Proverbs 24:8-34

New International Version

Saying 24

⁸Whoever plots evil
will be known as a schemer.
⁹The schemes of folly are sin,
and people detest a mocker.

Saying 25

¹⁰If you falter in a time of trouble,
    how small is your strength!^(A)
¹¹Rescue those being led away to death;
    hold back those staggering toward slaughter.^(B)
¹²If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,”
    does not he who weighs^(C) the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it?
    Will he not repay^(D) everyone according to what they have done?^(E)

Saying 26

¹³Eat honey, my son, for it is good;
    honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.
¹⁴Know also that wisdom is like honey for you:
    If you find it, there is a future hope for you,
    and your hope will not be cut off.^(F)

Saying 27

¹⁵Do not lurk like a thief near the house of the righteous,
do not plunder their dwelling place;
¹⁶for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again,
but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.^(G)

Saying 28

¹⁷Do not gloat^(H) when your enemy falls;
when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice,^(I)
¹⁸or the Lord will see and disapprove
and turn his wrath away from them.^(J)

Saying 29

¹⁹Do not fret^(K) because of evildoers
or be envious of the wicked,
²⁰for the evildoer has no future hope,
and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.^(L)

Saying 30

²¹Fear the Lord and the king,^(M) my son,
and do not join with rebellious officials,
²²for those two will send sudden destruction^(N) on them,
and who knows what calamities they can bring?

Further Sayings of the Wise

²³These also are sayings of the wise:^(O)

To show partiality^(P) in judging is not good:^(Q)
²⁴Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent,”^(R)
will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations.
²⁵But it will go well with those who convict the guilty,
and rich blessing will come on them.

²⁶An honest answer
is like a kiss on the lips.

²⁷Put your outdoor work in order
and get your fields ready;
after that, build your house.

²⁸Do not testify against your neighbor without cause^(S)—
would you use your lips to mislead?
²⁹Do not say, “I’ll do to them as they have done to me;
I’ll pay them back for what they did.”^(T)

³⁰I went past the field of a sluggard,^(U)
    past the vineyard of someone who has no sense;
³¹thorns had come up everywhere,
    the ground was covered with weeds,
    and the stone wall was in ruins.
³²I applied my heart to what I observed
    and learned a lesson from what I saw:
³³A little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest^(V)—
³⁴and poverty will come on you like a thief
    and scarcity like an armed man.^(W)

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Psalm 119:81-120

New International Version

כ Kaph

⁸¹My soul faints^(A) with longing for your salvation,^(B)
    but I have put my hope^(C) in your word.
⁸²My eyes fail,^(D) looking for your promise;^(E)
    I say, “When will you comfort me?”
⁸³Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke,
    I do not forget^(F) your decrees.
⁸⁴How long^(G) must your servant wait?
    When will you punish my persecutors?^(H)
⁸⁵The arrogant^(I) dig pits^(J) to trap me,
    contrary to your law.
⁸⁶All your commands are trustworthy;^(K)
    help me,^(L) for I am being persecuted^(M) without cause.^(N)
⁸⁷They almost wiped me from the earth,
    but I have not forsaken^(O) your precepts.
⁸⁸In your unfailing love^(P) preserve my life,^(Q)
    that I may obey the statutes^(R) of your mouth.

ל Lamedh

⁸⁹Your word, Lord, is eternal;^(S)
    it stands firm in the heavens.
⁹⁰Your faithfulness^(T) continues through all generations;^(U)
    you established the earth, and it endures.^(V)
⁹¹Your laws endure^(W) to this day,
    for all things serve you.^(X)
⁹²If your law had not been my delight,^(Y)
    I would have perished in my affliction.^(Z)
⁹³I will never forget^(AA) your precepts,
    for by them you have preserved my life.^(AB)
⁹⁴Save me,^(AC) for I am yours;
    I have sought out your precepts.^(AD)
⁹⁵The wicked are waiting to destroy me,^(AE)
    but I will ponder your statutes.^(AF)
⁹⁶To all perfection I see a limit,
    but your commands are boundless.^(AG)

מ Mem

⁹⁷Oh, how I love your law!^(AH)
    I meditate^(AI) on it all day long.
⁹⁸Your commands are always with me
    and make me wiser^(AJ) than my enemies.
⁹⁹I have more insight than all my teachers,
    for I meditate on your statutes.^(AK)
¹⁰⁰I have more understanding than the elders,
    for I obey your precepts.^(AL)
¹⁰¹I have kept my feet^(AM) from every evil path
    so that I might obey your word.^(AN)
¹⁰²I have not departed from your laws,^(AO)
    for you yourself have taught^(AP) me.
¹⁰³How sweet are your words to my taste,
    sweeter than honey^(AQ) to my mouth!^(AR)
¹⁰⁴I gain understanding^(AS) from your precepts;
    therefore I hate every wrong path.^(AT)

נ Nun

¹⁰⁵Your word is a lamp^(AU) for my feet,
    a light^(AV) on my path.
¹⁰⁶I have taken an oath^(AW) and confirmed it,
    that I will follow your righteous laws.^(AX)
¹⁰⁷I have suffered much;
    preserve my life,^(AY) Lord, according to your word.
¹⁰⁸Accept, Lord, the willing praise of my mouth,^(AZ)
    and teach me your laws.^(BA)
¹⁰⁹Though I constantly take my life in my hands,^(BB)
    I will not forget^(BC) your law.
¹¹⁰The wicked have set a snare^(BD) for me,
    but I have not strayed^(BE) from your precepts.
¹¹¹Your statutes are my heritage forever;
    they are the joy of my heart.^(BF)
¹¹²My heart is set^(BG) on keeping your decrees
    to the very end.^[a]^(BH)

ס Samekh

¹¹³I hate double-minded people,^(BI)
    but I love your law.^(BJ)
¹¹⁴You are my refuge and my shield;^(BK)
    I have put my hope^(BL) in your word.
¹¹⁵Away from me,^(BM) you evildoers,
    that I may keep the commands of my God!
¹¹⁶Sustain me,^(BN) my God, according to your promise,^(BO) and I will live;
    do not let my hopes be dashed.^(BP)
¹¹⁷Uphold me,^(BQ) and I will be delivered;^(BR)
    I will always have regard for your decrees.^(BS)
¹¹⁸You reject all who stray^(BT) from your decrees,
    for their delusions come to nothing.
¹¹⁹All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross;^(BU)
    therefore I love your statutes.^(BV)
¹²⁰My flesh trembles^(BW) in fear of you;^(BX)
    I stand in awe^(BY) of your laws.