Psalm 119:121-176

New International Version

ע Ayin

¹²¹I have done what is righteous and just;^(A)
    do not leave me to my oppressors.
¹²²Ensure your servant’s well-being;^(B)
    do not let the arrogant oppress me.^(C)
¹²³My eyes fail,^(D) looking for your salvation,^(E)
    looking for your righteous promise.^(F)
¹²⁴Deal with your servant according to your love^(G)
    and teach me your decrees.^(H)
¹²⁵I am your servant;^(I) give me discernment
    that I may understand your statutes.^(J)
¹²⁶It is time for you to act, Lord;
    your law is being broken.^(K)
¹²⁷Because I love your commands^(L)
    more than gold,^(M) more than pure gold,^(N)
¹²⁸and because I consider all your precepts right,^(O)
    I hate every wrong path.^(P)

פ Pe

¹²⁹Your statutes are wonderful;^(Q)
    therefore I obey them.^(R)
¹³⁰The unfolding of your words gives light;^(S)
    it gives understanding to the simple.^(T)
¹³¹I open my mouth and pant,^(U)
    longing for your commands.^(V)
¹³²Turn to me^(W) and have mercy^(X) on me,
    as you always do to those who love your name.^(Y)
¹³³Direct my footsteps according to your word;^(Z)
    let no sin rule^(AA) over me.
¹³⁴Redeem me from human oppression,^(AB)
    that I may obey your precepts.^(AC)
¹³⁵Make your face shine^(AD) on your servant
    and teach me your decrees.^(AE)
¹³⁶Streams of tears^(AF) flow from my eyes,
    for your law is not obeyed.^(AG)

צ Tsadhe

¹³⁷You are righteous,^(AH) Lord,
    and your laws are right.^(AI)
¹³⁸The statutes you have laid down are righteous;^(AJ)
    they are fully trustworthy.^(AK)
¹³⁹My zeal wears me out,^(AL)
    for my enemies ignore your words.
¹⁴⁰Your promises^(AM) have been thoroughly tested,^(AN)
    and your servant loves them.^(AO)
¹⁴¹Though I am lowly and despised,^(AP)
    I do not forget your precepts.^(AQ)
¹⁴²Your righteousness is everlasting
    and your law is true.^(AR)
¹⁴³Trouble and distress have come upon me,
    but your commands give me delight.^(AS)
¹⁴⁴Your statutes are always righteous;
    give me understanding^(AT) that I may live.

ק Qoph

¹⁴⁵I call with all my heart;^(AU) answer me, Lord,
    and I will obey your decrees.^(AV)
¹⁴⁶I call out to you; save me^(AW)
    and I will keep your statutes.
¹⁴⁷I rise before dawn^(AX) and cry for help;
    I have put my hope in your word.
¹⁴⁸My eyes stay open through the watches of the night,^(AY)
    that I may meditate on your promises.
¹⁴⁹Hear my voice^(AZ) in accordance with your love;^(BA)
    preserve my life,^(BB) Lord, according to your laws.
¹⁵⁰Those who devise wicked schemes^(BC) are near,
    but they are far from your law.
¹⁵¹Yet you are near,^(BD) Lord,
    and all your commands are true.^(BE)
¹⁵²Long ago I learned from your statutes^(BF)
    that you established them to last forever.^(BG)

ר Resh

¹⁵³Look on my suffering^(BH) and deliver me,^(BI)
    for I have not forgotten^(BJ) your law.
¹⁵⁴Defend my cause^(BK) and redeem me;^(BL)
    preserve my life^(BM) according to your promise.^(BN)
¹⁵⁵Salvation is far from the wicked,
    for they do not seek out^(BO) your decrees.
¹⁵⁶Your compassion, Lord, is great;^(BP)
    preserve my life^(BQ) according to your laws.^(BR)
¹⁵⁷Many are the foes who persecute me,^(BS)
    but I have not turned^(BT) from your statutes.
¹⁵⁸I look on the faithless with loathing,^(BU)
    for they do not obey your word.^(BV)
¹⁵⁹See how I love your precepts;
    preserve my life,^(BW) Lord, in accordance with your love.
¹⁶⁰All your words are true;
    all your righteous laws are eternal.^(BX)

ש Sin and Shin

¹⁶¹Rulers persecute me^(BY) without cause,
    but my heart trembles^(BZ) at your word.
¹⁶²I rejoice^(CA) in your promise
    like one who finds great spoil.^(CB)
¹⁶³I hate and detest^(CC) falsehood
    but I love your law.^(CD)
¹⁶⁴Seven times a day I praise you
    for your righteous laws.^(CE)
¹⁶⁵Great peace^(CF) have those who love your law,
    and nothing can make them stumble.^(CG)
¹⁶⁶I wait for your salvation,^(CH) Lord,
    and I follow your commands.
¹⁶⁷I obey your statutes,
    for I love them^(CI) greatly.
¹⁶⁸I obey your precepts^(CJ) and your statutes,^(CK)
    for all my ways are known^(CL) to you.

ת Taw

¹⁶⁹May my cry come^(CM) before you, Lord;
    give me understanding^(CN) according to your word.^(CO)
¹⁷⁰May my supplication come^(CP) before you;
    deliver me^(CQ) according to your promise.^(CR)
¹⁷¹May my lips overflow with praise,^(CS)
    for you teach me^(CT) your decrees.
¹⁷²May my tongue sing^(CU) of your word,
    for all your commands are righteous.^(CV)
¹⁷³May your hand be ready to help^(CW) me,
    for I have chosen^(CX) your precepts.
¹⁷⁴I long for your salvation,^(CY) Lord,
    and your law gives me delight.^(CZ)
¹⁷⁵Let me live^(DA) that I may praise you,
    and may your laws sustain me.
¹⁷⁶I have strayed like a lost sheep.^(DB)
    Seek your servant,
    for I have not forgotten^(DC) your commands.

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Proverbs 25

New International Version

More Proverbs of Solomon

25 These are more proverbs^(A) of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:^(B)

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

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

⁶Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence,
and do not claim a place among his great men;
⁷it 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)

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

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

¹³Like 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)
¹⁴Like clouds and wind without rain
    is one who boasts of gifts never given.

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

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

¹⁸Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow
    is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.^(O)
¹⁹Like a broken tooth or a lame foot
    is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.
²⁰Like 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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