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Bible in 90 Days

An intensive Bible reading plan that walks through the entire Bible in 90 days.
Duration: 88 days
New International Version (NIV)
Version
Psalm 135 - Proverbs 6

Psalm 135(A)

Praise the Lord.[a]

Praise the name of the Lord;
    praise him, you servants(B) of the Lord,
you who minister in the house(C) of the Lord,
    in the courts(D) of the house of our God.

Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;(E)
    sing praise to his name,(F) for that is pleasant.(G)
For the Lord has chosen Jacob(H) to be his own,
    Israel to be his treasured possession.(I)

I know that the Lord is great,(J)
    that our Lord is greater than all gods.(K)
The Lord does whatever pleases him,(L)
    in the heavens and on the earth,(M)
    in the seas and all their depths.
He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth;
    he sends lightning with the rain(N)
    and brings out the wind(O) from his storehouses.(P)

He struck down the firstborn(Q) of Egypt,
    the firstborn of people and animals.
He sent his signs(R) and wonders into your midst, Egypt,
    against Pharaoh and all his servants.(S)
10 He struck down many(T) nations
    and killed mighty kings—
11 Sihon(U) king of the Amorites,(V)
    Og king of Bashan,(W)
    and all the kings of Canaan(X)
12 and he gave their land as an inheritance,(Y)
    an inheritance to his people Israel.

13 Your name, Lord, endures forever,(Z)
    your renown,(AA) Lord, through all generations.
14 For the Lord will vindicate his people(AB)
    and have compassion on his servants.(AC)

15 The idols of the nations(AD) are silver and gold,
    made by human hands.(AE)
16 They have mouths, but cannot speak,(AF)
    eyes, but cannot see.
17 They have ears, but cannot hear,
    nor is there breath(AG) in their mouths.
18 Those who make them will be like them,
    and so will all who trust in them.

19 All you Israelites, praise the Lord;(AH)
    house of Aaron, praise the Lord;
20 house of Levi, praise the Lord;
    you who fear him, praise the Lord.
21 Praise be to the Lord from Zion,(AI)
    to him who dwells in Jerusalem.(AJ)

Praise the Lord.

Psalm 136

Give thanks(AK) to the Lord, for he is good.(AL)
His love endures forever.(AM)
Give thanks(AN) to the God of gods.(AO)
His love endures forever.
Give thanks(AP) to the Lord of lords:(AQ)
His love endures forever.

to him who alone does great wonders,(AR)
His love endures forever.
who by his understanding(AS) made the heavens,(AT)
His love endures forever.
who spread out the earth(AU) upon the waters,(AV)
His love endures forever.
who made the great lights(AW)
His love endures forever.
the sun to govern(AX) the day,
His love endures forever.
the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.

10 to him who struck down the firstborn(AY) of Egypt
His love endures forever.
11 and brought Israel out(AZ) from among them
His love endures forever.
12 with a mighty hand(BA) and outstretched arm;(BB)
His love endures forever.

13 to him who divided the Red Sea[b](BC) asunder
His love endures forever.
14 and brought Israel through(BD) the midst of it,
His love endures forever.
15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;(BE)
His love endures forever.

16 to him who led his people through the wilderness;(BF)
His love endures forever.

17 to him who struck down great kings,(BG)
His love endures forever.
18 and killed mighty kings(BH)
His love endures forever.
19 Sihon king of the Amorites(BI)
His love endures forever.
20 and Og king of Bashan(BJ)
His love endures forever.
21 and gave their land(BK) as an inheritance,(BL)
His love endures forever.
22 an inheritance(BM) to his servant Israel.(BN)
His love endures forever.

23 He remembered us(BO) in our low estate
His love endures forever.
24 and freed us(BP) from our enemies.(BQ)
His love endures forever.
25 He gives food(BR) to every creature.
His love endures forever.

26 Give thanks(BS) to the God of heaven.(BT)
His love endures forever.(BU)

Psalm 137

By the rivers of Babylon(BV) we sat and wept(BW)
    when we remembered Zion.(BX)
There on the poplars(BY)
    we hung our harps,(BZ)
for there our captors(CA) asked us for songs,
    our tormentors demanded(CB) songs of joy;
    they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”(CC)

How can we sing the songs of the Lord(CD)
    while in a foreign land?
If I forget you,(CE) Jerusalem,
    may my right hand forget its skill.
May my tongue cling to the roof(CF) of my mouth
    if I do not remember(CG) you,
if I do not consider Jerusalem(CH)
    my highest joy.

Remember, Lord, what the Edomites(CI) did
    on the day Jerusalem fell.(CJ)
“Tear it down,” they cried,
    “tear it down to its foundations!”(CK)
Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction,(CL)
    happy is the one who repays you
    according to what you have done to us.
Happy is the one who seizes your infants
    and dashes them(CM) against the rocks.

Psalm 138

Of David.

I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
    before the “gods”(CN) I will sing(CO) your praise.
I will bow down toward your holy temple(CP)
    and will praise your name(CQ)
    for your unfailing love and your faithfulness,(CR)
for you have so exalted your solemn decree
    that it surpasses your fame.(CS)
When I called,(CT) you answered me;(CU)
    you greatly emboldened(CV) me.

May all the kings of the earth(CW) praise you, Lord,
    when they hear what you have decreed.
May they sing(CX) of the ways of the Lord,
    for the glory of the Lord(CY) is great.

Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;(CZ)
    though lofty, he sees them(DA) from afar.
Though I walk(DB) in the midst of trouble,
    you preserve my life.(DC)
You stretch out your hand(DD) against the anger of my foes;(DE)
    with your right hand(DF) you save me.(DG)
The Lord will vindicate(DH) me;
    your love, Lord, endures forever(DI)
    do not abandon(DJ) the works of your hands.(DK)

Psalm 139

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

You have searched me,(DL) Lord,
    and you know(DM) me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;(DN)
    you perceive my thoughts(DO) from afar.
You discern my going out(DP) and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.(DQ)
Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.(DR)
You hem me in(DS) behind and before,
    and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,(DT)
    too lofty(DU) for me to attain.

Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee(DV) from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens,(DW) you are there;
    if I make my bed(DX) in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,(DY)
    your right hand(DZ) will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
    and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark(EA) to you;
    the night will shine like the day,
    for darkness is as light to you.

13 For you created my inmost being;(EB)
    you knit me together(EC) in my mother’s womb.(ED)
14 I praise you(EE) because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,(EF)
    I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made(EG) in the secret place,
    when I was woven together(EH) in the depths of the earth.(EI)
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained(EJ) for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[c](EK) God!(EL)
    How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,(EM)
    they would outnumber the grains of sand(EN)
    when I awake,(EO) I am still with you.

19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked!(EP)
    Away from me,(EQ) you who are bloodthirsty!(ER)
20 They speak of you with evil intent;
    your adversaries(ES) misuse your name.(ET)
21 Do I not hate those(EU) who hate you, Lord,
    and abhor(EV) those who are in rebellion against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
    I count them my enemies.(EW)
23 Search me,(EX) God, and know my heart;(EY)
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way(EZ) in me,
    and lead me(FA) in the way everlasting.

Psalm 140[d]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

Rescue me,(FB) Lord, from evildoers;
    protect me from the violent,(FC)
who devise evil plans(FD) in their hearts
    and stir up war(FE) every day.
They make their tongues as sharp as(FF) a serpent’s;
    the poison of vipers(FG) is on their lips.[e]

Keep me safe,(FH) Lord, from the hands of the wicked;(FI)
    protect me from the violent,
    who devise ways to trip my feet.
The arrogant have hidden a snare(FJ) for me;
    they have spread out the cords of their net(FK)
    and have set traps(FL) for me along my path.

I say to the Lord, “You are my God.”(FM)
    Hear, Lord, my cry for mercy.(FN)
Sovereign Lord,(FO) my strong deliverer,
    you shield my head in the day of battle.
Do not grant the wicked(FP) their desires, Lord;
    do not let their plans succeed.

Those who surround me proudly rear their heads;
    may the mischief of their lips engulf them.(FQ)
10 May burning coals fall on them;
    may they be thrown into the fire,(FR)
    into miry pits, never to rise.
11 May slanderers not be established in the land;
    may disaster hunt down the violent.(FS)

12 I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor(FT)
    and upholds the cause(FU) of the needy.(FV)
13 Surely the righteous will praise your name,(FW)
    and the upright will live(FX) in your presence.(FY)

Psalm 141

A psalm of David.

I call to you, Lord, come quickly(FZ) to me;
    hear me(GA) when I call to you.
May my prayer be set before you like incense;(GB)
    may the lifting up of my hands(GC) be like the evening sacrifice.(GD)

Set a guard over my mouth,(GE) Lord;
    keep watch over the door of my lips.(GF)
Do not let my heart(GG) be drawn to what is evil
    so that I take part in wicked deeds(GH)
along with those who are evildoers;
    do not let me eat their delicacies.(GI)

Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness;
    let him rebuke me(GJ)—that is oil on my head.(GK)
My head will not refuse it,
    for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers.

Their rulers will be thrown down from the cliffs,(GL)
    and the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken.
They will say, “As one plows(GM) and breaks up the earth,(GN)
    so our bones have been scattered at the mouth(GO) of the grave.”

But my eyes are fixed(GP) on you, Sovereign Lord;
    in you I take refuge(GQ)—do not give me over to death.
Keep me safe(GR) from the traps set by evildoers,(GS)
    from the snares(GT) they have laid for me.
10 Let the wicked fall(GU) into their own nets,
    while I pass by in safety.(GV)

Psalm 142[f]

A maskil[g] of David. When he was in the cave.(GW) A prayer.

I cry aloud(GX) to the Lord;
    I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.(GY)
I pour out before him my complaint;(GZ)
    before him I tell my trouble.(HA)

When my spirit grows faint(HB) within me,
    it is you who watch over my way.
In the path where I walk
    people have hidden a snare for me.
Look and see, there is no one at my right hand;
    no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge;(HC)
    no one cares(HD) for my life.

I cry to you, Lord;
    I say, “You are my refuge,(HE)
    my portion(HF) in the land of the living.”(HG)

Listen to my cry,(HH)
    for I am in desperate need;(HI)
rescue me(HJ) from those who pursue me,
    for they are too strong(HK) for me.
Set me free from my prison,(HL)
    that I may praise your name.(HM)
Then the righteous will gather about me
    because of your goodness to me.(HN)

Psalm 143

A psalm of David.

Lord, hear my prayer,(HO)
    listen to my cry for mercy;(HP)
in your faithfulness(HQ) and righteousness(HR)
    come to my relief.
Do not bring your servant into judgment,
    for no one living is righteous(HS) before you.
The enemy pursues me,
    he crushes me to the ground;
he makes me dwell in the darkness(HT)
    like those long dead.(HU)
So my spirit grows faint within me;
    my heart within me is dismayed.(HV)
I remember(HW) the days of long ago;
    I meditate(HX) on all your works
    and consider what your hands have done.
I spread out my hands(HY) to you;
    I thirst for you like a parched land.[h]

Answer me quickly,(HZ) Lord;
    my spirit fails.(IA)
Do not hide your face(IB) from me
    or I will be like those who go down to the pit.
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,(IC)
    for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way(ID) I should go,
    for to you I entrust my life.(IE)
Rescue me(IF) from my enemies,(IG) Lord,
    for I hide myself in you.
10 Teach me(IH) to do your will,
    for you are my God;(II)
may your good Spirit
    lead(IJ) me on level ground.(IK)

11 For your name’s sake,(IL) Lord, preserve my life;(IM)
    in your righteousness,(IN) bring me out of trouble.
12 In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;(IO)
    destroy all my foes,(IP)
    for I am your servant.(IQ)

Psalm 144

Of David.

Praise be to the Lord my Rock,(IR)
    who trains my hands for war,
    my fingers for battle.
He is my loving God and my fortress,(IS)
    my stronghold(IT) and my deliverer,
my shield,(IU) in whom I take refuge,
    who subdues peoples[i](IV) under me.

Lord, what are human beings(IW) that you care for them,
    mere mortals that you think of them?
They are like a breath;(IX)
    their days are like a fleeting shadow.(IY)

Part your heavens,(IZ) Lord, and come down;(JA)
    touch the mountains, so that they smoke.(JB)
Send forth lightning(JC) and scatter(JD) the enemy;
    shoot your arrows(JE) and rout them.
Reach down your hand from on high;(JF)
    deliver me and rescue me(JG)
from the mighty waters,(JH)
    from the hands of foreigners(JI)
whose mouths are full of lies,(JJ)
    whose right hands(JK) are deceitful.(JL)

I will sing a new song(JM) to you, my God;
    on the ten-stringed lyre(JN) I will make music to you,
10 to the One who gives victory to kings,(JO)
    who delivers his servant David.(JP)

From the deadly sword(JQ) 11 deliver me;
    rescue me(JR) from the hands of foreigners(JS)
whose mouths are full of lies,(JT)
    whose right hands are deceitful.(JU)

12 Then our sons in their youth
    will be like well-nurtured plants,(JV)
and our daughters will be like pillars(JW)
    carved to adorn a palace.
13 Our barns will be filled(JX)
    with every kind of provision.
Our sheep will increase by thousands,
    by tens of thousands in our fields;
14     our oxen(JY) will draw heavy loads.[j]
There will be no breaching of walls,(JZ)
    no going into captivity,
    no cry of distress in our streets.(KA)
15 Blessed is the people(KB) of whom this is true;
    blessed is the people whose God is the Lord.

Psalm 145[k]

A psalm of praise. Of David.

I will exalt you,(KC) my God the King;(KD)
    I will praise your name(KE) for ever and ever.
Every day I will praise(KF) you
    and extol your name(KG) for ever and ever.

Great(KH) is the Lord and most worthy of praise;(KI)
    his greatness no one can fathom.(KJ)
One generation(KK) commends your works to another;
    they tell(KL) of your mighty acts.(KM)
They speak of the glorious splendor(KN) of your majesty—
    and I will meditate on your wonderful works.[l](KO)
They tell(KP) of the power of your awesome works—(KQ)
    and I will proclaim(KR) your great deeds.(KS)
They celebrate your abundant goodness(KT)
    and joyfully sing(KU) of your righteousness.(KV)

The Lord is gracious and compassionate,(KW)
    slow to anger and rich in love.(KX)

The Lord is good(KY) to all;
    he has compassion(KZ) on all he has made.
10 All your works praise you,(LA) Lord;
    your faithful people extol(LB) you.(LC)
11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom(LD)
    and speak of your might,(LE)
12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts(LF)
    and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.(LG)
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,(LH)
    and your dominion endures through all generations.

The Lord is trustworthy(LI) in all he promises(LJ)
    and faithful in all he does.[m]
14 The Lord upholds(LK) all who fall
    and lifts up all(LL) who are bowed down.(LM)
15 The eyes of all look to you,
    and you give them their food(LN) at the proper time.
16 You open your hand
    and satisfy the desires(LO) of every living thing.

17 The Lord is righteous(LP) in all his ways
    and faithful in all he does.(LQ)
18 The Lord is near(LR) to all who call on him,(LS)
    to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desires(LT) of those who fear him;(LU)
    he hears their cry(LV) and saves them.(LW)
20 The Lord watches over(LX) all who love him,(LY)
    but all the wicked he will destroy.(LZ)

21 My mouth will speak(MA) in praise of the Lord.
    Let every creature(MB) praise his holy name(MC)
    for ever and ever.

Psalm 146

Praise the Lord.[n]

Praise the Lord,(MD) my soul.

I will praise the Lord all my life;(ME)
    I will sing praise(MF) to my God as long as I live.(MG)
Do not put your trust in princes,(MH)
    in human beings,(MI) who cannot save.
When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;(MJ)
    on that very day their plans come to nothing.(MK)
Blessed are those(ML) whose help(MM) is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the Lord their God.

He is the Maker of heaven(MN) and earth,
    the sea, and everything in them—
    he remains faithful(MO) forever.
He upholds(MP) the cause of the oppressed(MQ)
    and gives food to the hungry.(MR)
The Lord sets prisoners free,(MS)
    the Lord gives sight(MT) to the blind,(MU)
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,(MV)
    the Lord loves the righteous.(MW)
The Lord watches over the foreigner(MX)
    and sustains the fatherless(MY) and the widow,(MZ)
    but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

10 The Lord reigns(NA) forever,
    your God, O Zion, for all generations.

Praise the Lord.

Psalm 147

Praise the Lord.[o]

How good it is to sing praises to our God,
    how pleasant(NB) and fitting to praise him!(NC)

The Lord builds up Jerusalem;(ND)
    he gathers the exiles(NE) of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted(NF)
    and binds up their wounds.(NG)
He determines the number of the stars(NH)
    and calls them each by name.
Great is our Lord(NI) and mighty in power;(NJ)
    his understanding has no limit.(NK)
The Lord sustains the humble(NL)
    but casts the wicked(NM) to the ground.

Sing to the Lord(NN) with grateful praise;(NO)
    make music(NP) to our God on the harp.(NQ)

He covers the sky with clouds;(NR)
    he supplies the earth with rain(NS)
    and makes grass grow(NT) on the hills.
He provides food(NU) for the cattle
    and for the young ravens(NV) when they call.

10 His pleasure is not in the strength(NW) of the horse,(NX)
    nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;
11 the Lord delights(NY) in those who fear him,(NZ)
    who put their hope(OA) in his unfailing love.(OB)

12 Extol the Lord, Jerusalem;(OC)
    praise your God, Zion.

13 He strengthens the bars of your gates(OD)
    and blesses your people(OE) within you.
14 He grants peace(OF) to your borders
    and satisfies you(OG) with the finest of wheat.(OH)

15 He sends his command(OI) to the earth;
    his word runs(OJ) swiftly.
16 He spreads the snow(OK) like wool
    and scatters the frost(OL) like ashes.
17 He hurls down his hail(OM) like pebbles.
    Who can withstand his icy blast?
18 He sends his word(ON) and melts them;
    he stirs up his breezes,(OO) and the waters flow.

19 He has revealed his word(OP) to Jacob,(OQ)
    his laws and decrees(OR) to Israel.
20 He has done this for no other nation;(OS)
    they do not know(OT) his laws.[p]

Praise the Lord.(OU)

Psalm 148

Praise the Lord.[q](OV)

Praise the Lord from the heavens;(OW)
    praise him in the heights above.
Praise him, all his angels;(OX)
    praise him, all his heavenly hosts.(OY)
Praise him, sun(OZ) and moon;
    praise him, all you shining stars.
Praise him, you highest heavens(PA)
    and you waters above the skies.(PB)

Let them praise the name(PC) of the Lord,
    for at his command(PD) they were created,
and he established them for ever and ever—
    he issued a decree(PE) that will never pass away.

Praise the Lord(PF) from the earth,
    you great sea creatures(PG) and all ocean depths,(PH)
lightning and hail,(PI) snow and clouds,
    stormy winds that do his bidding,(PJ)
you mountains and all hills,(PK)
    fruit trees and all cedars,
10 wild animals(PL) and all cattle,
    small creatures and flying birds,
11 kings(PM) of the earth and all nations,
    you princes and all rulers on earth,
12 young men and women,
    old men and children.

13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,(PN)
    for his name alone is exalted;
    his splendor(PO) is above the earth and the heavens.(PP)
14 And he has raised up for his people a horn,[r](PQ)
    the praise(PR) of all his faithful servants,(PS)
    of Israel, the people close to his heart.(PT)

Praise the Lord.

Psalm 149

Praise the Lord.[s](PU)

Sing to the Lord a new song,(PV)
    his praise in the assembly(PW) of his faithful people.

Let Israel rejoice(PX) in their Maker;(PY)
    let the people of Zion be glad in their King.(PZ)
Let them praise his name with dancing(QA)
    and make music to him with timbrel and harp.(QB)
For the Lord takes delight(QC) in his people;
    he crowns the humble with victory.(QD)
Let his faithful people rejoice(QE) in this honor
    and sing for joy on their beds.(QF)

May the praise of God be in their mouths(QG)
    and a double-edged(QH) sword in their hands,(QI)
to inflict vengeance(QJ) on the nations
    and punishment(QK) on the peoples,
to bind their kings with fetters,(QL)
    their nobles with shackles of iron,(QM)
to carry out the sentence written against them—(QN)
    this is the glory of all his faithful people.(QO)

Praise the Lord.

Psalm 150

Praise the Lord.[t](QP)

Praise God in his sanctuary;(QQ)
    praise him in his mighty heavens.(QR)
Praise him for his acts of power;(QS)
    praise him for his surpassing greatness.(QT)
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,(QU)
    praise him with the harp and lyre,(QV)
praise him with timbrel and dancing,(QW)
    praise him with the strings(QX) and pipe,(QY)
praise him with the clash of cymbals,(QZ)
    praise him with resounding cymbals.

Let everything(RA) that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.

Purpose and Theme

The proverbs(RB) of Solomon(RC) son of David, king of Israel:(RD)

for gaining wisdom and instruction;
    for understanding words of insight;
for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
    doing what is right and just and fair;
for giving prudence to those who are simple,[u](RE)
    knowledge and discretion(RF) to the young—
let the wise listen and add to their learning,(RG)
    and let the discerning get guidance—
for understanding proverbs and parables,(RH)
    the sayings and riddles(RI) of the wise.[v](RJ)

The fear of the Lord(RK) is the beginning of knowledge,
    but fools[w] despise wisdom(RL) and instruction.(RM)

Prologue: Exhortations to Embrace Wisdom

Warning Against the Invitation of Sinful Men

Listen, my son,(RN) to your father’s(RO) instruction
    and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.(RP)
They are a garland to grace your head
    and a chain to adorn your neck.(RQ)

10 My son, if sinful men entice(RR) you,
    do not give in(RS) to them.(RT)
11 If they say, “Come along with us;
    let’s lie in wait(RU) for innocent blood,
    let’s ambush some harmless soul;
12 let’s swallow(RV) them alive, like the grave,
    and whole, like those who go down to the pit;(RW)
13 we will get all sorts of valuable things
    and fill our houses with plunder;
14 cast lots with us;
    we will all share the loot(RX)”—
15 my son, do not go along with them,
    do not set foot(RY) on their paths;(RZ)
16 for their feet rush into evil,(SA)
    they are swift to shed blood.(SB)
17 How useless to spread a net
    where every bird can see it!
18 These men lie in wait(SC) for their own blood;
    they ambush only themselves!(SD)
19 Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;
    it takes away the life of those who get it.(SE)

Wisdom’s Rebuke

20 Out in the open wisdom calls aloud,(SF)
    she raises her voice in the public square;
21 on top of the wall[x] she cries out,
    at the city gate she makes her speech:

22 “How long will you who are simple(SG) love your simple ways?
    How long will mockers delight in mockery
    and fools hate(SH) knowledge?
23 Repent at my rebuke!
    Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,
    I will make known to you my teachings.
24 But since you refuse(SI) to listen when I call(SJ)
    and no one pays attention(SK) when I stretch out my hand,
25 since you disregard all my advice
    and do not accept my rebuke,
26 I in turn will laugh(SL) when disaster(SM) strikes you;
    I will mock(SN) when calamity overtakes you(SO)
27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
    when disaster(SP) sweeps over you like a whirlwind,
    when distress and trouble overwhelm you.

28 “Then they will call to me but I will not answer;(SQ)
    they will look for me but will not find me,(SR)
29 since they hated knowledge
    and did not choose to fear the Lord.(SS)
30 Since they would not accept my advice
    and spurned my rebuke,(ST)
31 they will eat the fruit of their ways
    and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.(SU)
32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
    and the complacency of fools will destroy them;(SV)
33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety(SW)
    and be at ease, without fear of harm.”(SX)

Moral Benefits of Wisdom

My son,(SY) if you accept my words
    and store up my commands within you,
turning your ear to wisdom
    and applying your heart to understanding(SZ)
indeed, if you call out for insight(TA)
    and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasure,(TB)
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God.(TC)
For the Lord gives wisdom;(TD)
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.(TE)
He holds success in store for the upright,
    he is a shield(TF) to those whose walk is blameless,(TG)
for he guards the course of the just
    and protects the way of his faithful ones.(TH)

Then you will understand(TI) what is right and just
    and fair—every good path.
10 For wisdom will enter your heart,(TJ)
    and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
11 Discretion will protect you,
    and understanding will guard you.(TK)

12 Wisdom will save(TL) you from the ways of wicked men,
    from men whose words are perverse,
13 who have left the straight paths
    to walk in dark ways,(TM)
14 who delight in doing wrong
    and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,(TN)
15 whose paths are crooked(TO)
    and who are devious in their ways.(TP)

16 Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman,(TQ)
    from the wayward woman with her seductive words,
17 who has left the partner of her youth
    and ignored the covenant she made before God.[y](TR)
18 Surely her house leads down to death
    and her paths to the spirits of the dead.(TS)
19 None who go to her return
    or attain the paths of life.(TT)

20 Thus you will walk in the ways of the good
    and keep to the paths of the righteous.
21 For the upright will live in the land,(TU)
    and the blameless will remain in it;
22 but the wicked(TV) will be cut off from the land,(TW)
    and the unfaithful will be torn from it.(TX)

Wisdom Bestows Well-Being

My son,(TY) do not forget my teaching,(TZ)
    but keep my commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years(UA)
    and bring you peace and prosperity.(UB)

Let love and faithfulness(UC) never leave you;
    bind them around your neck,
    write them on the tablet of your heart.(UD)
Then you will win favor and a good name
    in the sight of God and man.(UE)

Trust in the Lord(UF) with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths(UG) straight.[z](UH)

Do not be wise in your own eyes;(UI)
    fear the Lord(UJ) and shun evil.(UK)
This will bring health to your body(UL)
    and nourishment to your bones.(UM)

Honor the Lord with your wealth,
    with the firstfruits(UN) of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled(UO) to overflowing,
    and your vats will brim over with new wine.(UP)

11 My son,(UQ) do not despise the Lord’s discipline,(UR)
    and do not resent his rebuke,
12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves,(US)
    as a father the son he delights in.[aa](UT)

13 Blessed are those who find wisdom,
    those who gain understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver
    and yields better returns than gold.(UU)
15 She is more precious than rubies;(UV)
    nothing you desire can compare with her.(UW)
16 Long life is in her right hand;(UX)
    in her left hand are riches and honor.(UY)
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
    and all her paths are peace.(UZ)
18 She is a tree of life(VA) to those who take hold of her;
    those who hold her fast will be blessed.(VB)

19 By wisdom(VC) the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,(VD)
    by understanding he set the heavens(VE) in place;
20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
    and the clouds let drop the dew.

21 My son,(VF) do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,(VG)
    preserve sound judgment and discretion;
22 they will be life for you,(VH)
    an ornament to grace your neck.(VI)
23 Then you will go on your way in safety,(VJ)
    and your foot will not stumble.(VK)
24 When you lie down,(VL) you will not be afraid;(VM)
    when you lie down, your sleep(VN) will be sweet.
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster
    or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the Lord will be at your side(VO)
    and will keep your foot(VP) from being snared.(VQ)

27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
    when it is in your power to act.
28 Do not say to your neighbor,
    “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—
    when you already have it with you.(VR)
29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
    who lives trustfully near you.(VS)
30 Do not accuse anyone for no reason—
    when they have done you no harm.

31 Do not envy(VT) the violent
    or choose any of their ways.

32 For the Lord detests the perverse(VU)
    but takes the upright into his confidence.(VV)
33 The Lord’s curse(VW) is on the house of the wicked,(VX)
    but he blesses the home of the righteous.(VY)
34 He mocks(VZ) proud mockers(WA)
    but shows favor to the humble(WB) and oppressed.
35 The wise inherit honor,
    but fools get only shame.

Get Wisdom at Any Cost

Listen, my sons,(WC) to a father’s instruction;(WD)
    pay attention and gain understanding.(WE)
I give you sound learning,
    so do not forsake my teaching.
For I too was a son to my father,
    still tender, and cherished by my mother.
Then he taught me, and he said to me,
    “Take hold(WF) of my words with all your heart;
    keep my commands, and you will live.(WG)
Get wisdom,(WH) get understanding;
    do not forget my words or turn away from them.
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;(WI)
    love her, and she will watch over you.(WJ)
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get[ab] wisdom.
    Though it cost all(WK) you have,[ac] get understanding.(WL)
Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
    embrace her, and she will honor you.(WM)
She will give you a garland to grace your head
    and present you with a glorious crown.(WN)

10 Listen, my son,(WO) accept what I say,
    and the years of your life will be many.(WP)
11 I instruct(WQ) you in the way of wisdom
    and lead you along straight paths.(WR)
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
    when you run, you will not stumble.(WS)
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
    guard it well, for it is your life.(WT)
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
    or walk in the way of evildoers.(WU)
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
    turn from it and go on your way.
16 For they cannot rest until they do evil;(WV)
    they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness
    and drink the wine of violence.(WW)

18 The path of the righteous(WX) is like the morning sun,(WY)
    shining ever brighter till the full light of day.(WZ)
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;(XA)
    they do not know what makes them stumble.(XB)

20 My son,(XC) pay attention to what I say;
    turn your ear to my words.(XD)
21 Do not let them out of your sight,(XE)
    keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
    and health to one’s whole body.(XF)
23 Above all else, guard(XG) your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it.(XH)
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;
    keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes(XI) look straight ahead;
    fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the[ad] paths for your feet(XJ)
    and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;(XK)
    keep your foot from evil.

Warning Against Adultery

My son,(XL) pay attention to my wisdom,
    turn your ear to my words(XM) of insight,
that you may maintain discretion
    and your lips may preserve knowledge.
For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey,
    and her speech is smoother than oil;(XN)
but in the end she is bitter as gall,(XO)
    sharp as a double-edged sword.
Her feet go down to death;
    her steps lead straight to the grave.(XP)
She gives no thought to the way of life;
    her paths wander aimlessly, but she does not know it.(XQ)

Now then, my sons, listen(XR) to me;
    do not turn aside from what I say.
Keep to a path far from her,(XS)
    do not go near the door of her house,
lest you lose your honor to others
    and your dignity[ae] to one who is cruel,
10 lest strangers feast on your wealth
    and your toil enrich the house of another.(XT)
11 At the end of your life you will groan,
    when your flesh and body are spent.
12 You will say, “How I hated discipline!
    How my heart spurned correction!(XU)
13 I would not obey my teachers
    or turn my ear to my instructors.
14 And I was soon in serious trouble(XV)
    in the assembly of God’s people.”(XW)

15 Drink water from your own cistern,
    running water from your own well.
16 Should your springs overflow in the streets,
    your streams of water in the public squares?
17 Let them be yours alone,
    never to be shared with strangers.
18 May your fountain(XX) be blessed,
    and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.(XY)
19 A loving doe, a graceful deer(XZ)
    may her breasts satisfy you always,
    may you ever be intoxicated with her love.
20 Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man’s wife?
    Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman?

21 For your ways are in full view(YA) of the Lord,
    and he examines(YB) all your paths.(YC)
22 The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them;(YD)
    the cords of their sins hold them fast.(YE)
23 For lack of discipline they will die,(YF)
    led astray by their own great folly.(YG)

Warnings Against Folly

My son,(YH) if you have put up security(YI) for your neighbor,(YJ)
    if you have shaken hands in pledge(YK) for a stranger,
you have been trapped by what you said,
    ensnared by the words of your mouth.
So do this, my son, to free yourself,
    since you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands:
Go—to the point of exhaustion—[af]
    and give your neighbor no rest!
Allow no sleep to your eyes,
    no slumber to your eyelids.(YL)
Free yourself, like a gazelle(YM) from the hand of the hunter,(YN)
    like a bird from the snare of the fowler.(YO)

Go to the ant, you sluggard;(YP)
    consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
    no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer(YQ)
    and gathers its food at harvest.(YR)

How long will you lie there, you sluggard?(YS)
    When will you get up from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest(YT)
11 and poverty(YU) will come on you like a thief
    and scarcity like an armed man.

12 A troublemaker and a villain,
    who goes about with a corrupt mouth,
13     who winks maliciously with his eye,(YV)
    signals with his feet
    and motions with his fingers,(YW)
14     who plots evil(YX) with deceit in his heart—
    he always stirs up conflict.(YY)
15 Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant;(YZ)
    he will suddenly(ZA) be destroyed—without remedy.(ZB)

16 There are six things the Lord hates,(ZC)
    seven that are detestable to him:
17         haughty eyes,(ZD)
        a lying tongue,(ZE)
        hands that shed innocent blood,(ZF)
18         a heart that devises wicked schemes,
        feet that are quick to rush into evil,(ZG)
19         a false witness(ZH) who pours out lies(ZI)
        and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.(ZJ)

Warning Against Adultery

20 My son,(ZK) keep your father’s command
    and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.(ZL)
21 Bind them always on your heart;
    fasten them around your neck.(ZM)
22 When you walk, they will guide you;
    when you sleep, they will watch over you;
    when you awake, they will speak to you.
23 For this command is a lamp,
    this teaching is a light,(ZN)
and correction and instruction
    are the way to life,(ZO)
24 keeping you from your neighbor’s wife,
    from the smooth talk of a wayward woman.(ZP)

25 Do not lust in your heart after her beauty
    or let her captivate you with her eyes.

26 For a prostitute can be had for a loaf of bread,
    but another man’s wife preys on your very life.(ZQ)
27 Can a man scoop fire into his lap
    without his clothes being burned?
28 Can a man walk on hot coals
    without his feet being scorched?
29 So is he who sleeps(ZR) with another man’s wife;(ZS)
    no one who touches her will go unpunished.

30 People do not despise a thief if he steals
    to satisfy his hunger when he is starving.
31 Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold,(ZT)
    though it costs him all the wealth of his house.
32 But a man who commits adultery(ZU) has no sense;(ZV)
    whoever does so destroys himself.
33 Blows and disgrace are his lot,
    and his shame will never(ZW) be wiped away.

34 For jealousy(ZX) arouses a husband’s fury,(ZY)
    and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.
35 He will not accept any compensation;
    he will refuse a bribe, however great it is.(ZZ)

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