Bible in 90 Days
135 1 He exhorteth all the faithful, of what estate soever they be, to praise God for his marvelous works. 12 And specially for his graces toward his people, wherein he hath declared his Majesty, 15 To the confusion of all idolaters and their idols.
Praise ye the Lord.
1 Praise, the Name of the Lord; ye servants of the Lord, praise him.
2 Ye that [a]stand in the House of the Lord, and in the [b]courts of the House of our God,
3 Praise ye the Lord: for the Lord is good: sing praises unto his Name: for it is a comely thing.
4 For the Lord hath [c]chosen Jacob to himself, and Israel for his chief treasure.
5 For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.
6 Whatsoever pleased the Lord, that [d]did he in heaven and in earth, in the sea, and in all the depths.
7 He bringeth up the clouds from the ends of the earth, and maketh the (A)lightnings with the rain: he draweth forth the wind out of his treasures.
8 (B)He smote the firstborn of Egypt both of man and beast.
9 He hath sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants.
10 (C)He smote many nations, and slew mighty Kings:
11 As Sihon King of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan:
12 And [e]gave their land for an inheritance, even an inheritance unto Israel his people.
13 Thy Name, O Lord, endureth forever: O Lord, thy remembrance is from generation to generation.
14 For the Lord will [f]judge his people, and be pacified toward his servants.
15 The [g]idols of the heathen are silver and gold, even the work of men’s hands.
16 They have a mouth, and speak not: they have eyes and see not.
17 They have ears and hear not, neither is there any breath in their mouth.
18 They that make them, are like unto them: so are all that trust in them.
19 Praise the Lord, ye house of Israel: praise the Lord, ye house of Aaron.
20 Praise the Lord, ye house of Levi; ye that fear the Lord, praise the Lord.
21 Praised be the Lord out of Zion, which dwelleth in Jerusalem. Praise ye the Lord.
136 1 A most earnest exhortation to give thanks unto God for the creation and governance of all things, which standeth in confessing that he giveth us all of his mere liberality.
1 Praise ye the Lord, because he is good: for his [h]mercy endureth forever.
2 Praise ye the God of gods: for his mercy endureth forever:
3 Praise ye the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth forever:
4 Which only doeth great wonders; for his mercy endureth forever:
5 Which by his wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth forever:
6 Which hath stretched out the earth upon the waters: for his [i]mercy endureth forever:
7 Which made great lights: for his mercy endureth forever:
8 As the Sun to rule the day; for his mercy endureth forever:
9 The Moon and the stars to govern the night: for his mercy endureth forever:
10 Which smote Egypt with their firstborn, (for his mercy endureth forever)
11 And [j]brought out Israel from among them; for his mercy endureth forever:
12 With a mighty hand and [k]stretched out arm; for his mercy endureth forever:
13 Which divideth the Sea into two parts; for his mercy endureth forever:
14 And made Israel to pass through the midst of it; for his mercy endureth forever:
15 And overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the red Sea; for his mercy endureth forever:
16 Which led his people through the [l]wilderness; for his mercy endureth forever:
17 Which smote great Kings: for his mercy endureth forever:
18 And slew [m]mighty Kings: for his mercy endureth forever:
19 As Sihon King of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth forever:
20 And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth forever:
21 And gave their land for an heritage; for his mercy endureth forever:
22 Even an heritage unto Israel his servant; for his mercy endureth forever:
23 Which remembered us in our [n]base estate; for his mercy endureth forever:
24 And hath rescued us from our oppressors; for his mercy endureth forever:
25 Which giveth food to all [o]flesh; for his mercy endureth forever:
26 [p]Praise ye the God of heaven; for his mercy endureth forever.
137 1 The people of God in their banishment seeing God’s true Religion decay, lived in great anguish and sorrow of heart: the which grief the Chaldeans did so little pity, 3 That they rather increased the same daily with taunts, reproaches and blasphemies against God. 7 Wherefore the Israelites desire God, first to punish the Edomites, who provoked the Babylonians against them, 8 And moved by the Spirit of God, prophesy the destruction of Babylon, where they were handled so tyrannously.
1 By the rivers of Babel we [q]sat, and there we wept, when we remembered Zion.
2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst [r]thereof.
3 Then they that led us captive, [s]required of us songs and mirth, when we had hanged up our harps, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.
4 How shall we sing, said we, a song of the Lord in a strange land?
5 [t]If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget to play.
6 If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth: yea, if I prefer not Jerusalem to my [u]chief joy.
7 Remember the children of [v]Edom, O Lord, in the [w]day of Jerusalem, which said, Raze it, raze it to the foundation thereof.
8 O daughter of Babel, worthy to be destroyed, blessed shall he be that rewardeth thee, as thou hast served us.
9 [x]Blessed shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy children against the stones.
138 1 David with great courage praiseth the goodness of God toward him, the which is so great, 4 That it is known to foreign princes, who shall praise the Lord together with him. 6 And he is assured to have the like comfort of God in the time following, as he had heretofore.
A Psalm of David.
1 I will praise thee with my whole heart: even before the [y]gods will I praise thee.
2 I will worship toward thine holy [z]Temple and praise thy Name, because of thy loving-kindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy Name above all things by thy word.
3 When I called, then thou heardest me, and hast [aa]increased strength in my soul.
4 All the [ab]kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord: for they have heard the words of thy mouth.
5 And they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord is great.
6 For the Lord is high, yet he beholdeth the lowly, but the proud he knoweth [ac]afar off.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, yet wilt thou revive me: thou wilt stretch forth thine hand upon the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.
8 The Lord will [ad]perform his work toward me: O Lord, thy mercy endureth forever: forsake not the works of thine hands.
139 1 David cleanseth his heart from all hypocrisy, showeth that there is nothing so hid, which God seeth not. 13 Which he confirmeth by the creation of man. 14 After declaring his zeal and fear of God, he professeth to be enemy to all them that contemn God.
To him that excelleth. A Psalm of David.
1 O Lord, thou hast tried me, and known me.
2 Thou knowest my [ae]sitting and my rising: thou understandest my thought afar off.
3 Thou [af]compassest my paths, and my lying down, and art accustomed to all my ways.
4 For there is not a word in my [ag]tongue, but lo, thou knowest it wholly, O Lord.
5 Thou holdest me strait behind and before, and layest thine [ah]hand upon me.
6 Thy knowledge is too wonderful for me: it is so high that I cannot attain unto it.
7 Whither shall I go from thy [ai]Spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8 If I ascend into heaven, thou art there: if I lie down in hell, thou art there.
9 Let me take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea:
10 Yet thither shall thine hand [aj]lead me, and thy right hand hold me.
11 If I say, Yet the darkness shall hide me, even the night shall be [ak]light about me.
12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee: but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and light are both alike.
13 For thou hast [al]possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise thee, for I am [am]fearfully and wondrously made: marvelous are thy works, and my soul knoweth it well.
15 My bones are not hid from thee, though I was made in a secret place, and fashioned [an]beneath in the earth.
16 Thine eyes did see me, when I was without form: [ao]for in thy book were all things written, which in continuance were fashioned, when there was none of them before.
17 How [ap]dear therefore are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they are more than the sand: when I awake, [aq]I am still with thee.
19 Oh that thou wouldest [slay], O God, the wicked and bloody men, to whom I say, Depart ye from me:
20 Which speak wickedly of thee, and being thine enemies are lifted up in vain.
21 Do not I [ar]hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and do not I earnestly contend with those that rise up against thee?
22 I hate them with an unfeigned hatred, as they were mine utter enemies.
23 Try me, O God, and know mine heart: prove me and know my thoughts,
24 And consider if there be any [as]way of wickedness in me, and lead me in the [at]way forever.
140 1 David complaineth of the cruelty, falsehood and injuries of his enemies. 8 Against the which he prayeth unto the Lord, and assureth himself of his help and succor. 12 Wherefore he provoketh the just to praise the Lord, and to assure themselves of his tuition.
To him that excelleth. A Psalm of David.
1 Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: preserve me from the [au]cruel man:
2 Which imagine evil things in their [av]heart, and make war continually.
3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent: [aw]adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah.
4 Keep [ax]me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the cruel man, which purposeth to cause my steps to slide.
5 The proud have laid a snare for me, and spread a net with cords in my pathway, and set gins for me. Selah.
6 Therefore I said unto the Lord, Thou art my God: hear, O Lord, the voice of my prayers.
7 O Lord God the strength of my salvation, thou [ay]hast covered my head in the day of battle.
8 Let not the wicked have his desire, O Lord; [az]perform not his wicked thought, lest they be proud. Selah.
9 As for [ba]the chief of them that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips come upon them.
10 Let coals fall upon them: let [bb]him cast them into the fire, and into the deep pits that they rise not.
11 For the backbiter shall not be established upon the earth, evil shall [bc]hunt the cruel man to destruction.
12 I know that the Lord will avenge the afflicted, and judge the poor.
13 Surely the righteous shall praise thy Name, and the just shall [bd]dwell in thy presence.
141 1 David being grievously persecuted under Saul, only fleeth unto God to have succor. 3 Desiring him to bridle his affections, that he may patiently abide till God take vengeance of his enemies.
A Psalm of David.
1 O Lord, I [be]call upon thee: haste thee unto me: hear my voice, when I cry unto thee.
2 Let my prayer be directed in thy sight as incense, and the [bf]lifting up of mine hands as an evening sacrifice.
3 Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth, and keep the [bg]door of my lips.
4 Incline not mine heart to evil, that I should commit wicked works with them that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their [bh]delicates.
5 Let the righteous smite me: for that is a benefit: and let [bi]him reprove me, and it shall be a precious oil that shall not break mine head: for within a while I shall even [bj]pray in their miseries.
6 When their judges shall be cast down in stony places, they shall [bk]hear my words, for they are sweet.
7 Our bones lie scattered at the [bl]grave’s mouth, as he that heweth wood or diggeth in the earth.
8 But mine eyes look unto thee, O Lord God: in thee is my trust: leave not my soul destitute.
9 Keep me from the snare, which they have laid for me, and from the gins of the workers of iniquity.
10 Let the wicked fall into [bm]his nets [bn]together, while I escape.
142 The Prophet neither astonied with fear, nor carried away with anger, nor forced by desperation, would kill Saul: but with a quiet mind directed his earnest prayer to God, who did preserve him.
A Psalm of David, to give instruction, and a prayer when he was in the cave.
1 I cried unto the Lord with my voice: with my voice I [bo]prayed unto the Lord.
2 I poured out my meditation before him, and declared mine affection in his presence.
3 Though my spirit [bp]was in perplexity in me, yet thou knewest my path: in the way wherein I walked, have they privily laid a snare for me.
4 I looked upon my right hand, and beheld, but there was none that would know me: all refuge failed me, and [bq]none cared for my soul.
5 Then cried I unto thee, O Lord, and said, Thou art mine [br]hope, and my portion in the land of the living.
6 Hearken unto my cry, for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me.
7 Bring my soul out of [bs]prison, that I may praise thy Name: then shall the righteous [bt]come about me, when thou art beneficial unto me.
143 1 An earnest prayer for remission of sins, acknowledging that the enemies did thus cruelly persecute him by God’s just judgment. 8 He desireth to be restored to grace, 10 To be governeth by his holy Spirit, that he may spend the remnant of his life in the true fear and service of God.
A Psalm of David.
1 Hear my prayer, O Lord, and hearken unto my supplication: answer me in thy [bu]truth, and in thy [bv]righteousness.
2 (And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy [bw]sight shall none that liveth, be justified.)
3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul: he hath smitten my life down to the earth: he hath laid me in the darkness, as they that have been dead [bx]long ago:
4 And my spirit was in perplexity in me, and mine [by]heart within me was amazed.
5 Yet do I remember the time [bz]past: I meditate in all thy works, yea, I do meditate in the works of thine hands.
6 I stretch forth mine hands unto thee: my soul desireth after thee, as the thirsty land. Selah.
7 Hear me speedily, O Lord, for my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, else I shall be like unto them that go down into the pit.
8 Let me hear thy loving-kindness in the [ca]morning, for in thee is my trust; [cb]show me the way, that I should walk in, for I lift up my soul unto thee.
9 Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies: for [cc]I hid me with thee.
10 [cd]Teach me to [ce]do thy will, for thou art my God: let thy good Spirit lead me unto the land of righteousness.
11 Quicken me, O Lord, for thy Name’s sake, and for thy righteousness bring my soul out of trouble.
12 And for thy mercy [cf]slay mine enemies, and destroy all them that oppress my soul: for I am thy [cg]servant.
144 He praiseth the Lord with great affection and humility for his kingdom restored, and for his victories obtained. 5 Demanding help, and the destruction of the wicked, 9 Promising to acknowledge the same with songs of praises, 15 And declareth wherein the felicity of any people consisteth.
A Psalm of David.
1 Blessed be the Lord my strength, which [ch]teacheth mine hands to fight, and my fingers to battle.
2 He is my goodness and my fortress, my tower and [ci]my deliverer, my shield and in him I trust, [cj]which subdueth my people under me.
3 Lord, what is man that thou [ck]regardest him! or the son of man that thou thinkest upon him?
4 Man is like to vanity; his days are like a shadow that vanisheth.
5 [cl]Bow thine heavens, O Lord, and come down; touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.
6 [cm]Cast forth the lightning and scatter them; shoot out thine arrows and consume them.
7 Send thine hand from above: deliver me, and take me out of the great [cn]waters, and from the hand of strangers,
8 Whose mouth talketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand [co]of falsehood.
9 I will sing a [cp]new song unto thee, O God, and sing unto thee upon a viol, and an instrument of ten strings.
10 It is he that giveth deliverance unto kings, and rescueth David his [cq]servant from the hurtful sword.
11 Rescue me, and deliver me from the hand of strangers, whose mouth talketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:
12 [cr]That our sons may be as the plants growing up in their youth, and our daughters as the corner stones, graven after the similitude of a palace:
13 That our [cs]corners may be full and abounding with divers sorts, and that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousand in our streets.
14 That our [ct]oxen may be strong to labor; that there be none invasion, nor going out, nor no crying in our streets.
15 Blessed are the people, that be [cu]so, yea blessed are the people whose God is the Lord.
145 This Psalm was composed when the kingdom of David flourished. 1 Wherein he describeth the wonderful providence of God, as well in governing man, as in preserving all the rest of his creatures. 17 He praiseth God for his justice and mercy. 18 But specially for his loving-kindness toward those that call upon him, that fear him, and love him: 21 For the which he promiseth to praise him forever.
A Psalm of David of praise.
1 O my God and King, [cv]I will extol thee, and will bless thy Name forever and ever.
2 I will bless thee daily, and praise thy Name forever and ever.
3 [cw]Great is the Lord, and most worthy to be praised, and his greatness is incomprehensible.
4 Generation shall praise thy works unto [cx]generation, and declare thy power.
5 I will meditate of the beauty of thy glorious majesty, and thy wonderful works.
6 And they shall speak of the power of thy [cy]dreadful acts, and I will declare thy greatness.
7 They shall break out into the mention of thy great goodness, and shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
8 (D)The Lord is gracious, and [cz]merciful, slow to anger, and of great mercy.
9 The Lord is good to all, and his mercies are over all his works.
10 All thy works praise thee, O Lord, and thy Saints bless thee.
11 [da]They show the glory of thy kingdom, and speak of thy power,
12 To cause his [db]power to be known to the sons of men, and the glorious renown of his kingdom.
13 Thy (E)kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all ages.
14 The Lord upholdeth all that [dc]fall, and lifteth up all that are ready to fall.
15 The eyes of [dd]all wait upon thee, and thou givest them their meat in due season.
16 Thou openest thine hand, and fillest all things living of thy good pleasure.
17 The Lord is [de]righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.
18 The Lord is near unto all that call upon him, yea, to all that call upon him in [df]truth.
19 He will fulfill the [dg]desire of them that fear him; he will also hear their cry, and will save them.
20 The Lord preserveth all them that love him; but he will destroy the wicked.
21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord, and all [dh]flesh shall bless his holy Name forever and ever.
146 1 David declareth his great zeal that he hath to praise God. 3 And teacheth, not to trust in man, but only in God Almighty, 7 Which delivereth the afflicted, 9 Defendeth the strangers, comforteth the fatherless, and the widows, 10 And reigneth forever.
Praise ye the Lord.
1 Praise thou the Lord, O my [di]soul.
2 I will praise the Lord during my life; as long as I have any being, I will sing unto my God.
3 Put not your trust in [dj]Princes, nor in the son of man, for there is no help in him.
4 His breath departeth, and he returneth to his earth; then his [dk]thoughts perish.
5 Blessed is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God,
6 Which made [dl]heaven and earth, the sea, and all that therein is; which keepeth his fidelity forever,
7 Which executeth justice [dm]for the oppressed, which giveth bread to the hungry; the Lord looseth the prisoners.
8 The Lord giveth sight to the blind: the Lord raiseth up the crooked: the Lord [dn]loveth the righteous.
9 The Lord keepeth the [do]strangers: he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but he overthroweth the way of the wicked.
10 The Lord shall [dp]reign forever: O Zion, thy God endureth from generation to generation. Praise ye the Lord.
147 1 The Prophet praiseth the bounty, wisdom, power, justice, and providence of God upon all his creatures. 2 But specially upon his Church, which he gathereth together after their dispersion, 19 Declaring his word and judgment so unto them, as he hath done to none other people.
1 Praise ye the Lord, for it is good to sing unto our God: for it is a [dq]pleasant thing, and praise is comely.
2 The Lord doth build up [dr]Jerusalem, and gather together the dispersed of Israel.
3 He healeth those that are [ds]broken in heart, and bindeth up their sores.
4 He [dt]counteth the number of the stars, and calleth them all by their names.
5 Great is our Lord, and great is his power: his wisdom is infinite.
6 The Lord relieveth the meek, and abaseth the wicked to the [du]ground.
7 Sing unto the Lord with praise: sing upon the harp unto our God,
8 Which [dv]covereth the heaven with clouds, and prepareth rain for the earth, and maketh the grass to grow upon the mountains:
9 Which giveth to beasts their food, and to the young ravens that [dw]cry.
10 He hath no pleasure in the [dx]strength of an horse, neither delighteth he in the legs of man.
11 But the Lord delighteth in them that fear him, and attend upon his mercy.
12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem: praise thy God, O Zion.
13 For he hath made the bars of the gates [dy]strong, and hath blessed thy children within thee.
14 He setteth peace in thy borders, and satisfieth thee with the [dz]flour of wheat.
15 He sendeth forth his [ea]commandment upon earth, and his word runneth very [eb]swiftly.
16 He giveth snow like wool, and scattereth the hoary frost like ashes.
17 He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can abide the cold thereof?
18 He sendeth his word and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.
19 He showeth his [ec]word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.
20 He hath not dealt so with every nation, neither have they [ed]known his judgments. Praise ye the Lord.
148 1 He provoketh all creatures to praise the Lord in heaven and earth, and all places. 14 Specially his Church, for the power that he hath given to the same, after that he had chosen them and joined them unto him.
Praise ye the Lord.
1 Praise ye the Lord from the heaven: praise ye him in the high places.
2 Praise ye him, all ye [ee]his Angels: praise him, all his army.
3 Praise ye him, [ef]sun and moon: praise ye him all bright stars.
4 Praise ye him [eg]heavens of heavens, and [eh]waters, that be above the heavens.
5 Let them praise the Name of the Lord: for he commanded, and they were created.
6 And he hath established them forever and ever: he hath made an ordinance, which shall not pass.
7 Praise ye the Lord from the earth, ye [ei]dragons and all depths:
8 [ej]Fire and hail, snow and vapors, stormy wind, which execute his word.
9 Mountains and all hills, fruitful trees, and all cedars:
10 Beasts and all cattle, creeping things and feathered fowls:
11 [ek]Kings of the earth and all people, princes and all judges of the world:
12 Young men and maidens, also old men and children:
13 Let them praise the Name of the Lord: for his Name only is to be exalted, and his praise above the earth and the heavens.
14 For he hath exalted the [el]horn of his people, which is a praise for all his Saints, even for the [em]children of Israel, a people that is near unto him. Praise ye the Lord.
149 1 An exhortation to the Church to praise the Lord for his victory and conquest, that he giveth his Saints against all man’s power.
Praise ye the Lord.
1 Sing ye unto the Lord [en]a new song: let his praise be heard in the Congregation of Saints.
2 Let Israel rejoice in him that [eo]made him, and let the children of Zion rejoice in their [ep]King.
3 Let them praise his Name with the flute: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
4 For the Lord hath pleasure in his people: he will make the meek glorious by deliverance.
5 Let the Saints be joyful with glory: let them sing loud upon their [eq]beds.
6 Let the high Acts of God be in their mouth, and a two edged sword in their hands,
7 [er]To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and corrections among the people:
8 To bind [es]their kings in chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron,
9 That they may execute upon them the judgment that is [et]written: this honor shall be to all his Saints. Praise ye the Lord.
150 1 An exhortation to praise the Lord without cease by all manner of ways for all his mighty and wonderful works.
Praise ye the Lord.
1 Praise ye God in his [eu]Sanctuary: praise ye him in the [ev]firmament of his power.
2 Praise ye him in his mighty Acts: praise ye him according to his excellent greatness.
3 Praise ye him in the sound of the [ew]trumpet: praise ye him upon the viol and the harp.
4 Praise ye him with timbrel and flute: praise ye him with virginals and organs.
5 Praise ye him with sounding cymbals: praise ye him with high sounding cymbals.
6 Let everything that hath [ex]breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.
The [ey]Proverbs of Solomon
1 2 The power and use of the word of God. 7 Of the fear of God and knowledge of his word. 10 We may not consent to the enticings of sinners. 20 Wisdom complaineth that she is contemned. 24 The punishment of them that contemn her.
1 The Parables of Solomon the son of David king of Israel,
2 To know wisdom, [ez]and instruction, to understand the words [fa]of knowledge,
3 To receive [fb]instruction to do wisely, by [fc]justice and judgment and equity,
4 To give unto the [fd]simple sharpness of wit, and to the child knowledge and discretion.
5 And wise man shall hear and increase in learning, and a man of [fe]understanding shall attain unto wise counsels,
6 To understand a parable, and the interpretation, the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
7 ¶ (F)The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
8 My son, hear thy [ff]father’s instruction, and forsake not thy [fg]mother’s teaching.
9 For they shall be [fh]a comely ornament unto thine head, and as chains for thy neck.
10 ¶ My son, [fi]if sinners do entice thee, consent thou not.
11 If they say, Come with us, we will lay wait for [fj]blood, and lie privily for the innocent without a cause:
12 We will swallow them up alive like a [fk]grave, even whole, as those that go down into the pit:
13 We shall find all precious riches, and fill our houses with spoil:
14 Cast in thy lot among us, we will all have one [fl]purse:
15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them: refrain thy foot from their [fm]path.
16 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.
17 Certainly as without cause the net is spread before the eyes of all that hath wing:
18 So they lay wait for blood, and lie privily for [fn]their lives.
19 Such are the ways of everyone that is greedy of gain: he would take away [fo]the life of the owners thereof.
20 ¶ [fp]Wisdom crieth without: she uttereth her voice in the [fq]streets.
21 She calleth in the high street, among the prease in the enterings of the gates, and uttereth her words in the city, saying,
22 O ye [fr]foolish, how long will ye love foolishness? and the scornful take their pleasure in scorning? and the fools hate knowledge?
23 (Turn you at my correction: lo, I will pour out my mind unto you, and make you understand my words.)
24 Because I have called, and ye refused: I have stretched out mine hand, and none would regard.
25 But ye have despised all my counsel, and would none of my correction,
26 I will also [fs]laugh at your destruction, and mock when your fear cometh.
27 When [ft]your fear cometh like sudden desolation, and your destruction shall come like a whirlwind: when affliction and anguish shall come upon you,
28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer: they shall seek me early, but they shall not [fu]find me,
29 Because they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord.
30 They would none of my counsel, but [fv]despised all my correction.
31 Therefore shall they eat of the [fw]fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
32 For [fx]ease slayeth the foolish, and the prosperity of fools destroyeth them.
33 But he that obeyeth me, shall dwell safely, and be quiet from fear of evil.
2 1 Wisdom exhorteth to obey her. 5 She teacheth the fear of God. 6 She is given of God. 10 She preserveth from wickedness.
1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and [fy]hide my commandments within thee,
2 And cause thine ears to hearken unto wisdom, and incline [fz]thine heart to understanding,
3 (For if thou callest after knowledge, [ga]and cryest for understanding:
4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for [gb]treasures,
5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the [gc]knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord giveth wisdom, out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
7 He [gd]preserveth the state of the righteous, he is a shield to them that walk uprightly,
8 That they may keep the ways of judgment: and he preserveth the way of his Saints).
9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness and judgment, and equity, and every good path.
10 ¶ When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge delighteth thy soul,
11 Then shall [ge]counsel preserve thee, and understanding shall keep thee,
12 And deliver thee from the evil way, and from the man that speaketh froward things,
13 And from them that leave the [gf]ways of righteousness to walk in the ways of darkness:
14 Which rejoice in doing evil, and delight [gg]in the frowardness of the wicked,
15 Whose ways are crooked, and they are lewd in their paths.
16 And it shall deliver thee from the strange [gh]woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words.
17 Which forsaketh the [gi]guide of her youth, and forgetteth the [gj]covenant of her God.
18 Surely her [gk]house tendeth to death, and her paths unto [gl]the dead.
19 All they that go unto her, return not again, neither take they hold of the ways of life.
20 Therefore walk thou in the way of good men, and keep the ways of the righteous.
21 For the just shall dwell in the [gm]land, and the upright men shall remain in it.
22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressor shall be rooted out of it.
3 1 The words of God giveth life. 5 Trust in God. 7 Fear him. 9 Honor him. 11 Suffer his correction: 21 To them that follow the word of God, all things shall succeed well.
1 My son, forget not thou my Law, but let thine heart (G)keep my commandments.
2 For they shall increase the length of thy [gn]days and the years of life, and thy prosperity.
3 Let not [go]mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them on thy [gp]neck, and write them upon the table of thine [gq]heart.
4 So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5 ¶ Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own wisdom.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy ways.
7 ¶ Be not wise in thine own eyes: but fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
8 So health shall be unto thy [gr]navel, and marrow unto thy bones.
9 [gs]Honor the Lord with thy riches, and with the first fruits of all thine increase.
10 So shall thy barns be filled with abundance, and thy presses shall [gt]burst with new wine.
11 ¶ My son, refuse not the chastening of the Lord, neither be grieved with his correction.
12 (H)For the Lord correcteth him, whom he loveth, even as the father doth the child, in whom he delighteth.
13 Blessed is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
14 For the merchandise thereof is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof is better than gold.
15 It is more precious than pearls: and all things that thou canst desire, are not to be compared unto her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand, [gu]and in her right hand riches and glory.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasure, and all her paths prosperity.
18 She is a tree [gv]of life to them that lay hold on her, and blessed is he that retaineth her.
19 The Lord by wisdom hath laid the [gw]foundation of the earth, and hath stablished the heavens through understanding.
20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
21 My son, let not these things depart from thine eyes, but observe wisdom and counsel.
22 So they shall be life to thy soul, and grace unto thy [gx]neck.
23 Then shalt thou walk safely by the way: and thy foot shall not stumble.
24 If thou sleepest, thou shalt not be afraid: and when thou sleepest, thy sleep shall be sweet.
25 [gy]Thou shalt not fear for any sudden fear, neither for destruction of the wicked, when it cometh.
26 For the Lord shall be for thine assurance, and shall preserve thy foot from taking.
27 ¶ Withhold not the good from [gz]the owners thereof, though there be power in [thine] hand to do it.
28 Say not unto thy neighbor, Go and come again, and tomorrow will I give thee, if thou now have it.
29 ¶ Intend none hurt against thy neighbor, seeing he doth dwell [ha]without fear by thee.
30 ¶ Strive not with a man causeless, when he hath done thee no harm.
31 ¶ Be not [hb]envious for the wicked man, neither choose any of his ways,
32 For the froward is abomination unto the Lord: but his [hc]secret is with the righteous.
33 The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the righteous.
34 With the scornful [hd]he scorneth, but he giveth grace unto the humble.
35 The wise shall inherit glory: but fools dishonor, though they be exalted.
4 1 Wisdom and her fruits ought to be searched. 14 The way of the wicked must be refused. 20 By the word of God the heart, eyes, and course of life must be guided.
1 Hear, O ye children, the instruction of a [he]father, and give ear to learn understanding.
2 For I do give you a good doctrine: therefore forsake ye not my law.
3 For I was my father’s son, tender and dear in the sight of my mother,
4 When he [hf]taught me, and said unto me, Let thine heart hold fast my words: keep my commandments, and thou shalt live.
5 Get wisdom: get understanding: forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth.
6 Forsake her not, and she shall keep thee: love her and she shall preserve thee.
7 [hg]Wisdom is the beginning: get wisdom therefore: and above all thy possession get understanding.
8 Exalt her, and she shall exalt thee: she shall bring thee to honor, if thou embrace her.
9 She shall give a comely ornament unto thine head, yea, she shall give thee a crown of glory.
10 ¶ Hear, my son: and receive my words, and the years of thy life shall be many.
11 I have [hh]taught thee in the way of wisdom, and led thee in the paths of righteousness.
12 When thou goest, thy gait shall not be [hi]strait, and when thou runnest, thou shalt not fall.
13 Take hold of instruction, and leave not: keep her, for she is thy life.
14 ¶ Enter not into the way of the wicked, and walk not in the way of evil men.
15 Avoid it, and go not by it: turn from it, and pass by.
16 For they cannot [hj]sleep, except they have done evil, and their sleep departeth except they cause some to fall.
17 For they eat the bread of [hk]wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
18 But the way of the righteous shineth as the light, that [hl]shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
19 The way of the wicked is as the darkness: they know not wherein they shall fall.
20 ¶ My son, hearken unto my words, incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21 Let them not depart from thine eyes, but keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22 For they are life unto those that find them: and health unto all their [hm]flesh.
23 Keep thine heart with all diligence: for thereout cometh [hn]life.
24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and put wicked lips far from thee.
25 Let thine eyes behold the right, and let thine eyelids direct thy way before thee.
26 [ho]Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be ordered aright.
27 Turn not to the right hand, nor to the left, but remove thy foot from evil.
5 3 Whoredom is forbidden, 9 And prodigality. 15 He willeth a man to live on his labors and to help others, 18 To love his wife. 22 The wicked taken in their own wickedness.
1 My son, hearken unto my wisdom, and incline thine ear unto my [hp]knowledge,
2 That thou mayest regard counsel, and thy lips observe knowledge.
3 For the lips [hq]of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is more soft than [hr]oil.
4 But the end of her is bitter as wormwood, and sharp as a two-edged sword.
5 Her [hs]feet go down to death, and her steps take hold on hell.
6 She weigheth not the way of life: [ht]her paths are moveable: thou canst not know them.
7 Hear ye me now therefore, O children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.
8 Keep thy way far from her, and come not near the door of her house,
9 Lest thou give thine [hu]honor unto others, and thy years to the cruel:
10 Lest the stranger should be filled with thy strength, and thy [hv]labors be in the house of a stranger,
11 And thou mourn at thine end, (when thou hast consumed thy flesh and thy body)
12 And say, How have I hated instruction, and mine heart despised correction!
13 And have not obeyed the voice of them that taught me, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!
14 I was almost brought into all evil in the midst of the Congregation and [hw]assembly.
15 ¶ Drink the water of [hx]thy cistern, and of the rivers out of the midst of thine own well.
16 Let thy fountains flow forth, and the rivers of waters in the streets.
17 But let them be thine, even [hy]thine only, and not the strangers with thee.
18 Let thy [hz]fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of thy [ia]youth.
19 Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe: let her breasts satisfy thee at all times, and delight in her love continually.
20 For why shouldest thou [ib]delight, my son, in a strange woman, or embrace the bosom of a stranger?
21 For the ways of man are before the [ic]eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his paths.
22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his own sin.
23 He shall [id]die for fault of instruction, and shall go astray through his great folly.
6 1 Instruction for sureties. 6 The slothful and sluggish is stirred to work. 12 He describeth the nature of the wicked. 16 The things that God hateth. 20 To observe the word of God. 24 To flee adultery.
1 My son, if thou be surety for thy neighbor, and hast stricken hands with the stranger,
2 Thou art [ie]snared with the words of thy mouth: thou art even taken with the words of thine own mouth.
3 Do this now, my Son, and deliver thyself: seeing thou art come into the hand of thy neighbor, go, and humble thyself, and solicit thy friends.
4 Give no sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.
5 Deliver thyself as a Doe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
6 ¶ Go to [if]the pismire, O sluggard: behold her ways, and be wise.
7 For she having no guide, governor, nor ruler,
8 Prepareth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in harvest.
9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of the sleep?
10 (I)Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, [ig]a little folding of the hands to sleep.
11 Therefore thy poverty cometh as one that [ih]traveleth by the way, and thy necessity like [ii]an armed man.
12 The unthrifty man [ij]and the wicked man walketh with a froward mouth.
13 He maketh a sign with his eyes: he [ik]signifieth with his feet: he [il]instructeth with his fingers.
14 Lewd things are in his heart: he imagineth evil at all times, and raiseth up contentions.
15 Therefore shall his destruction come speedily: he shall be destroyed suddenly without recovery.
16 ¶ These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, his soul abhorreth seven:
17 The haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and the hands that shed innocent blood,
18 An heart that imagineth wicked enterprises, [im]feet that be swift in running to mischief,
19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and him that raiseth up contentions among [in]brethren.
20 ¶ My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not thy mother’s instruction.
21 Bind them always upon thine [io]heart, and tie them about thy neck.
22 It shall lead thee when thou walkest: it shall watch for thee when thou sleepest, and when thou wakest, it shall talk with thee.
23 For the [ip]commandment is a lantern, and instruction a light: and [iq]corrections for instruction are the way of life,
24 To keep thee from the wicked woman, and from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.
25 Desire not her beauty in thine heart, neither let her take thee with her [ir]eye lids.
26 For because of the whorish woman, a man is brought to a morsel of bread, and a woman will hunt for the precious life of a man.
27 [is]Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burnt?
28 Or can a man go upon coals, and his feet not be burnt?
29 So he that goeth into his neighbor’s wife, shall not be innocent, whosoever toucheth her.
30 Men do not [it]despise a thief, when he stealeth to satisfy his [iu]soul, because he is hungry.
31 But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold, or he shall give all the substance of his house.
32 But he that commiteth adultery with a woman, he [iv]is destitute of understanding: he that doeth it, destroyeth his own soul.
33 He shall find [iw]a wound and dishonor, and his reproach shall never be put away.
34 For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not [ix]spare in the day of vengeance.
35 He cannot bear the sight of any ransom: neither will he consent, though thou augment the gifts.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.