Proverbs 15:1-33

(15:1) A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (2) The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly. (3) The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. (4) A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. (5) A fool despises his father's instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent. (6) In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but trouble befalls the income of the wicked. (7) The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools. (8) The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him. (9) The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but he loves him who pursues righteousness. (10) There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way; whoever hates reproof will die. (11) Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD; how much more the hearts of the children of man! (12) A scoffer does not like to be reproved; he will not go to the wise. (13) A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed. (14) The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly. (15) All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast. (16) Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it. (17) Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it. (18) A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention. (19) The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway. (20) A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother. (21) Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense, but a man of understanding walks straight ahead. (22) Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed. (23) To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is! (24) The path of life leads upward for the prudent, that he may turn away from Sheol beneath. (25) The LORD tears down the house of the proud but maintains the widow's boundaries. (26) The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD, but gracious words are pure. (27) Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live. (28) The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. (29) The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. (30) The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the bones. (31) The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. (32) Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence. (33) The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 14:1-35

(14:1) The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down. (2) Whoever walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but he who is devious in his ways despises him. (3) By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will preserve them. (4) Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox. (5) A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies. (6) A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding. (7) Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge. (8) The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving. (9) Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy acceptance. (10) The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy. (11) The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish. (12) There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. (13) Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief. (14) The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways. (15) The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps. (16) One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless. (17) A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated. (18) The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. (19) The evil bow down before the good, the wicked at the gates of the righteous. (20) The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the rich has many friends. (21) Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor. (22) Do they not go astray who devise evil? Those who devise good meet steadfast love and faithfulness. (23) In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty. (24) The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the folly of fools brings folly. (25) A truthful witness saves lives, but one who breathes out lies is deceitful. (26) In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. (27) The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death. (28) In a multitude of people is the glory of a king, but without people a prince is ruined. (29) Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. (30) A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot. (31) Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him. (32) The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing, but the righteous finds refuge in his death. (33) Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding, but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools. (34) Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. (35) A servant who deals wisely has the king's favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.

Proverbs 13:1-25

(13:1) A wise son hears his father's instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. (2) From the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good, but the desire of the treacherous is for violence. (3) Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. (4) The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. (5) The righteous hates falsehood, but the wicked brings shame and disgrace. (6) Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, but sin overthrows the wicked. (7) One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth. (8) The ransom of a man's life is his wealth, but a poor man hears no threat. (9) The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked will be put out. (10) By insolence comes nothing but strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom. (11) Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it. (12) Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. (13) Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded. (14) The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death. (15) Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin. (16) In everything the prudent acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly. (17) A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing. (18) Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored. (19) A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools. (20) Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. (21) Disaster pursues sinners, but the righteous are rewarded with good. (22) A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous. (23) The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food, but it is swept away through injustice. (24) Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him. (25) The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, but the belly of the wicked suffers want.

Proverbs 12:1-28

(12:1) Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid. (2) A good man obtains favor from the LORD, but a man of evil devices he condemns. (3) No one is established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous will never be moved. (4) An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones. (5) The thoughts of the righteous are just; the counsels of the wicked are deceitful. (6) The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the mouth of the upright delivers them. (7) The wicked are overthrown and are no more, but the house of the righteous will stand. (8) A man is commended according to his good sense, but one of twisted mind is despised. (9) Better to be lowly and have a servant than to play the great man and lack bread. (10) Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel. (11) Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense. (12) Whoever is wicked covets the spoil of evildoers, but the root of the righteous bears fruit. (13) An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, but the righteous escapes from trouble. (14) From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good, and the work of a man's hand comes back to him. (15) The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. (16) The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult. (17) Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit. (18) There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. (19) Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. (20) Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but those who plan peace have joy. (21) No ill befalls the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble. (22) Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who act faithfully are his delight. (23) A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims folly. (24) The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor. (25) Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad. (26) One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. (27) Whoever is slothful will not roast his game, but the diligent man will get precious wealth. (28) In the path of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death.

Proverbs 11:1-31

(11:1) A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is his delight. (2) When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom. (3) The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them. (4) Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. (5) The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight, but the wicked falls by his own wickedness. (6) The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust. (7) When the wicked dies, his hope will perish, and the expectation of wealth perishes too. (8) The righteous is delivered from trouble, and the wicked walks into it instead. (9) With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered. (10) When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness. (11) By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown. (12) Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent. (13) Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered. (14) Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. (15) Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm, but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure. (16) A gracious woman gets honor, and violent men get riches. (17) A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself. (18) The wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward. (19) Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live, but he who pursues evil will die. (20) Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the LORD, but those of blameless ways are his delight. (21) Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered. (22) Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman without discretion. (23) The desire of the righteous ends only in good; the expectation of the wicked in wrath. (24) One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. (25) Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. (26) The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it. (27) Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to him who searches for it. (28) Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf. (29) Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart. (30) The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise. (31) If the righteous is repaid on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!

Proverbs 10:1-32

(10:1) The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother. (2) Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death. (3) The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. (4) A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. (5) He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame. (6) Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. (7) The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot. (8) The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin. (9) Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out. (10) Whoever winks the eye causes trouble, but a babbling fool will come to ruin. (11) The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. (12) Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses. (13) On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense. (14) The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near. (15) A rich man's wealth is his strong city; the poverty of the poor is their ruin. (16) The wage of the righteous leads to life, the gain of the wicked to sin. (17) Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray. (18) The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool. (19) When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. (20) The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth. (21) The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense. (22) The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. (23) Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding. (24) What the wicked dreads will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted. (25) When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more, but the righteous is established forever. (26) Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him. (27) The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short. (28) The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish. (29) The way of the LORD is a stronghold to the blameless, but destruction to evildoers. (30) The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not dwell in the land. (31) The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off. (32) The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse.

Proverbs 9:1-18

(9:1) Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars. (2) She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table. (3) She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in the town, (4) "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!" To him who lacks sense she says, (5) "Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. (6) Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight." (7) Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. (8) Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. (9) Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. (10) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. (11) For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life. (12) If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it. (13) The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows nothing. (14) She sits at the door of her house; she takes a seat on the highest places of the town, (15) calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way, (16) "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!" And to him who lacks sense she says, (17) "Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant." (18) But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

Proverbs 8:1-36

(8:1) Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice? (2) On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; (3) beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud: (4) "To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man. (5) O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense. (6) Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right, (7) for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips. (8) All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them. (9) They are all straight to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge. (10) Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, (11) for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her. (12) "I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. (13) The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. (14) I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength. (15) By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; (16) by me princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly. (17) I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me. (18) Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness. (19) My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver. (20) I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice, (21) granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries. (22) "The LORD possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. (23) Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. (24) When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. (25) Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth, (26) before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world. (27) When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, (28) when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, (29) when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, (30) then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, (31) rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man. (32) "And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways. (33) Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. (34) Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. (35) For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD, (36) but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death."

Proverbs 7:1-27

(7:1) My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; (2) keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; (3) bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. (4) Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," and call insight your intimate friend, (5) to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words. (6) For at the window of my house I have looked out through my lattice, (7) and I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man lacking sense, (8) passing along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house (9) in the twilight, in the evening, at the time of night and darkness. (10) And behold, the woman meets him, dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart. (11) She is loud and wayward; her feet do not stay at home; (12) now in the street, now in the market, and at every corner she lies in wait. (13) She seizes him and kisses him, and with bold face she says to him, (14) "I had to offer sacrifices, and today I have paid my vows; (15) so now I have come out to meet you, to seek you eagerly, and I have found you. (16) I have spread my couch with coverings, colored linens from Egyptian linen; (17) I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. (18) Come, let us take our fill of love till morning; let us delight ourselves with love. (19) For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey; (20) he took a bag of money with him; at full moon he will come home." (21) With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him. (22) All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast (23) till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life. (24) And now, O sons, listen to me, and be attentive to the words of my mouth. (25) Let not your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths, (26) for many a victim has she laid low, and all her slain are a mighty throng. (27) Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death.

Proverbs 6:1-35

(6:1) My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger, (2) if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth, (3) then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into the hand of your neighbor: go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor. (4) Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber; (5) save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler. (6) Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. (7) Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, (8) she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. (9) How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? (10) A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, (11) and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man. (12) A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech, (13) winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger, (14) with perverted heart devises evil, continually sowing discord; (15) therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in a moment he will be broken beyond healing. (16) There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: (17) haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, (18) a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, (19) a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. (20) My son, keep your father's commandment, and forsake not your mother's teaching. (21) Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck. (22) When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you. (23) For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life, (24) to preserve you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress. (25) Do not desire her beauty in your heart, and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes; (26) for the price of a prostitute is only a loaf of bread, but a married woman hunts down a precious life. (27) Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned? (28) Or can one walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched? (29) So is he who goes in to his neighbor's wife; none who touches her will go unpunished. (30) People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his appetite when he is hungry, (31) but if he is caught, he will pay sevenfold; he will give all the goods of his house. (32) He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself. (33) He will get wounds and dishonor, and his disgrace will not be wiped away. (34) For jealousy makes a man furious, and he will not spare when he takes revenge. (35) He will accept no compensation; he will refuse though you multiply gifts.

Proverbs 5:1-23

(5:1) My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding, (2) that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge. (3) For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, (4) but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. (5) Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol; (6) she does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it. (7) And now, O sons, listen to me, and do not depart from the words of my mouth. (8) Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house, (9) lest you give your honor to others and your years to the merciless, (10) lest strangers take their fill of your strength, and your labors go to the house of a foreigner, (11) and at the end of your life you groan, when your flesh and body are consumed, (12) and you say, "How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof! (13) I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my instructors. (14) I am at the brink of utter ruin in the assembled congregation." (15) Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well. (16) Should your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets? (17) Let them be for yourself alone, and not for strangers with you. (18) Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, (19) a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love. (20) Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman and embrace the bosom of an adulteress? (21) For a man's ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and he ponders all his paths. (22) The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin. (23) He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray.

Proverbs 4:1-27

(4:1) Hear, O sons, a father's instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, (2) for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching. (3) When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, (4) he taught me and said to me, "Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live. (5) Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. (6) Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. (7) The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. (8) Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. (9) She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown." (10) Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. (11) I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. (12) When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. (13) Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. (14) Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. (15) Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on. (16) For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble. (17) For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. (18) But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. (19) The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble. (20) My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. (21) Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. (22) For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. (23) Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. (24) Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. (25) Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. (26) Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. (27) Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.

Proverbs 3:1-35

(3:1) My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, (2) for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. (3) Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. (4) So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. (5) Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. (6) In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (7) Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. (8) It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. (9) Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; (10) then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. (11) My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline or be weary of his reproof, (12) for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. (13) Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, (14) for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. (15) She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. (16) Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. (17) Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. (18) She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed. (19) The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; (20) by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew. (21) My son, do not lose sight of these-- keep sound wisdom and discretion, (22) and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. (23) Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble. (24) If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. (25) Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, (26) for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught. (27) Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. (28) Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it"--when you have it with you. (29) Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you. (30) Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm. (31) Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways, (32) for the devious person is an abomination to the LORD, but the upright are in his confidence. (33) The LORD's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous. (34) Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor. (35) The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace.

Proverbs 2:1-22

(2:1) My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, (2) making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; (3) yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, (4) if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, (5) then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. (6) For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; (7) he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, (8) guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints. (9) Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; (10) for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; (11) discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, (12) delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, (13) who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, (14) who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil, (15) men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways. (16) So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words, (17) who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God; (18) for her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the departed; (19) none who go to her come back, nor do they regain the paths of life. (20) So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. (21) For the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it, (22) but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.

Proverbs 1:1-33

(1) The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: (2) To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, (3) to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; (4) to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth-- (5) Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, (6) to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. (7) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. (8) Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching, (9) for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck. (10) My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. (11) If they say, "Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason; (12) like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; (13) we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder; (14) throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse"-- (15) my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths, (16) for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. (17) For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird, (18) but these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives. (19) Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors. (20) Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; (21) at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: (22) "How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? (23) If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. (24) Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, (25) because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, (26) I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, (27) when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. (28) Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. (29) Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, (30) would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, (31) therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. (32) For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; (33) but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster."

1 Kings 4:1-34

(4:1) King Solomon was king over all Israel, (2) and these were his high officials: Azariah the son of Zadok was the priest; (3) Elihoreph and Ahijah the sons of Shisha were secretaries; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; (4) Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was in command of the army; Zadok and Abiathar were priests; (5) Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers; Zabud the son of Nathan was priest and king's friend; (6) Ahishar was in charge of the palace; and Adoniram the son of Abda was in charge of the forced labor. (7) Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, who provided food for the king and his household. Each man had to make provision for one month in the year. (8) These were their names: Ben-hur, in the hill country of Ephraim; (9) Ben-deker, in Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth-shemesh, and Elonbeth-hanan; (10) Ben-hesed, in Arubboth (to him belonged Socoh and all the land of Hepher); (11) Ben-abinadab, in all Naphath-dor (he had Taphath the daughter of Solomon as his wife); (12) Baana the son of Ahilud, in Taanach, Megiddo, and all Beth-shean that is beside Zarethan below Jezreel, and from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah, as far as the other side of Jokmeam; (13) Ben-geber, in Ramoth-gilead (he had the villages of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead, and he had the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, sixty great cities with walls and bronze bars); (14) Ahinadab the son of Iddo, in Mahanaim; (15) Ahimaaz, in Naphtali (he had taken Basemath the daughter of Solomon as his wife); (16) Baana the son of Hushai, in Asher and Bealoth; (17) Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar; (18) Shimei the son of Ela, in Benjamin; (19) Geber the son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan. And there was one governor who was over the land. (20) Judah and Israel were as many as the sand by the sea. They ate and drank and were happy. (21) Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life. (22) Solomon's provision for one day was thirty cors of fine flour and sixty cors of meal, (23) ten fat oxen, and twenty pasture-fed cattle, a hundred sheep, besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened fowl. (24) For he had dominion over all the region west of the Euphrates from Tiphsah to Gaza, over all the kings west of the Euphrates. And he had peace on all sides around him. (25) And Judah and Israel lived in safety, from Dan even to Beersheba, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, all the days of Solomon. (26) Solomon also had 40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen. (27) And those officers supplied provisions for King Solomon, and for all who came to King Solomon's table, each one in his month. They let nothing be lacking. (28) Barley also and straw for the horses and swift steeds they brought to the place where it was required, each according to his duty. (29) And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore, (30) so that Solomon's wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt. (31) For he was wiser than all other men, wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol, and his fame was in all the surrounding nations. (32) He also spoke 3,000 proverbs, and his songs were 1,005. (33) He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of the wall. He spoke also of beasts, and of birds, and of reptiles, and of fish. (34) And people of all nations came to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and from all the kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.

1 Kings 3:1-28

(3:1) Solomon made a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt. He took Pharaoh's daughter and brought her into the city of David until he had finished building his own house and the house of the LORD and the wall around Jerusalem. (2) The people were sacrificing at the high places, however, because no house had yet been built for the name of the LORD. (3) Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places. (4) And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. (5) At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, "Ask what I shall give you." (6) And Solomon said, "You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. (7) And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. (8) And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. (9) Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?" (10) It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. (11) And God said to him, "Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, (12) behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. (13) I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. (14) And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days." (15) And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants. (16) Then two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. (17) The one woman said, "Oh, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house, and I gave birth to a child while she was in the house. (18) Then on the third day after I gave birth, this woman also gave birth. And we were alone. There was no one else with us in the house; only we two were in the house. (19) And this woman's son died in the night, because she lay on him. (20) And she arose at midnight and took my son from beside me, while your servant slept, and laid him at her breast, and laid her dead son at my breast. (21) When I rose in the morning to nurse my child, behold, he was dead. But when I looked at him closely in the morning, behold, he was not the child that I had borne." (22) But the other woman said, "No, the living child is mine, and the dead child is yours." The first said, "No, the dead child is yours, and the living child is mine." Thus they spoke before the king. (23) Then the king said, "The one says, 'This is my son that is alive, and your son is dead'; and the other says, 'No; but your son is dead, and my son is the living one.'" (24) And the king said, "Bring me a sword." So a sword was brought before the king. (25) And the king said, "Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other." (26) Then the woman whose son was alive said to the king, because her heart yearned for her son, "Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and by no means put him to death." But the other said, "He shall be neither mine nor yours; divide him." (27) Then the king answered and said, "Give the living child to the first woman, and by no means put him to death; she is his mother." (28) And all Israel heard of the judgment that the king had rendered, and they stood in awe of the king, because they perceived that the wisdom of God was in him to do justice.

1 Kings 2:1-46

1 Kings (2:1) When David's time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, (2) "I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, (3) and keep the charge of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, (4) that the LORD may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, 'If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.' (5) "Moreover, you also know what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, how he dealt with the two commanders of the armies of Israel, Abner the son of Ner, and Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, avenging in time of peace for blood that had been shed in war, and putting the blood of war on the belt around his waist and on the sandals on his feet. (6) Act therefore according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace. (7) But deal loyally with the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, for with such loyalty they met me when I fled from Absalom your brother. (8) And there is also with you Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse on the day when I went to Mahanaim. But when he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the LORD, saying, 'I will not put you to death with the sword.' (9) Now therefore do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man. You will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his gray head down with blood to Sheol." (10) Then David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. (11) And the time that David reigned over Israel was forty years. He reigned seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. (12) So Solomon sat on the throne of David his father, and his kingdom was firmly established. (13) Then Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, "Do you come peacefully?" He said, "Peacefully." (14) Then he said, "I have something to say to you." She said, "Speak." (15) He said, "You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel fully expected me to reign. However, the kingdom has turned about and become my brother's, for it was his from the LORD. (16) And now I have one request to make of you; do not refuse me." She said to him, "Speak." (17) And he said, "Please ask King Solomon--he will not refuse you--to give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife." (18) Bathsheba said, "Very well; I will speak for you to the king." (19) So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him on behalf of Adonijah. And the king rose to meet her and bowed down to her. Then he sat on his throne and had a seat brought for the king's mother, and she sat on his right. (20) Then she said, "I have one small request to make of you; do not refuse me." And the king said to her, "Make your request, my mother, for I will not refuse you." (21) She said, "Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as his wife." (22) King Solomon answered his mother, "And why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also, for he is my older brother, and on his side are Abiathar the priest and Joab the son of Zeruiah." (23) Then King Solomon swore by the LORD, saying, "God do so to me and more also if this word does not cost Adonijah his life! (24) Now therefore as the LORD lives, who has established me and placed me on the throne of David my father, and who has made me a house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death today." (25) So King Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he struck him down, and he died. (26) And to Abiathar the priest the king said, "Go to Anathoth, to your estate, for you deserve death. But I will not at this time put you to death, because you carried the ark of the Lord GOD before David my father, and because you shared in all my father's affliction." (27) So Solomon expelled Abiathar from being priest to the LORD, thus fulfilling the word of the LORD that he had spoken concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh. (28) When the news came to Joab--for Joab had supported Adonijah although he had not supported Absalom--Joab fled to the tent of the LORD and caught hold of the horns of the altar. (29) And when it was told King Solomon, "Joab has fled to the tent of the LORD, and behold, he is beside the altar," Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, "Go, strike him down." (30) So Benaiah came to the tent of the LORD and said to him, "The king commands, 'Come out.'" But he said, "No, I will die here." Then Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, "Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me." (31) The king replied to him, "Do as he has said, strike him down and bury him, and thus take away from me and from my father's house the guilt for the blood that Joab shed without cause. (32) The LORD will bring back his bloody deeds on his own head, because, without the knowledge of my father David, he attacked and killed with the sword two men more righteous and better than himself, Abner the son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah. (33) So shall their blood come back on the head of Joab and on the head of his descendants forever. But for David and for his descendants and for his house and for his throne there shall be peace from the LORD forevermore." (34) Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up and struck him down and put him to death. And he was buried in his own house in the wilderness. (35) The king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada over the army in place of Joab, and the king put Zadok the priest in the place of Abiathar. (36) Then the king sent and summoned Shimei and said to him, "Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and dwell there, and do not go out from there to any place whatever. (37) For on the day you go out and cross the brook Kidron, know for certain that you shall die. Your blood shall be on your own head." (38) And Shimei said to the king, "What you say is good; as my lord the king has said, so will your servant do." So Shimei lived in Jerusalem many days. (39) But it happened at the end of three years that two of Shimei's servants ran away to Achish, son of Maacah, king of Gath. And when it was told Shimei, "Behold, your servants are in Gath," (40) Shimei arose and saddled a donkey and went to Gath to Achish to seek his servants. Shimei went and brought his servants from Gath. (41) And when Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and returned, (42) the king sent and summoned Shimei and said to him, "Did I not make you swear by the LORD and solemnly warn you, saying, 'Know for certain that on the day you go out and go to any place whatever, you shall die'? And you said to me, 'What you say is good; I will obey.' (43) Why then have you not kept your oath to the LORD and the commandment with which I commanded you?" (44) The king also said to Shimei, "You know in your own heart all the harm that you did to David my father. So the LORD will bring back your harm on your own head. (45) But King Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD forever." (46) Then the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck him down, and he died. So the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.

1 Kings 1:1-53

1Kings 1:1-53 Now King David was old and advanced in years. And although they covered him with clothes, he could not get warm. (2) Therefore his servants said to him, "Let a young woman be sought for my lord the king, and let her wait on the king and be in his service. Let her lie in your arms, that my lord the king may be warm." (3) So they sought for a beautiful young woman throughout all the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king. (4) The young woman was very beautiful, and she was of service to the king and attended to him, but the king knew her not. (5) Now Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, "I will be king." And he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. (6) His father had never at any time displeased him by asking, "Why have you done thus and so?" He was also a very handsome man, and he was born next after Absalom. (7) He conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest. And they followed Adonijah and helped him. (8) But Zadok the priest and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and Nathan the prophet and Shimei and Rei and David's mighty men were not with Adonijah. (9) Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened cattle by the Serpent's Stone, which is beside En-rogel, and he invited all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the royal officials of Judah, (10) but he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the mighty men or Solomon his brother. (11) Then Nathan said to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, "Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith has become king and David our lord does not know it? (12) Now therefore come, let me give you advice, that you may save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. (13) Go in at once to King David, and say to him, 'Did you not, my lord the king, swear to your servant, saying, "Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne"? Why then is Adonijah king?' (14) Then while you are still speaking with the king, I also will come in after you and confirm your words." (15) So Bathsheba went to the king in his chamber (now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was attending to the king). (16) Bathsheba bowed and paid homage to the king, and the king said, "What do you desire?" (17) She said to him, "My lord, you swore to your servant by the LORD your God, saying, 'Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.' (18) And now, behold, Adonijah is king, although you, my lord the king, do not know it. (19) He has sacrificed oxen, fattened cattle, and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the sons of the king, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the commander of the army, but Solomon your servant he has not invited. (20) And now, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, to tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. (21) Otherwise it will come to pass, when my lord the king sleeps with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be counted offenders." (22) While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in. (23) And they told the king, "Here is Nathan the prophet." And when he came in before the king, he bowed before the king, with his face to the ground. (24) And Nathan said, "My lord the king, have you said, 'Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne'? (25) For he has gone down this day and has sacrificed oxen, fattened cattle, and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king's sons, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And behold, they are eating and drinking before him, and saying, 'Long live King Adonijah!' (26) But me, your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon he has not invited. (27) Has this thing been brought about by my lord the king and you have not told your servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?" (28) Then King David answered, "Call Bathsheba to me." So she came into the king's presence and stood before the king. (29) And the king swore, saying, "As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my soul out of every adversity, (30) as I swore to you by the LORD, the God of Israel, saying, 'Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place,' even so will I do this day." (31) Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the ground and paid homage to the king and said, "May my lord King David live forever!" (32) King David said, "Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada." So they came before the king. (33) And the king said to them, "Take with you the servants of your lord and have Solomon my son ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon. (34) And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet there anoint him king over Israel. Then blow the trumpet and say, 'Long live King Solomon!' (35) You shall then come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne, for he shall be king in my place. And I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah." (36) And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, "Amen! May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, say so. (37) As the LORD has been with my lord the king, even so may he be with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David." (38) So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon ride on King David's mule and brought him to Gihon. (39) There Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tent and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the trumpet, and all the people said, "Long live King Solomon!" (40) And all the people went up after him, playing on pipes, and rejoicing with great joy, so that the earth was split by their noise. (41) Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they finished feasting. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, "What does this uproar in the city mean?" (42) While he was still speaking, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came. And Adonijah said, "Come in, for you are a worthy man and bring good news." (43) Jonathan answered Adonijah, "No, for our lord King David has made Solomon king, (44) and the king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites. And they had him ride on the king's mule. (45) And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon, and they have gone up from there rejoicing, so that the city is in an uproar. This is the noise that you have heard. (46) Solomon sits on the royal throne. (47) Moreover, the king's servants came to congratulate our lord King David, saying, 'May your God make the name of Solomon more famous than yours, and make his throne greater than your throne.' And the king bowed himself on the bed. (48) And the king also said, 'Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who has granted someone to sit on my throne this day, my own eyes seeing it.'" (49) Then all the guests of Adonijah trembled and rose, and each went his own way. (50) And Adonijah feared Solomon. So he arose and went and took hold of the horns of the altar. (51) Then it was told Solomon, "Behold, Adonijah fears King Solomon, for behold, he has laid hold of the horns of the altar, saying, 'Let King Solomon swear to me first that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.'" (52) And Solomon said, "If he will show himself a worthy man, not one of his hairs shall fall to the earth, but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die." (53) So King Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and paid homage to King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, "Go to your house."

Psalm 145:1-21

(145:1) A Song of Praise. Of David. I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. (2) Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. (3) Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. (4) One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. (5) On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. (6) They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. (7) They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness. (8) The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. (9) The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. (10) All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you! (11) They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power, (12) to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. (13) Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. (The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.) (14) The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. (15) The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. (16) You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. (17) The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. (18) The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. (19) He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. (20) The LORD preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. (21) My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.

Psalm 144:1-15

(144:1) Of David. Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; (2) he is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me. (3) O LORD, what is man that you regard him, or the son of man that you think of him? (4) Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow. (5) Bow your heavens, O LORD, and come down! Touch the mountains so that they smoke! (6) Flash forth the lightning and scatter them; send out your arrows and rout them! (7) Stretch out your hand from on high; rescue me and deliver me from the many waters, from the hand of foreigners, (8) whose mouths speak lies and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood. (9) I will sing a new song to you, O God; upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you, (10) who gives victory to kings, who rescues David his servant from the cruel sword. (11) Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of foreigners, whose mouths speak lies and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood. (12) May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown, our daughters like corner pillars cut for the structure of a palace; (13) may our granaries be full, providing all kinds of produce; may our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields; (14) may our cattle be heavy with young, suffering no mishap or failure in bearing; may there be no cry of distress in our streets! (15) Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall! Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD!

Psalm 143:1-12

(143:1) A Psalm of David. Hear my prayer, O LORD; give ear to my pleas for mercy! In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness! (2) Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you. (3) For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead. (4) Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled. (5) I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands. (6) I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah (7) Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. (8) Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. (9) Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD! I have fled to you for refuge! (10) Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! (11) For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble! (12) And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies, and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul, for I am your servant.

Psalm 141:1-10

(141:1) A Psalm of David. O LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you! (2) Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice! (3) Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! (4) Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies! (5) Let a righteous man strike me--it is a kindness; let him rebuke me--it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it. Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds. (6) When their judges are thrown over the cliff, then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant. (7) As when one plows and breaks up the earth, so shall our bones be scattered at the mouth of Sheol. (8) But my eyes are toward you, O GOD, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless! (9) Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me and from the snares of evildoers! (10) Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by safely.

Psalm 140:1-13

(140:1) To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Deliver me, O LORD, from evil men; preserve me from violent men, (2) who plan evil things in their heart and stir up wars continually. (3) They make their tongue sharp as a serpent's, and under their lips is the venom of asps. Selah (4) Guard me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men, who have planned to trip up my feet. (5) The arrogant have hidden a trap for me, and with cords they have spread a net; beside the way they have set snares for me. Selah (6) I say to the LORD, You are my God; give ear to the voice of my pleas for mercy, O LORD! (7) O LORD, my Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle. (8) Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; do not further their evil plot, or they will be exalted! Selah (9) As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them! (10) Let burning coals fall upon them! Let them be cast into fire, into miry pits, no more to rise! (11) Let not the slanderer be established in the land; let evil hunt down the violent man speedily! (12) I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy. (13) Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name; the upright shall dwell in your presence.

Psalm 139:1-24

(139:1) To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O LORD, you have searched me and known me! (2) You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. (3) You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. (4) Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. (5) You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. (6) Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. (7) Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? (8) If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! (9) If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, (10) even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. (11) If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night," (12) even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. (13) For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. (14) I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. (15) My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. (16) Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. (17) How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! (18) If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. (19) Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me! (20) They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain! (21) Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? (22) I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies. (23) Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! (24) And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Psalm 138:1-8

(138:1) Of David. I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise; (2) I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. (3) On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased. (4) All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O LORD, for they have heard the words of your mouth, (5) and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD. (6) For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar. (7) Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me. (8) The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.

Psalm 110:1-7

(110:1) A Psalm of David. The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool." (2) The LORD sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your enemies! (3) Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power, in holy garments; from the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours. (4) The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, "You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek." (5) The Lord is at your right hand; he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath. (6) He will execute judgment among the nations, filling them with corpses; he will shatter chiefs over the wide earth. (7) He will drink from the brook by the way; therefore he will lift up his head.

Psalm 109:1-31

(109:1) To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Be not silent, O God of my praise! (2) For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me, speaking against me with lying tongues. (3) They encircle me with words of hate, and attack me without cause. (4) In return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer. (5) So they reward me evil for good, and hatred for my love. (6) Appoint a wicked man against him; let an accuser stand at his right hand. (7) When he is tried, let him come forth guilty; let his prayer be counted as sin! (8) May his days be few; may another take his office! (9) May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow! (10) May his children wander about and beg, seeking food far from the ruins they inhabit! (11) May the creditor seize all that he has; may strangers plunder the fruits of his toil! (12) Let there be none to extend kindness to him, nor any to pity his fatherless children! (13) May his posterity be cut off; may his name be blotted out in the second generation! (14) May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the LORD, and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out! (15) Let them be before the LORD continually, that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth! (16) For he did not remember to show kindness, but pursued the poor and needy and the brokenhearted, to put them to death. (17) He loved to curse; let curses come upon him! He did not delight in blessing; may it be far from him! (18) He clothed himself with cursing as his coat; may it soak into his body like water, like oil into his bones! (19) May it be like a garment that he wraps around him, like a belt that he puts on every day! (20) May this be the reward of my accusers from the LORD, of those who speak evil against my life! (21) But you, O GOD my Lord, deal on my behalf for your name's sake; because your steadfast love is good, deliver me! (22) For I am poor and needy, and my heart is stricken within me. (23) I am gone like a shadow at evening; I am shaken off like a locust. (24) My knees are weak through fasting; my body has become gaunt, with no fat. (25) I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they wag their heads. (26) Help me, O LORD my God! Save me according to your steadfast love! (27) Let them know that this is your hand; you, O LORD, have done it! (28) Let them curse, but you will bless! They arise and are put to shame, but your servant will be glad! (29) May my accusers be clothed with dishonor; may they be wrapped in their own shame as in a cloak! (30) With my mouth I will give great thanks to the LORD; I will praise him in the midst of the throng. (31) For he stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save him from those who condemn his soul to death.

Psalm 108:1-13

(108:1) A Song. A Psalm of David. My heart is steadfast, O God! I will sing and make melody with all my being! (2) Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! (3) I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. (4) For your steadfast love is great above the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. (5) Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! (6) That your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by your right hand and answer me! (7) God has promised in his holiness: "With exultation I will divide up Shechem and portion out the Valley of Succoth. (8) Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet, Judah my scepter. (9) Moab is my washbasin; upon Edom I cast my shoe; over Philistia I shout in triumph." (10) Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom? (11) Have you not rejected us, O God? You do not go out, O God, with our armies. (12) Oh grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man! (13) With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.

Psalm 6:1-10

(6:1) To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments; according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David. O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath. (2) Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are troubled. (3) My soul also is greatly troubled. But you, O LORD--how long? (4) Turn, O LORD, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love. (5) For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise? (6) I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping. (7) My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes. (8) Depart from me, all you workers of evil, for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping. (9) The LORD has heard my plea; the LORD accepts my prayer. (10) All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled; they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment.

Psalm 5:1-12

(5:1) To the choirmaster: for the flutes. A Psalm of David. Give ear to my words, O LORD; consider my groaning. (2) Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray. (3) O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch. (4) For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. (5) The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. (6) You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. (7) But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house. I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you. (8) Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me. (9) For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue. (10) Make them bear their guilt, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out, for they have rebelled against you. (11) But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you. (12) For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield.

Psalm 4:1-8

(4:1) To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer! (2) O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame? How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah (3) But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD hears when I call to him. (4) Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah (5) Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the LORD. (6) There are many who say, "Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!" (7) You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. (8) In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Samuel 24:1-25

(24:1) Again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, "Go, number Israel and Judah." (2) So the king said to Joab, the commander of the army, who was with him, "Go through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and number the people, that I may know the number of the people." (3) But Joab said to the king, "May the LORD your God add to the people a hundred times as many as they are, while the eyes of my lord the king still see it, but why does my lord the king delight in this thing?" (4) But the king's word prevailed against Joab and the commanders of the army. So Joab and the commanders of the army went out from the presence of the king to number the people of Israel. (5) They crossed the Jordan and began from Aroer, and from the city that is in the middle of the valley, toward Gad and on to Jazer. (6) Then they came to Gilead, and to Kadesh in the land of the Hittites; and they came to Dan, and from Dan they went around to Sidon, (7) and came to the fortress of Tyre and to all the cities of the Hivites and Canaanites; and they went out to the Negeb of Judah at Beersheba. (8) So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. (9) And Joab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to the king: in Israel there were 800,000 valiant men who drew the sword, and the men of Judah were 500,000. (10) But David's heart struck him after he had numbered the people. And David said to the LORD, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O LORD, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly." (11) And when David arose in the morning, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying, (12) "Go and say to David, 'Thus says the LORD, Three things I offer you. Choose one of them, that I may do it to you.'" (13) So Gad came to David and told him, and said to him, "Shall three years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days' pestilence in your land? Now consider, and decide what answer I shall return to him who sent me." (14) Then David said to Gad, "I am in great distress. Let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but let me not fall into the hand of man." (15) So the LORD sent a pestilence on Israel from the morning until the appointed time. And there died of the people from Dan to Beersheba 70,000 men. (16) And when the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD relented from the calamity and said to the angel who was working destruction among the people, "It is enough; now stay your hand." And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. (17) Then David spoke to the LORD when he saw the angel who was striking the people, and said, "Behold, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand be against me and against my father's house." (18) And Gad came that day to David and said to him, "Go up, raise an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite." (19) So David went up at Gad's word, as the LORD commanded. (20) And when Araunah looked down, he saw the king and his servants coming on toward him. And Araunah went out and paid homage to the king with his face to the ground. (21) And Araunah said, "Why has my lord the king come to his servant?" David said, "To buy the threshing floor from you, in order to build an altar to the LORD, that the plague may be averted from the people." (22) Then Araunah said to David, "Let my lord the king take and offer up what seems good to him. Here are the oxen for the burnt offering and the threshing sledges and the yokes of the oxen for the wood. (23) All this, O king, Araunah gives to the king." And Araunah said to the king, "May the LORD your God accept you." (24) But the king said to Araunah, "No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God that cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. (25) And David built there an altar to the LORD and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD responded to the plea for the land, and the plague was averted from Israel.

Samuel 23:1-39

(23:1) Now these are the last words of David: The oracle of David, the son of Jesse, the oracle of the man who was raised on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel: (2) "The Spirit of the LORD speaks by me; his word is on my tongue. (3) The God of Israel has spoken; the Rock of Israel has said to me: When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God, (4) he dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning, like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth. (5) "For does not my house stand so with God? For he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure. For will he not cause to prosper all my help and my desire? (6) But worthless men are all like thorns that are thrown away, for they cannot be taken with the hand; (7) but the man who touches them arms himself with iron and the shaft of a spear, and they are utterly consumed with fire." (8) These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite; he was chief of the three. He wielded his spear against eight hundred whom he killed at one time. (9) And next to him among the three mighty men was Eleazar the son of Dodo, son of Ahohi. He was with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel withdrew. (10) He rose and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clung to the sword. And the LORD brought about a great victory that day, and the men returned after him only to strip the slain. (11) And next to him was Shammah, the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines gathered together at Lehi, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the men fled from the Philistines. (12) But he took his stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and struck down the Philistines, and the LORD worked a great victory. (13) And three of the thirty chief men went down and came about harvest time to David at the cave of Adullam, when a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. (14) David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem. (15) And David said longingly, "Oh, that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!" (16) Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and carried and brought it to David. But he would not drink of it. He poured it out to the LORD (17) and said, "Far be it from me, O LORD, that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?" Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did. (18) Now Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the thirty. And he wielded his spear against three hundred men and killed them and won a name beside the three. (19) He was the most renowned of the thirty and became their commander, but he did not attain to the three. (20) And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was a valiant man of Kabzeel, a doer of great deeds. He struck down two ariels of Moab. He also went down and struck down a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen. (21) And he struck down an Egyptian, a handsome man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but Benaiah went down to him with a staff and snatched the spear out of the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear. (22) These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and won a name beside the three mighty men. (23) He was renowned among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David set him over his bodyguard. (24) Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, (25) Shammah of Harod, Elika of Harod, (26) Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh of Tekoa, (27) Abiezer of Anathoth, Mebunnai the Hushathite, (28) Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai of Netophah, (29) Heleb the son of Baanah of Netophah, Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the people of Benjamin, (30) Benaiah of Pirathon, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash, (31) Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth of Bahurim, (32) Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, (33) Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite, (34) Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai of Maacah, Eliam the son of Ahithophel of Gilo, (35) Hezro of Carmel, Paarai the Arbite, (36) Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite, (37) Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai of Beeroth, the armor-bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah, (38) Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, (39) Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.

Samuel 22:1-51

(22:1) And David spoke to the LORD the words of this song on the day when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. (2) He said, "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, (3) my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence. (4) I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. (5) "For the waves of death encompassed me, the torrents of destruction assailed me; (6) the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. (7) "In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I called. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry came to his ears. (8) "Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations of the heavens trembled and quaked, because he was angry. (9) Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him. (10) He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under his feet. (11) He rode on a cherub and flew; he was seen on the wings of the wind. (12) He made darkness around him his canopy, thick clouds, a gathering of water. (13) Out of the brightness before him coals of fire flamed forth. (14) The LORD thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered his voice. (15) And he sent out arrows and scattered them; lightning, and routed them. (16) Then the channels of the sea were seen; the foundations of the world were laid bare, at the rebuke of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils. (17) "He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters. (18) He rescued me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. (19) They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support. (20) He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me. (21) "The LORD dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me. (22) For I have kept the ways of the LORD and have not wickedly departed from my God. (23) For all his rules were before me, and from his statutes I did not turn aside. (24) I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from guilt. (25) And the LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight. (26) "With the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless man you show yourself blameless; (27) with the purified you deal purely, and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous. (28) You save a humble people, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down. (29) For you are my lamp, O LORD, and my God lightens my darkness. (30) For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. (31) This God--his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. (32) "For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God? (33) This God is my strong refuge and has made my way blameless. (34) He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. (35) He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. (36) You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your gentleness made me great. (37) You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip; (38) I pursued my enemies and destroyed them, and did not turn back until they were consumed. (39) I consumed them; I thrust them through, so that they did not rise; they fell under my feet. (40) For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me. (41) You made my enemies turn their backs to me, those who hated me, and I destroyed them. (42) They looked, but there was none to save; they cried to the LORD, but he did not answer them. (43) I beat them fine as the dust of the earth; I crushed them and stamped them down like the mire of the streets. (44) "You delivered me from strife with my people; you kept me as the head of the nations; people whom I had not known served me. (45) Foreigners came cringing to me; as soon as they heard of me, they obeyed me. (46) Foreigners lost heart and came trembling out of their fortresses. (47) "The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation, (48) the God who gave me vengeance and brought down peoples under me, (49) who brought me out from my enemies; you exalted me above those who rose against me; you delivered me from men of violence. (50) "For this I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations, and sing praises to your name. (51) Great salvation he brings to his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his offspring forever."

2 Samuel 21:1-22

(21:1) Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year. And David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, "There is bloodguilt on Saul and on his house, because he put the Gibeonites to death." (2) So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. Now the Gibeonites were not of the people of Israel but of the remnant of the Amorites. Although the people of Israel had sworn to spare them, Saul had sought to strike them down in his zeal for the people of Israel and Judah. (3) And David said to the Gibeonites, "What shall I do for you? And how shall I make atonement, that you may bless the heritage of the LORD?" (4) The Gibeonites said to him, "It is not a matter of silver or gold between us and Saul or his house; neither is it for us to put any man to death in Israel." And he said, "What do you say that I shall do for you?" (5) They said to the king, "The man who consumed us and planned to destroy us, so that we should have no place in all the territory of Israel, (6) let seven of his sons be given to us, so that we may hang them before the LORD at Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of the LORD." And the king said, "I will give them." (7) But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Saul's son Jonathan, because of the oath of the LORD that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul. (8) The king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Merab the daughter of Saul, whom she bore to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite; (9) and he gave them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on the mountain before the LORD, and the seven of them perished together. They were put to death in the first days of harvest, at the beginning of barley harvest. (10) Then Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it for herself on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until rain fell upon them from the heavens. And she did not allow the birds of the air to come upon them by day, or the beasts of the field by night. (11) When David was told what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done, (12) David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of his son Jonathan from the men of Jabesh-gilead, who had stolen them from the public square of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hanged them, on the day the Philistines killed Saul on Gilboa. (13) And he brought up from there the bones of Saul and the bones of his son Jonathan; and they gathered the bones of those who were hanged. (14) And they buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the land of Benjamin in Zela, in the tomb of Kish his father. And they did all that the king commanded. And after that God responded to the plea for the land. (15) There was war again between the Philistines and Israel, and David went down together with his servants, and they fought against the Philistines. And David grew weary. (16) And Ishbi-benob, one of the descendants of the giants, whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of bronze, and who was armed with a new sword, thought to kill David. (17) But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid and attacked the Philistine and killed him. Then David's men swore to him, "You shall no longer go out with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel." (18) After this there was again war with the Philistines at Gob. Then Sibbecai the Hushathite struck down Saph, who was one of the descendants of the giants. (19) And there was again war with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim, the Bethlehemite, struck down Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver's beam. (20) And there was again war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had six fingers on each hand, and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number, and he also was descended from the giants. (21) And when he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimei, David's brother, struck him down. (22) These four were descended from the giants in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.

Psalms 70:1-5

To the choirmaster. Of David, for the memorial offering. Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me! (2) Let them be put to shame and confusion who seek my life! Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt! (3) Let them turn back because of their shame who say, "Aha, Aha!" (4) May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, "God is great!" (5) But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay!

Psalms 64:1-10

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy. (2) Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the throng of evildoers, (3) who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows, (4) shooting from ambush at the blameless, shooting at him suddenly and without fear. (5) They hold fast to their evil purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly, thinking, "Who can see them?" (6) They search out injustice, saying, "We have accomplished a diligent search." For the inward mind and heart of a man are deep! (7) But God shoots his arrow at them; they are wounded suddenly. (8) They are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them; all who see them will wag their heads. (9) Then all mankind fears; they tell what God has brought about and ponder what he has done. (10) Let the righteous one rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him! Let all the upright in heart exult!