³ He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
⁴ indeed, he who watches^(C) over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The Lord watches over^(D) you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
⁶ the sun^(E) will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

⁷ The Lord will keep you from all harm^(F)—
    he will watch over your life;
⁸ the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.^(G)

³ Jerusalem is built like a city
    that is closely compacted together.
⁴ That is where the tribes go up—
    the tribes of the Lord—
to praise the name of the Lord
    according to the statute given to Israel.
⁵ There stand the thrones for judgment,
    the thrones of the house of David.

⁶ Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
    “May those who love^(H) you be secure.
⁷ May there be peace^(I) within your walls
    and security within your citadels.^(J)”
⁸ For the sake of my family and friends,
    I will say, “Peace be within you.”
⁹ For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
    I will seek your prosperity.^(K)

³ Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us,
    for we have endured no end of contempt.
⁴ We have endured no end
    of ridicule from the arrogant,
    of contempt from the proud.

⁶ Praise be to the Lord,
    who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
⁷ We have escaped like a bird
    from the fowler’s snare;^(Q)
the snare has been broken,^(R)
    and we have escaped.
⁸ Our help is in the name^(S) of the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven^(T) and earth.

³ The scepter^(Y) of the wicked will not remain^(Z)
    over the land allotted to the righteous,
for then the righteous might use
    their hands to do evil.^(AA)

⁴ Lord, do good^(AB) to those who are good,
    to those who are upright in heart.^(AC)
5 But those who turn^(AD) to crooked ways^(AE)
    the Lord will banish^(AF) with the evildoers.

Peace be on Israel.^(AG)

² It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;
    to search out a matter is the glory of kings.^(C)
3 As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,
    so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

⁴ Remove the dross from the silver,
    and a silversmith can produce a vessel;
⁵ remove wicked officials from the king’s presence,^(D)
    and his throne will be established^(E) through righteousness.^(F)

⁶ Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence,
    and do not claim a place among his great men;
⁷ it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,”^(G)
    than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.

What you have seen with your eyes
⁸     do not bring^[a] hastily to court,
for what will you do in the end
    if your neighbor puts you to shame?^(H)

⁹ If you take your neighbor to court,
    do not betray another’s confidence,
¹⁰ or the one who hears it may shame you
    and the charge against you will stand.

¹¹ Like apples^[b] of gold in settings of silver^(I)
    is a ruling rightly given.
¹² Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold
    is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.^(J)

¹³ Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time
    is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him;
    he refreshes the spirit of his master.^(K)
14 Like clouds and wind without rain
    is one who boasts of gifts never given.

¹⁵ Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,^(L)
    and a gentle tongue can break a bone.^(M)

¹⁶ If you find honey, eat just enough—
    too much of it, and you will vomit.^(N)
17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house—
    too much of you, and they will hate you.

¹⁸ Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow
    is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.^(O)
19 Like a broken tooth or a lame foot
    is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.
²⁰ Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day,
    or like vinegar poured on a wound,
    is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

²¹ If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
    if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
²² In doing this, you will heap burning coals^(P) on his head,
    and the Lord will reward you.^(Q)

²³ Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain
    is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.

²⁴ Better to live on a corner of the roof
    than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.^(R)

²⁵ Like cold water to a weary soul
    is good news from a distant land.^(S)
26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted well
    are the righteous who give way to the wicked.

²⁷ It is not good to eat too much honey,^(T)
    nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.^(U)

²⁸ Like a city whose walls are broken through
    is a person who lacks self-control.