Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

²¹ When my soul was embittered,
    when I was pricked in heart,
²² I was stupid and ignorant;
    I was like a brute beast toward you.
²³ Nevertheless I am continually with you;
    you hold my right hand.
²⁴ You guide me with your counsel,
    and afterward you will receive me with honor.^[a]
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
    And there is nothing on earth that I desire other than you.
²⁶ My flesh and my heart may fail,
    but God is the strength^[b] of my heart and my portion forever.

²⁷ Indeed, those who are far from you will perish;
    you put an end to those who are false to you.
²⁸ But for me it is good to be near God;
    I have made the Lord God my refuge,
    to tell of all your works.

² It is the glory of God to conceal things,
    but the glory of kings is to search things out.
³ Like the heavens for height, like the earth for depth,
    so the mind of kings is unsearchable.
⁴ Take away the dross from the silver,
    and the smith has material for a vessel;
⁵ take away the wicked from the presence of the king,
    and his throne will be established in righteousness.
⁶ Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence
    or stand in the place of the great;
⁷ for it is better to be told, “Come up here,”
    than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.

What your eyes have seen
⁸     do not hastily bring into court;
for^[a] what will you do in the end,
    when your neighbor puts you to shame?
⁹ Argue your case with your neighbor directly,
    and do not disclose another’s secret;
¹⁰ or else someone who hears you will bring shame upon you,
    and your ill repute will have no end.

¹¹ A word fitly spoken
    is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
¹² Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold
    is a wise rebuke to a listening ear.
¹³ Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest
    are faithful messengers to those who send them;
    they refresh the spirit of their masters.
¹⁴ Like clouds and wind without rain
    is one who boasts of a gift never given.
¹⁵ With patience a ruler may be persuaded,
    and a soft tongue can break bones.
¹⁶ If you have found honey, eat only enough for you,
    or else, having too much, you will vomit it.
¹⁷ Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house,
    otherwise the neighbor will become weary of you and hate you.
¹⁸ Like a war club, a sword, or a sharp arrow
    is one who bears false witness against a neighbor.
¹⁹ Like a bad tooth or a lame foot
    is trust in a faithless person in time of trouble.
²⁰ Like vinegar on a wound^[b]
    is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
Like a moth in clothing or a worm in wood,
    sorrow gnaws at the human heart.^[c]
21 If your enemies are hungry, give them bread to eat;
    and if they are thirsty, give them water to drink;
²² for you will heap coals of fire on their heads,
    and the Lord will reward you.
²³ The north wind produces rain,
    and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.
²⁴ It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
    than in a house shared with a contentious wife.
²⁵ Like cold water to a thirsty soul,
    so is good news from a far country.
²⁶ Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain
    are the righteous who give way before the wicked.
²⁷ It is not good to eat much honey,
    or to seek honor on top of honor.
²⁸ Like a city breached, without walls,
    is one who lacks self-control.