Saying 15

17 Do not let your heart envy(A) sinners,
    but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.
18 There is surely a future hope for you,
    and your hope will not be cut off.(B)

Saying 16

19 Listen, my son,(C) and be wise,
    and set your heart on the right path:
20 Do not join those who drink too much wine(D)
    or gorge themselves on meat,
21 for drunkards and gluttons become poor,(E)
    and drowsiness clothes them in rags.

Saying 17

22 Listen to your father, who gave you life,
    and do not despise your mother when she is old.(F)
23 Buy the truth and do not sell it—
    wisdom, instruction and insight as well.(G)
24 The father of a righteous child has great joy;
    a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.(H)
25 May your father and mother rejoice;
    may she who gave you birth be joyful!(I)

Saying 18

26 My son,(J) give me your heart
    and let your eyes delight in my ways,(K)
27 for an adulterous woman is a deep pit,(L)
    and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
28 Like a bandit she lies in wait(M)
    and multiplies the unfaithful among men.

Saying 19

29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
    Who has strife? Who has complaints?
    Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Those who linger over wine,(N)
    who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.
31 Do not gaze at wine when it is red,
    when it sparkles in the cup,
    when it goes down smoothly!
32 In the end it bites like a snake
    and poisons like a viper.
33 Your eyes will see strange sights,
    and your mind will imagine confusing things.
34 You will be like one sleeping on the high seas,
    lying on top of the rigging.
35 “They hit me,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt!
    They beat me, but I don’t feel it!
When will I wake up
    so I can find another drink?”(O)

Saying 20

24 Do not envy(P) the wicked,
    do not desire their company;
for their hearts plot violence,(Q)
    and their lips talk about making trouble.(R)

Saying 21

By wisdom a house is built,(S)
    and through understanding it is established;
through knowledge its rooms are filled
    with rare and beautiful treasures.(T)

Saying 22

The wise prevail through great power,
    and those who have knowledge muster their strength.
Surely you need guidance to wage war,
    and victory is won through many advisers.(U)

Saying 23

Wisdom is too high for fools;
    in the assembly at the gate they must not open their mouths.

17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long.

18 For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

19 Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.

20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:

21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

22 Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.

23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

24 The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.

25 Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.

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

27 For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.

28 She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.

29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?

30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.

31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.

32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.

34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.

35 They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

24 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.

For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:

And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.

For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.

ו Waw

41 May your unfailing love(A) come to me, Lord,
    your salvation, according to your promise;(B)
42 then I can answer(C) anyone who taunts me,(D)
    for I trust in your word.
43 Never take your word of truth from my mouth,(E)
    for I have put my hope(F) in your laws.
44 I will always obey your law,(G)
    for ever and ever.
45 I will walk about in freedom,
    for I have sought out your precepts.(H)
46 I will speak of your statutes before kings(I)
    and will not be put to shame,(J)
47 for I delight(K) in your commands
    because I love them.(L)
48 I reach out for your commands, which I love,
    that I may meditate(M) on your decrees.

ז Zayin

49 Remember your word(N) to your servant,
    for you have given me hope.(O)
50 My comfort in my suffering is this:
    Your promise preserves my life.(P)
51 The arrogant mock me(Q) unmercifully,
    but I do not turn(R) from your law.
52 I remember,(S) Lord, your ancient laws,
    and I find comfort in them.
53 Indignation grips me(T) because of the wicked,
    who have forsaken your law.(U)
54 Your decrees are the theme of my song(V)
    wherever I lodge.
55 In the night, Lord, I remember(W) your name,
    that I may keep your law.(X)
56 This has been my practice:
    I obey your precepts.(Y)

ח Heth

57 You are my portion,(Z) Lord;
    I have promised to obey your words.(AA)
58 I have sought(AB) your face with all my heart;
    be gracious to me(AC) according to your promise.(AD)
59 I have considered my ways(AE)
    and have turned my steps to your statutes.
60 I will hasten and not delay
    to obey your commands.(AF)
61 Though the wicked bind me with ropes,
    I will not forget(AG) your law.
62 At midnight(AH) I rise to give you thanks
    for your righteous laws.(AI)
63 I am a friend to all who fear you,(AJ)
    to all who follow your precepts.(AK)
64 The earth is filled with your love,(AL) Lord;
    teach me your decrees.(AM)

ט Teth

65 Do good(AN) to your servant
    according to your word,(AO) Lord.
66 Teach me knowledge(AP) and good judgment,
    for I trust your commands.
67 Before I was afflicted(AQ) I went astray,(AR)
    but now I obey your word.(AS)
68 You are good,(AT) and what you do is good;
    teach me your decrees.(AU)
69 Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies,(AV)
    I keep your precepts with all my heart.
70 Their hearts are callous(AW) and unfeeling,
    but I delight in your law.
71 It was good for me to be afflicted(AX)
    so that I might learn your decrees.
72 The law from your mouth is more precious to me
    than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.(AY)

י Yodh

73 Your hands made me(AZ) and formed me;
    give me understanding to learn your commands.
74 May those who fear you rejoice(BA) when they see me,
    for I have put my hope in your word.(BB)
75 I know, Lord, that your laws are righteous,(BC)
    and that in faithfulness(BD) you have afflicted me.
76 May your unfailing love(BE) be my comfort,
    according to your promise(BF) to your servant.
77 Let your compassion(BG) come to me that I may live,
    for your law is my delight.(BH)
78 May the arrogant(BI) be put to shame for wronging me without cause;(BJ)
    but I will meditate on your precepts.
79 May those who fear you turn to me,
    those who understand your statutes.(BK)
80 May I wholeheartedly follow(BL) your decrees,(BM)
    that I may not be put to shame.(BN)

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41 Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, even thy salvation, according to thy word.

42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.

43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.

44 So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.

45 And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.

46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.

47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.

48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.

49 Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.

50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.

51 The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law.

52 I remembered thy judgments of old, O Lord; and have comforted myself.

53 Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.

54 Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.

55 I have remembered thy name, O Lord, in the night, and have kept thy law.

56 This I had, because I kept thy precepts.

57 Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have said that I would keep thy words.

58 I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.

59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.

60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.

61 The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.

62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.

63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.

64 The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.

65 Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O Lord, according unto thy word.

66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.

67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.

68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.

69 The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.

70 Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.

71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

73 Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.

74 They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.

75 I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.

76 Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.

77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.

78 Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.

79 Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.

80 Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.

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