Mishlei (Pro) 30

1 The words of Agur the son of Yakeh, the prophecy. The man says to Iti’el, to Iti’el and Ukhal:

2 I am more boorish than anyone,

I lack human discernment;

3 I have not learned enough wisdom

to know the Holy One.

4 Who has gone up to heaven and come down?

Who has cupped the wind in the palms of his hands?

Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak?

Who established all the ends of the earth?

What is his name, and what is his son’s name?

Surely you know!

5 Every word of God’s is pure;

he shields those taking refuge in him.

6 Don’t add anything to his words;

or he will rebuke you, and you be found a liar.

7 [God,] I have asked two things of you;

don’t deny them to me as long as I live —

8 keep falsehood and futility far from me,

and give me neither poverty nor wealth.

Yes, provide just the food I need today;

9 for if I have too much, I might deny you

and say, “Who isAdonai?”

And if I am poor, I might steal

and thus profane the name of my God.

10 Never disparage a slave to his master,

or he will curse you, and you will deserve it.

11 There is a type of people who curse their fathers

and don’t bless their mothers.

12 There is a type of people clean in their own view,

but not cleansed from their filth.

13 There is a type of people — how haughty their look! —

utterly supercilious!

14 There is a type of people whose teeth are like swords,

yes, their fangs are knives;

they devour the poor from the earth,

the needy from humankind.

15 The leech has two daughters;

they cry, “Give! Give!”

Three things are never satisfied;

four never say, “Enough!” —

16 Sh’ol and a barren womb;

the earth, never satisfied with water;

and fire, which never says, “Enough!”

17 The eye that mocks his father

and scorns obeying his mother

will be pecked out by the ravens in the valley,

and the vultures will eat it.

18 Three things are too wonderful for me,

four beyond my knowledge —

19 the way of an eagle in the sky,

the way of a snake on a rock,

the way of a ship on the open sea,

and the way of a man with a girl.

20 This is how an unfaithful wife behaves:

she eats, wipes her mouth, and says, “I did nothing wrong.”

21 Three things make the earth quake,

four things it can’t bear —

22 a slave who becomes king,

a boor gorged with food,

23 a hated [wife] when her husband takes her [back],

and a slave-girl who inherits from her mistress.

24 Four things on the earth are small;

nevertheless, they are very wise —

25 the ants, a species not strong,

yet they store up their food in the summer;

26 the coneys, a species with little power,

yet they make their home in the rocks;

27 the locusts, who have no king,

yet they all march out in ranks;

28 and the spiders, which you can catch in your hand,

yet they are in the king’s palace.

29 Three things are stately in their stride,

four of stately gait —

30 the lion, mightiest of beasts,

which turns aside for none;

31 the greyhound, the billy-goat

and the king when his army is with him.

32 If you have been boorish, exalting yourself,

or if you have been scheming,

lay your hand on your mouth.

33 For as pressing milk produces butter

and pressing the nose produces blood,

so pressing out anger produces strife.

Mishlei (Pro) 31

1 The words of King L’mu’el, the prophecy with which his mother disciplined him:

2 No, my son! No, son of my womb!

No, son of my vows!

3 Don’t give your strength to women

or your ways to that which destroys kings.

4 It is not for kings, L’mu’el,

not for kings to drink wine;

it is not for rulers to ask,

“Where can I find strong liquor?”

5 For they may drink, then forget what has been decreed,

and pervert the justice due to the poor.

6 Give strong liquor to one who is perishing,

wine to the deeply depressed;

7 let him drink, forget his poverty

and cease to remember his troubles.

8 Speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves,

for the rights of all who need an advocate.

9 Speak up, judge righteously,

defend the cause of the poor and the needy.

א

10 Who can find a capable wife?

Her value is far beyond that of pearls.

ב

11 Her husband trusts her from his heart,

and she will prove a great asset to him.

ג

12 She works to bring him good, not harm,

all the days of her life.

ד

13 She procures a supply of wool and flax

and works with willing hands.

ה

14 She is like those merchant vessels,

bringing her food from far away.

ו

15 It’s still dark when she rises to give food to her household

and orders to the young women serving her.

ז

16 She considers a field, then buys it,

and from her earnings she plants a vineyard.

ח

17 She gathers her strength around her

and throws herself into her work.

ט

18 She sees that her business affairs go well;

her lamp stays lit at night.

י

19 She puts her hands to the staff with the flax;

her fingers hold the spinning rod.

כ

20 She reaches out to embrace the poor

and opens her arms to the needy.

ל

21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;

since all of them are doubly clothed.

מ

22 She makes her own quilts;

she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

נ

23 Her husband is known at the city gates

when he sits with the leaders of the land.

ס

24 She makes linen garments and sells them;

she supplies the merchants with sashes.

ע

25 Clothed with strength and dignity,

she can laugh at the days to come.

פ

26 When she opens her mouth, she speaks wisely;

on her tongue is loving instruction.

צ

27 She watches how things go in her house,

not eating the bread of idleness.

ק

28 Her children arise; they make her happy;

her husband too, as he praises her:

ר

29 “Many women have done wonderful things,

but you surpass them all!”

ש

30 Charm can lie, beauty can vanish,

but a woman who fearsAdonaishould be praised.

ת

31 Give her a share in what she produces;

let her works speak her praises at the city gates.

Tehillim (Psa) 1

Book I: Psalms 1–41

1 How blessed are those

who reject the advice of the wicked,

don’t stand on the way of sinners

or sit where scoffers sit!

2 Their delight

is inAdonai’sTorah;

on hisTorahthey meditate

day and night.

3 They are like trees planted by streams —

they bear their fruit in season,

their leaves never wither,

everything they do succeeds.

4 Not so the wicked,

who are like chaff driven by the wind.

5 For this reason the wicked

won’t stand up to the judgment,

nor will sinners

at the gathering of the righteous.

6 ForAdonaiwatches over

the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked

is doomed.

Tehillim (Psa) 2

1 Why are the nations in an uproar,

the peoples grumbling in vain?

2 The earth’s kings are taking positions,

leaders conspiring together,

againstAdonai

and his anointed.

3 They cry, “Let’s break their fetters!

Let’s throw off their chains!”

4 He who sits in heaven laughs;

Adonailooks at them in derision.

5 Then in his anger he rebukes them,

terrifies them in his fury.

6 “I myself have installed my king

on Tziyon, my holy mountain.”

7 “I will proclaim the decree:

Adonaisaid to me,

‘You are my son;

today I became your father.

8 Ask of me, and I will make

the nations your inheritance;

the whole wide world

will be your possession.

9 You will break them with an iron rod,

shatter them like a clay pot.’”

10 Therefore, kings, be wise;

be warned, you judges of the earth.

11 ServeAdonaiwith fear;

rejoice, but with trembling.

12 Kiss the son, lest he be angry,

and you perish along the way,

when suddenly his anger blazes.

How blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Tehillim (Psa) 3

1 A psalm of David, when he fled from Avshalom his son:

2 Adonai, how many enemies I have!

How countless are those attacking me;

3 how countless those who say of me,

“There is no salvation for him in God.”(Selah)

4 But you,Adonai, are a shield for me;

you are my glory, you lift my head high.

5 With my voice I call out toAdonai,

and he answers me from his holy hill.(Selah)

6 I lie down and sleep, then wake up again,

becauseAdonaisustains me.

7 I am not afraid of the tens of thousands

set against me on every side.

8 Rise up,Adonai!

Save me, my God!

For you slap all my enemies in the face,

you smash the teeth of the wicked.

9 Victory comes fromAdonai;

may your blessing rest on your people.(Selah)

Tehillim (Psa) 4

1 For the leader. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David:

2 O God, my vindicator!

Answer me when I call!

When I was distressed, you set me free;

now have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.

3 Men of rank, how long will you shame my honor,

love what is vain, chase after lies?(Selah)

4 Understand thatAdonaisets apart

the godly person for himself;

Adonaiwill hear when I call to him.

5 You can be angry, but do not sin!

Think about this as you lie in bed,

and calm down.(Selah)

6 Offer sacrifices rightly,

and put your trust inAdonai.

7 Many ask, “Who can show us some good?”

Adonai, lift the light of your face over us!

8 You have filled my heart with more joy

than all their grain and new wine.

9 I will lie down and sleep in peace;

for,Adonai, you alone make me live securely.

Tehillim (Psa) 5

1 For the leader. On wind instruments. A psalm of David:

2 Give ear to my words,Adonai,

consider my inmost thoughts.

3 Listen to my cry for help,

my king and my God, for I pray to you.

4 Adonai, in the morning you will hear my voice;

in the morning I lay my needs before you

and wait expectantly.

5 For you are not a God

who takes pleasure in wickedness;

evil cannot remain with you.

6 Those who brag cannot stand before your eyes,

you hate all who do evil,

7 you destroy those who tell lies,

Adonaidetests men of blood and deceivers.

8 But I can enter your house

because of your great grace and love;

I will bow down toward your holy temple

in reverence for you.

9 Lead me,Adonai, in your righteousness

because of those lying in wait for me;

make your way straight before me.

10 For in their mouths there is nothing sincere,

within them are calamities,

their throats are open tombs,

they flatter with their tongues.

11 God, declare them guilty!

Let them fall through their own intrigues,

For their many crimes, throw them down;

since they have rebelled against you.

12 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice,

let them forever shout for joy!

Shelter them; and they will be glad,

those who love your name.

13 For you,Adonai, bless the righteous;

you surround them with favor like a shield.

Tehillim (Psa) 6

1 For the leader. With stringed instruments. Onsh’minit[low-pitched musical instruments?]. A psalm of David:

2 Adonai, don’t rebuke me in your anger,

don’t discipline me in the heat of your fury.

3 Be gracious to me,Adonai,

because I am withering away;

heal me,Adonai,

because my bones are shaking;

4 I am completely terrified;

and you,Adonai— how long?

5 Come back,Adonai, and rescue me!

Save me for the sake of your grace;

6 for in death, no one remembers you;

in Sh’ol, who will praise you?

7 I am worn out with groaning;

all night I drench my bed with tears,

flooding my couch till it swims.

8 My vision is darkened with anger;

it grows weak because of all my foes.

9 Get away from me, all you workers of evil!

ForAdonaihas heard the sound of my weeping,

10 Adonaihas heard my pleading,

Adonaiwill accept my prayer.

11 All my enemies will be confounded,

completely terrified;

they will turn back

and be suddenly put to shame.

Tehillim (Psa) 7

1 Ashiggayonof David, which he sang toAdonaibecause of Kush the Ben-Y’mini:

2 Adonaimy God, in you I take refuge.

Save me from all my pursuers, and rescue me;

3 otherwise, they will maul me like a lion

and tear me apart, with no rescuer present.

4 Adonaimy God, if I have caused this,

if there is guilt on my hands,

5 if I paid back evil to him who was at peace with me,

when I even spared those who opposed me without cause;

6 then let the enemy pursue me

until he overtakes me

and tramples my life down into the earth;

yes, let him lay my honor in the dust.(Selah)

7 Rise up,Adonai, in your anger!

Arouse yourself against the fury of my foes.

Wake up for me; you commanded justice.

8 May the assembly of the peoples surround you;

may you return to rule over them from on high.

9 Adonai, who dispenses judgment to the peoples,

judge me,Adonai, according to my righteousness

and as my integrity deserves.

10 Let the evil of the wicked come to an end,

and establish the righteous;

since you, righteous God,

test hearts and minds.

11 My shield is God,

who saves the upright in heart.

12 God is a righteous judge,

a God whose anger is present every day.

13 If a person will not repent,

he sharpens his sword.

He has bent his bow, made it ready;

14 he has also prepared for him

weapons of death, his arrows,

which he has made into burning shafts.

15 Look how the wicked is pregnant with evil;

he conceives trouble, gives birth to lies.

16 He makes a pit, digs it deep,

and falls into the hole he made.

17 His mischief will return onto his own head,

his violence will recoil onto his own skull.

18 I thankAdonaifor his righteousness

and sing praise to the name ofAdonai‘Elyon.

Tehillim (Psa) 8

1 For the leader. On thegittit. A psalm of David:

2 Adonai! Our Lord! How glorious

is your name throughout the earth!

The fame of your majesty

spreads even above the heavens!

3 From the mouths of babies and infants at the breast

you established strength because of your foes,

in order that you might silence

the enemy and the avenger.

4 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,

the moon and stars that you set in place —

5 what are mere mortals, that you concern yourself with them;

humans, that you watch over them with such care?

6 You made him but little lower than the angels,

you crowned him with glory and honor,

7 you had him rule what your hands made,

you put everything under his feet —

8 sheep and oxen, all of them,

also the animals in the wilds,

9 the birds in the air, the fish in the sea,

whatever passes through the paths of the seas.

10 Adonai! Our Lord! How glorious

is your name throughout the earth!