, the nation that keeps faith.

Blessed is the one who does this— the person who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps their hands from doing any evil.”

who say, ‘Keep away; don’t come near me, for I am too sacred for you!’ Such people are smoke in my nostrils, a fire that keeps burning all day.

This is what each of you keeps saying to your friends and other Israelites: ‘What is the Lord’s answer?’ or ‘What has the Lord spoken?’

“A curse on anyone who is lax in doing the Lord’s work! A curse on anyone who keeps their sword from bloodshed!

He follows my decrees and faithfully keeps my laws. That man is righteous; he will surely live, declares the Sovereign Lord.

He withholds his hand from mistreating the poor and takes no interest or profit from them. He keeps my laws and follows my decrees. He will not die for his father’s sin; he will surely live.

“But if a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die.

I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: “Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments,