# verses

text:
So we will not be afraid even if the earth ·shakes [quakes], or the mountains ·fall [reel; totter] into the heart of the sea,


text:
even if the ·oceans [waters] roar and foam, or the mountains ·shake [tremble] at ·the raging sea [its surging]. ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
There is a river ·that [whose channels/streams] brings joy to the city of God, the holy place where God Most High lives.


text:
Nations ·tremble [roar] and kingdoms ·shake [reel; totter]. God ·shouts [gives forth his voice] and the earth ·crumbles [melts].


text:
The Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] is with us; the God of Jacob is our ·defender [refuge; fortress]. ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
Come and see what the Lord has done, ·the amazing things he has done [or the desolations he has brought] on the earth.


text:
He stops wars ·everywhere on [to the ends of] the earth. He breaks all bows and shatters spears and burns up the ·chariots [or shields] with fire.


text:
God says, “Be still and know that I am God. I will be ·praised [exalted] in all the nations; I will be ·praised [exalted] throughout the earth.”


text:
God, the King of the World For the director of music. A psalm of the sons of Korah [descendants of Kohath, son of Levi, who served as Temple musicians; ]. Clap your hands, all you people. Shout to God with ·joy [jubilant shouts/cries/sound].


text:
He ·defeated [subdues] ·nations [or armies] ·for [under] us and ·put them under our control [peoples under our feet].


text:
He chose ·the land we would inherit [for us our heritage/inheritance]. We are the ·children [pride] of Jacob, whom he loved. ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
God has risen with a shout of joy; the Lord has risen ·as the trumpets sounded [with the sound of the ram’s horn].


text:
God is King of all the earth, so sing a ·song of praise [psalm; a skillful psalm; meditation; maskil] to him.


text:
The ·leaders [princes] of the ·nations [or armies] ·meet [gather together] with the ·people [or army] of the God of Abraham, because the ·leaders [shields; military leaders] of the earth belong to God. He is ·supreme [highly exalted].


text:
Jerusalem, the City of God A psalm of the sons of Korah [descendants of Kohath, son of Levi, who served as Temple musicians; ]. The Lord is great; ·he should [and greatly to] be praised in the city of our God, on his holy mountain [Mount Zion, the location of the Temple].


text:
It is ·high and beautiful [beautiful in elevation] ·and brings joy to [the joy of] the whole world []. Mount Zion ·is like the high mountains [on the sides] of ·the north [or Zaphon; comparing Yahweh’s mountain with the mountain of Baal]; it is the city of the Great King.


text:
·Fear [Trembling] ·took hold of [seized] them; they ·hurt [were in pain] like a woman ·having a baby [in labor].


text:
You ·destroyed [broke up] the ·large trading ships [ships of Tarshish; large trading vessels capable of going to distant ports; Tarshish may have been in Spain (Tartessus) or an island in the eastern Mediterranean; ; ] with an east wind.


text:
First we heard and now we have seen that God ·will always keep his city safe [establishes forever]. It is the city of the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts], the city of our God. ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
God, your name is known everywhere; ·all over the earth people [the ends of the earth] praise you. Your right hand is full of ·goodness [righteousness; or victory].


text:
Mount Zion is happy and ·all the towns [the daughters] of Judah rejoice, because ·your decisions are fair [or of your judgments].


text:
·Notice how strong they are [Set your heart on its ramparts]. Look at the ·palaces [citadels]. Then you can ·tell [recount it to] ·your children about them [a later generation].


text:
Trusting Money Is Foolish For the director of music. A psalm of the sons of Korah [descendants of Kohath, son of Levi, who served as Temple musicians; ]. Listen to this, all you ·nations [peoples]; ·listen [give ear], all you who live on earth.


text:
·What I say is wise [My mouth speaks wisdom], and ·my heart speaks with [the meditation of my heart is] understanding.


text:
I will ·pay attention [extend my ear] to a ·wise saying [proverb]; I will ·explain [solve] my riddle on the ·harp [lyre].


text:
Why should I ·be afraid of [fear] ·bad [evil] days? ·Why should I fear when evil people […when the guilt of deceivers/the treacherous] surround me?


text:
No one can ·buy back [ransom; redeem] the life of ·another [or a brother]. No one can ·pay [give a ransom to] God for his own life,


text:
See, even wise people die. Fools and stupid people also ·die [perish; ] and ·leave [abandon; forsake] their wealth to others.


text:
Their graves will ·always [forever] be their homes. ·They will live there from now on […their dwelling to all generations], even though they named places after themselves.


text:
This is ·what will happen to [the way/path for] those who trust in themselves and ·to their followers [or the end of those; after them] who ·believe them [are pleased with their mouth]. ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
Like sheep, they ·must die [head to Sheol; the grave or the underworld], and death will be their shepherd. ·Honest [Virtuous; Upright] people will ·rule [have dominion] over them in the morning, and their bodies will ·rot in a grave [waste away in Sheol] far from ·home [their grand homes].


text:
But God will ·save [ransom; redeem] my life and will take me from ·the grave [or the underworld; Sheol; ]. ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
Don’t be afraid of ·rich [wealthy] people because their houses are more ·beautiful [or substantial].


text:
They don’t take anything ·to the grave [when they die]; their ·wealth [substance] won’t go down with them.


text:
Even though they were ·praised [blessed] when they were alive— and people may praise you when you ·succeed [do well]—


text:
God Wants True Worship A psalm of Asaph [a Levitical musician, a descendant of Gershon, at the time of David; ; ; ]. The God of gods, the Lord, speaks. He ·calls [proclaims to; summons] the earth from the rising to the setting sun.


text:
God shines from ·Jerusalem [Zion; the location of the Temple], ·whose beauty is perfect [the perfection of beauty; ; ].


text:
Our God comes, and he will not be silent. A fire ·burns [consumes] in front of him [], and a ·powerful storm [whirlwind; tempest] surrounds him [].


text:
He says, “Gather around, you ·who worship me [holy ones; saints], who have made an ·agreement [covenant; treaty] with me, using a sacrifice [].”


text:
God is the judge, and even the ·skies say he is right [heavens proclaim his righteousness]. ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
God says, “My people, listen to me; Israel, I will ·testify [witness] against you. I am God, your God.


text:
I do not ·scold [reprimand; rebuke] you for your sacrifices. You always bring me your burnt offerings [].


text:
If I were hungry, I would not tell you, because the earth and ·everything in it [its fullness] are mine.


text:
Give an ·offering to show thanks [thank offering] to God [; ; ]. Give God Most High what you have ·promised [vowed].


text:
Call to me in times of ·trouble [distress]. I will ·save [rescue; deliver] you, and you will ·honor [glorify] me.”


text:
But God says to the wicked, “Why do you ·talk about [recount] my ·laws [statutes; ordinances; requirements]? Why do you ·mention [lift up on your mouth] my ·agreement [covenant; treaty]?


text:
When you see a thief, you ·join [delight in; or run with] him. ·You take part in adultery [Your lot/portion is with adulterers].


text:
You ·don’t stop your mouth from speaking evil [send your mouth into evil], and your tongue ·makes up lies [is yoked to deception].


text:
You sit around and speak against your brother and ·lie [give a stain/fault] about your mother’s son.


text:
I have kept quiet while you did these things, so you thought I was just like you. But I will ·scold [reprimand; reprove] you and ·accuse [indict] you ·to your face [before your eyes].


text:
“·Think about [Understand] this, you who forget God. Otherwise, I will tear you apart, and no one will ·save [protect] you.


text:
Those people ·honor [glorify] me who bring me ·offerings to show thanks [thank offerings; ]. And I, God, will save those who ·do that [go on my way/path].”


text:
A Prayer for Forgiveness For the director of music. A psalm of David when the prophet Nathan came to David after ·David’s sin with Bathsheba [he committed adultery with/had gone to Bathsheba; ]. God, be ·merciful [gracious] to me ·because you are loving [according to your love/loyalty]. ·Because you are always ready to be merciful [According to your abundant compassion], ·wipe [blot] out all my ·wrongs [transgressions].


text:
I know about my ·wrongs [transgressions], and ·I can’t forget my sin [my sin is continually before me].


text:
You ·are the only one [alone] I have sinned against; I have done ·what you say is wrong [evil in your eyes]. You are ·right [vindicated] when you speak and ·fair [pure; blameless] when you judge.


text:
I was ·brought into this world [born] in ·sin [guilt]. In sin my mother ·gave birth to [conceived] me [; ].


text:
You ·want me to be completely truthful [desire truth/faithfulness in my inward parts], ·so teach me wisdom [and secretly you make me know wisdom].


text:
·Take away my sin [Remove my sin with hyssop; ; a plant used in purification rituals; , , ; ], and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow [].


text:
Create in me a ·pure [clean] heart, God, and ·make my spirit right again [renew a right/steadfast spirit in me].


text:
·Give me back [Restore to me] the joy of your ·salvation [rescue]. ·Keep me strong by giving [Sustain in] me a willing spirit.


text:
Then I will teach your ways to ·those who do wrong [transgressors], and sinners will turn back to you.


text:
God, save me from ·the guilt of murder [bloodshed], God of my ·salvation [rescue], and ·I will sing about your goodness [let my tongue sing for joy of your righteousness].


text:
The sacrifice God wants is a broken spirit. God, you will not ·reject [despise] a heart that is broken and ·sorry for sin [contrite; ; ; ].


text:
Do whatever good you wish for ·Jerusalem [Zion; the location of the Temple]. Rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.


text:
Then you will be pleased with right sacrifices and whole burnt offerings [], and bulls will be offered on your altar.


text:
God Will Punish the Proud For the director of music. A ·maskil [skillful psalm; meditation] of David. When Doeg the Edomite came to Saul and ·said [reported] to him, “David ·is in [has come to/entered] Ahimelech’s house [; ].” Mighty warrior, why do you ·brag [boast] about the evil you do? God’s ·love [loyalty] will continue ·forever [everyday; all day].


text:
You think up ·evil plans [destruction]. Your tongue is like a sharp razor [], making up ·lies [deception].


text:
You love ·wrong [evil] more than ·right [good] and ·lies [falsehood] more than speaking the truth. ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
But God will ·ruin you [break you down] forever. He will grab you and ·throw [tear] you out of your tent; he will ·tear you away [uproot you] from the land of the living. ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
Those who ·do right [are righteous] will see this and ·fear God [fear; ]. They will laugh at you and say,


text:
“·Look what happened to [Behold] the man who did not ·depend on God [make God his refuge] but ·depended on [trusted/put his confidence in] ·his money [the abundance of his wealth]. He grew strong by his ·evil [destructive] plans.”


text:
But I am like ·an olive tree growing [a green olive tree] in God’s ·Temple [house; ; ; ]. I ·trust [have confidence in] God’s ·love [loyalty] forever and ever.


text:
God, I will ·thank [praise] you forever for what you have done. With ·those who worship you [his loyal ones/saints], I will ·trust [put my confidence in] you because you are good.


text:
The Unbelieving Fool For the director of music. By mahalath [perhaps “sickness”]. A ·maskil [skillful psalm; meditation] of David. Fools say ·to themselves [in their hearts], “There is no God [ largely parallels this psalm].” ·Fools are evil [They are corrupt] and do ·terrible [detestable] things []; none of them does anything good.


text:
God looked down from heaven on all people to see if anyone was ·wise [insightful], if anyone was ·looking to God for help [seeking God].


text:
But all have ·turned [wandered] away. Together, everyone has become ·evil [perverse]; none of them does anything good. Not a single person [].


text:
Don’t ·the wicked [those who do evil] ·understand [know]? They ·destroy [consume; eat] my people as if they were ·eating [consuming] bread. They do not ·ask God for help [call on God].


text:
The wicked are ·filled [terrified] with terror where there ·had been nothing to [was no] fear. God will scatter the bones of ·your enemies [the godless]. You will ·defeat [shame; humiliate] them, because God has rejected them.


text:
I pray that ·victory [salvation] will come to Israel from Mount Zion [the location of the Temple, the house of God]! May God ·bring them back [restore the fortunes of his people; perhaps at the end of the exile]. Then the people of Jacob will rejoice, and the people of Israel will be glad.


text:
A Prayer for Help For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A ·maskil [skillful psalm; meditation] of David when the Ziphites went to Saul and said, “·We think David is [Is not David…?] hiding among ·our people [us; ; ].” God, ·save [give victory to] me ·because of who you are [by your name]. By your ·strength [name] ·show that I am innocent [contend for me].


text:
Strangers ·turn [rise up] against me, and ·cruel people want to kill me [violent people seek my life]. They do not ·care about God [think about God; set God before them]. ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
·See [Behold], God ·will help me [is my helper]; the Lord ·will support me [is with/or among those who uphold me].


text:
Let ·my enemies be punished with their own evil [evil return to my enemies]. ·Destroy [Put an end to] them because ·you are loyal to me [of your faithfulness].


text:
I will ·offer a sacrifice as a special gift [sacrifice a freewill offering] to you. I will ·thank [praise] ·you [your name], Lord, because you are good.


text:
You have ·saved [rescued] me from all my ·troubles [distress], and ·I have seen my enemies defeated [my eyes have looked on my enemies].


text:
A Prayer About a False Friend For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A ·maskil [skillful psalm; meditation] of David. God, ·listen [give ear] to my prayer and do not ·ignore [hide from] my ·cry for help [supplication].


text:
by ·what the enemy says [the voice/sound of my enemy] and ·how the wicked look at me [before the stares/or because of the afflictions of my enemy]. They bring troubles down on me, and in anger they ·attack [persecute; or hate] me.


text:
·I am frightened inside [My heart writhes inside me]; the terror of death has ·attacked [fallen on] me.


text:
·I am scared and shaking [Fear and trembling come on me], and ·terror [shuddering] ·grips [overwhelms] me.


text:
Lord, ·destroy [or frustrate; or check; or confuse; swallow] and ·confuse [confound; divide] their ·words [speech; or plans; tongues; ], because I see violence and ·fighting [strife; contention; accusation] in the city.


text:
Destruction is ·everywhere in the city [in its midst]; ·trouble [oppression] and ·lying [deception] never leave its ·streets [public square].


text:
It was not an enemy ·insulting [scorning; reproaching] me. I could ·stand [bear] that. It was not someone who hated me who insulted me. I could hide from him.


text:
We had ·a good friendship [sweet fellowship together] and walked ·together [or noisily; or quietly; or with the crowd] to God’s ·Temple [house].


text:
Let death ·take away [rise up on] ·my enemies [them]. Let them ·die while they are still young [go down to the grave/underworld/Sheol while they are living] because evil ·lives with them [is their home within them].


text:
Morning, noon, and ·night [evening] I ·am troubled and upset [sigh and moan], but he will listen to ·me [my voice].


text:
God who ·lives forever [or is enthroned from of old] will hear me and ·punish [humble] them. ·Selah [Interlude] But they will not change; they do not fear God [].


text:
·The one who was my friend attacks his friends [He sends his hand against his friend] and ·breaks [violates; profanes] his ·promises [covenant; treaty].


text:
His words are ·slippery like [smoother than] butter, but war is in his heart. His words are ·smoother [softer] than oil, but they cut like ·knives [unsheathed swords; ].


text:
·Give [Cast; Throw] your ·worries [burden; that which he has given you] to the Lord, and he will ·take care of [sustain] you. He will never let ·good [righteous] people ·down [be moved].


text:
But, God, you will bring down the wicked to the ·grave [deepest pit; pit of corruption]. Murderers and ·liars [deceivers] will ·live only half a lifetime [not live half their days]. But I will ·trust [have confidence] in you.


text:
Trusting God for Help For the director of music. To the tune of “The Dove in the Distant Oak.” A miktam [perhaps “inscription”] of David when the Philistines ·captured [seized] him in Gath [referring to the episode in or to an unrecorded event]. God, be ·merciful [gracious] to me because people are ·chasing [trampling; hounding; snapping at] me; the battle has ·pressed [harrassed] me all day long.


text:
My enemies have ·chased [trampled on; hounded; snapped at] me all day; there are many proud people fighting me.


text:
I praise God for his word. I ·trust [have confidence in] God, so I am not afraid. What can ·human beings [flesh] do to me?


text:
All day long they ·twist [find fault with] my words; all their evil ·plans [or thoughts] are against me.


text:
You have ·recorded [recounted] my ·troubles [wanderings]. You have ·kept a list of my tears [put my tears in your bottle]. Aren’t they in your records?


text:
On the day I call for help, my enemies will ·be defeated [turn back]. I know that God is on my side.


text:
God, I must keep my ·promises [vows] to you. I will give you my ·offerings to thank you [thank offerings],


text:
because you have ·saved [protected] me from death. You have kept ·me from being defeated [my feet from falling]. So I will walk ·with [in the presence of] God in light ·among [of] the living.


text:
A Prayer in Troubled Times For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A miktam [perhaps “inscription”] of David when he ·escaped [fled] from Saul in the cave [likely a reference to , but possibly ]. Be ·merciful [gracious] to me, God; be ·merciful [gracious] to me because I ·come to you for protection [seek refuge]. Let me ·hide [be protected; seek refuge] under the shadow of your wings [; ] until the ·trouble [destruction] has passed.


text:
I cry out to God Most High, to the God who ·does everything for [fulfills his purpose for; or avenges] me.


text:
He sends help from heaven and ·saves me [gives me victory]. He ·punishes [reproaches; scorns] those who ·chase [trample on; hound; snap at] me. ·Selah [Interlude] God sends me his ·love [loyalty] and ·truth [faithfulness].


text:
I lie down among lions [his enemies]; who are aflame for human prey. Their teeth are like spears and arrows, their tongues as sharp as swords.


text:
God is ·supreme [exalted] over the ·skies [heavens]; his ·majesty [glory; his manifest presence] ·covers [is over] the earth.


text:
They set a ·trap [net] for ·me [my feet]. I am ·very worried [bowed down]. They dug a pit ·in my path [before me], but they fell into it themselves. ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
My heart is ·steady [steadfast; ready], God; my heart is ·steady [steadfast; ready]. I will sing and ·praise [play a psalm for] you.


text:
Lord, I will ·praise [thank] you among the ·nations [peoples]; I will ·sing songs of praise about [play a psalm for] you to all the nations.


text:
Your ·love [loyalty] ·reaches to [is greater than] the ·skies [heavens], your ·truth [faithfulness] to the clouds.


text:
God, you are ·supreme [exalted] above the ·skies [heavens]. Let your glory [manifest presence] be over all the earth.


text:
Unfair Judges For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A miktam [perhaps “inscription”] of David. Do you ·rulers [or silent ones; or gods; sometimes spiritual beings such as angels are called “gods” in the OT; ] really say what is ·right [righteous]? Do you judge people ·fairly [with integrity]?


text:
From ·birth [the womb], evil people ·turn away [go astray] from God; they wander off and tell lies ·as soon as they are born [from the belly; another word for the womb; ].


text:
They ·are [have poison/venom] like ·poisonous [venomous] snakes, like deaf cobras that ·stop [plug] up their ears


text:
so they cannot hear the music of the snake charmer no matter how ·well he plays [wisely/skillfully he enchants].


text:
Let them ·disappear [vanish] like water that flows away. Let them ·be cut short like a broken arrow [draw their arrows like they are cut off].


text:
Let them be like ·snails [slugs] that ·melt [dissolve] as they move [snails leave a slime as they move]. Let them be like a ·child born dead [stillborn] who never saw the sun.


text:
His anger will blow them away alive faster than burning thorns can heat a pot [likely a reference to quick retribution].


text:
·Good [Righteous] people will be glad when they see ·him get even [vengeance]. They will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked [; ; ].


text:
Then people will say, “There really are ·rewards [fruits] for ·doing what is right [the righteous]. There really is a God who judges the ·world [earth; land].”


text:
A Prayer for Protection For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A miktam [perhaps “inscription”] of David when Saul sent men to ·watch David’s house [the house] to kill him []. God, ·save [protect] me from my enemies. ·Protect me [Give me refuge] from those who ·come [rise] against me.


text:
·Save [Protect] me from those who do evil and ·save me from [give me victory over] ·murderers [the bloodthirsty].


text:
Look, they are waiting to ambush ·me [my life; ]. ·Cruel [Defiant; Strong] people attack me, but I have not sinned or ·done wrong [transgressed], Lord.


text:
I have done nothing wrong, but they ·are ready to attack me [run and get ready]. Wake up to ·help [meet] me, and look.


text:
You are the Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts], the God of Israel. ·Arise [Awake] and ·punish [visit] ·those people [all the nations]. Do not give those traitors any ·mercy [grace]. ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
They come back at ·night [evening]. Like dogs they ·growl [make a commotion] and ·roam around [surround] the city.


text:
Notice what ·comes [bubbles up] from their mouths. ·Insults [Swords] come from their lips, because they say, “Who’s listening?”


text:
My God ·loves [is loyal to] me, and he goes in front of me. He will help me ·defeat [look on] my enemies.


text:
Lord, our ·protector [shield], do not kill them, or my people will forget. With your power ·scatter them [make them wander] and ·defeat them [bring them down].


text:
They sin by what they say; they sin with their ·words [lips]. They curse and tell lies, so let their pride ·trap [capture] them.


text:
·Destroy [Annihilate] them in your anger; ·destroy [annihilate] them ·completely [so they will be no more]! Then they will know that God rules over ·Israel [Jacob] and to the ends of the earth. ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
They wander about looking for food, and they ·howl [grumble] if they ·do not find enough [are not satisfied].


text:
But I will sing about your strength. In the morning I will sing about your ·love [loyalty]. You are my ·defender [refuge], my place of safety in ·times of trouble [the day of distress].


text:
God, my strength, I will sing ·praises [a psalm] to you. God, my ·defender [refuge], you are the God who ·loves [is loyal to] me.


text:
A Prayer After a Defeat For the director of music. To the tune of “Lily of the ·Agreement [Testimony].” A miktam [perhaps “inscription”] of David. For teaching. When David fought the Arameans of ·northwest Mesopotamia [Naharaim; the Two Rivers] and Zobah, and when Joab returned and ·defeated [struck] twelve thousand ·Edomites at the Valley of Salt [; ]. God, you have rejected us and ·scattered us [broken us down; burst forth on us]. You have been angry, but please ·come back to [restore] us.


text:
You made the earth shake and ·crack [split open]. Heal its ·breaks [cracks; fractures] because it ·is shaking [totters].


text:
You have ·given your people [made your people see] ·trouble [hardship]. You made us ·unable to walk straight, like people drunk with wine [drink wine that makes us reel; the cup of God’s wrath; ; ; ].


text:
You have raised a banner to gather those who fear you. Now they can ·stand up against the enemy [escape/flee from the bow]. ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
Answer us and ·save us [give us victory] by your ·power [hand] so ·the people you love [your beloved] will be rescued.


text:
God has said ·from his Temple [from his Holy Place; or in his holiness], “·When I win [or With joy], I will ·divide [parcel up] Shechem and measure off the Valley of Succoth [].


text:
Gilead and Manasseh are mine. Ephraim is like my helmet. Judah holds my royal scepter [; they are agents of God’s power].


text:
Moab is like my washbowl. I throw my sandals at Edom [showing contempt]. I shout [in triumph] at Philistia [enemies of Israel].”


text:
A Prayer for Protection For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Of David. God, hear my cry; ·listen [pay attention] to my prayer.


text:
I call to you from the ends of the earth [far from the Temple] when ·I am afraid [my heart grows faint]. ·Carry [Lead] me away to ·a high mountain [the rock that is higher than I am; a place of refuge, perhaps referring to God as the rock; , ; ; ].


text:
Let me ·live [sojourn] in your ·Holy Tent [tent; the sanctuary] forever. Let me find ·safety [refuge] in the shelter of your wings [an image of compassion, or perhaps referring to the cherubim whose wings cover the Ark of the Covenant; ]. ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
God, you have heard my ·promises [vows]. You have given me what belongs to those who fear ·you [your name].


text:
·Give the king a long life [Add days to the days of the king]; let ·him live many years [his years be forever and ever].


text:
Let him ·rule [reign] in the presence of God forever. Protect him with your ·love [loyalty] and ·truth [faithfulness].


text:
Then I will ·praise [sing a psalm to] your name forever, and every day I will ·keep my promises [fulfill my vows].


text:
Trust Only in God For the director of music. For Jeduthun [a Levitical musician; ; , ; ]. A psalm of David. I ·find rest [wait quietly] in God; only he can ·save me [give me victory].


text:
He is my rock [] and my ·salvation [victory]. He is my ·defender [fortress]; I will not be ·defeated [shaken].


text:
How long will you ·attack [assault] someone? Will all of you ·kill [murder] that person? Who is like a leaning wall, like a fence ·ready to fall [that totters; the wicked take advantage of the weak]?


text:
They are planning to make that person ·fall [totter]. They enjoy telling lies. With their mouths they bless, but in their ·hearts [innards] they curse. ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
My ·honor [glory] and ·salvation [victory] come from God. He is my ·mighty [strong] rock and my ·protection [refuge].


text:
People, ·trust [have confidence in] God all the time. ·Tell him all your problems [Pour out your heart before him], because God is our ·protection [refuge]. ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
The least of people are only a ·breath [vapor; bubble; vanity], and even the greatest are just a ·lie [delusion]. On the scales, they ·weigh nothing [go up]; together they are only a ·breath [vapor; bubble; vanity].


text:
Do not ·trust [have confidence] in ·force [oppression; extortion]. Stealing is ·of no use [meaningless]. Even if you gain more riches, don’t ·put your trust in [set your heart on] them.


text:
Wishing to Be Near God A psalm of David when he was in the ·desert [wilderness] of Judah [fleeing from a jealous Saul; ]. God, you are my God. I ·search for [am intent on] you. I thirst for you [] ·like someone [or my flesh yearns for you] in a dry, ·empty [exhausted; weary] land where there is no water.


text:
I will ·praise [bless] you ·as long as I live [with my life]. I will lift up my hands in your name [in prayer].


text:
I will be ·content as if I had eaten the best foods [satisfied as with fat and fatness]. My lips will sing, and my mouth will praise you.


text:
I remember you while I’m lying in bed; I ·think about [meditate on] you through the watches of the night [the night was divided into four watches of three hours each].


text:
You are my help. ·Because of your protection [In the shadow of your wings; an image of compassion or perhaps a reference to the cherubim whose wings covered the Ark of the Covenant; ], I sing.


text:
·Some people are trying to kill me [They seek my life for ruin], but they will go down to the ·grave [underbelly of the earth].


text:
They will be ·killed with swords [handed over to the sword] and ·eaten by wild dogs [be the prey of jackals].


text:
But the king will rejoice in his God. All who ·make promises in his name [swear by him] will praise him, but the mouths of liars will be shut.


text:
A Prayer Against Enemies For the director of music. A psalm of David. God, listen to my complaint. ·I am afraid of my enemies; protect my life from them [Protect my life from the dread of my enemies].


text:
Hide me from ·those who plan wicked things [the secret plans/conspiracy of the wicked], from that ·gang [mob; restless group] who does evil [].


text:
From their hiding places they shoot at ·innocent [blameless] people; they shoot suddenly and are not afraid.


text:
They encourage each other to do wrong. They talk about setting traps, ·thinking [or saying] ·no one will [who can…?] see them.


text:
They plan wicked things and say, “We have a perfect plan.” The ·mind [insides and the heart/mind] of human beings is ·hard to understand [deep].


text:
Their own ·words [tongues] will ·be used against them [make them stumble]. All who see them will shake their heads [in amazement at their downfall].


text:
Then everyone will fear God []. They will tell what God has done, and they will ·learn from [reflect on] what he has done.


text:
·Good [Righteous] people will be happy in the Lord and will find ·protection [refuge] in him. Let everyone who is ·honest [virtuous in heart] praise the Lord.


text:
A Hymn of Thanksgiving For the director of music. A psalm of David. A song. God, ·you will be praised in Jerusalem [praise is due/proper/ fitting to you in Zion; the location of the Temple]. We will ·keep our promises [fulfill our vows] to you.


text:
Our guilt ·overwhelms [overpowers] us, but you ·forgive [wipe/blot out; make atonement for] our ·sins [transgressions].


text:
·Happy [Blessed] are the people you choose and ·invite [bring near] to stay in your court. We are ·filled [satisfied] with good things in your house, your holy Temple.


text:
You answer us in amazing ways with ·vindication [victory; righteousness], God our ·Savior [Victor]. People ·everywhere on [of all the ends of] the earth and ·beyond the sea [the farthest seas] ·trust [have confidence in] you.


text:
You ·stopped [silence; calm] the roaring seas, the roaring waves [representing chaos], and the ·uproar [tumult] of the ·nations [peoples].


text:
Even those people at the ends of the earth fear your ·miracles [signs]. You are praised from ·where the sun rises [the east; the gateways of the morning] to ·where it sets [the west; evening].


text:
You ·take care of [visit] the land and water it; you make it very ·fertile [rich]. The ·rivers [channels] of God are full of water. Grain grows because you make it grow.


text:
You send rain to the plowed fields; you ·fill the rows with water [level its ridges]. You soften the ground with rain, and then you bless ·it with crops [its growth].


text:
You ·give [crown] the year ·a good harvest [with your goodness/bounty], and ·you load the wagons with many crops [your wagon tracks/ruts drip with plenty].


text:
The ·pastures [meadows] are ·full of [clothed with] flocks, and the valleys are ·covered [wrapped] with grain. Everything shouts and sings for joy.


text:
Praise God for What He Has Done For the director of music. A song. A psalm. Everything on earth, shout with joy to God!


text:
Say to God, “Your works are ·amazing [majestic]! Because your power is great, your enemies ·fall [cringe; cower] before you.


text:
All the earth ·worships [bows down to] you and ·sings praises to [makes a psalm for] you. They ·sing praises to [make a psalm for] your name [].” ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
He turned the sea into dry land []. The people crossed the river on foot []. So let us rejoice because of what he did.


text:
He rules forever with his power. ·He keeps his eye [His eyes keep watch] on the nations, so ·people should not turn [the rebellious might not rise] against him. ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
You people, ·praise [bless] our God; ·loudly sing his praise [let the sound of his praise be heard].


text:
He ·protects our lives [sets our lives among the living] and does not let ·us be defeated [our feet be moved].


text:
God, you have ·tested [examined] us; you have ·purified [refined] us like silver [removing the dross].


text:
You let our enemies ·walk on [ride over] our heads. We went through fire and ·flood [water], but you brought us to a place with ·good things [abundance].


text:
I will come to your ·Temple [house] with burnt offerings []. I will ·give you what I promised [repay my vows],


text:
·things I promised when I was in trouble [which my lips poured out and my mouth said when I was in distress].


text:
I will bring you burnt offerings [] of fat animals, and ·I will offer sheep, bulls, and goats [with the smoke of rams, I will offer bulls and goats]. ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
·Praise [Blessed be] God, who did not ·ignore [turn aside from] my prayer or hold back his ·love [loyalty] from me.


text:
Everyone Should Praise God For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm. A song. God, ·have mercy on [be gracious to] us and bless us and ·show us your kindness [make your face shine on us; ] ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
so the world will ·learn [know] your ways, and all nations ·will learn that you can save [your salvation/victory].


text:
The ·nations [peoples] should be glad and sing because you judge people fairly. You ·guide [lead] all the ·nations [peoples] on earth. ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
Praise God Who Saved the Nation For the director of music. A psalm of David. A song. Let God rise up and scatter his enemies; let those who hate him ·run away [flee] from him.


text:
Blow them away as smoke is ·driven [blown] away by the wind []. As wax melts before a fire, let the wicked ·be destroyed [perish] before God [].


text:
But ·those who do right [the righteous] should be glad and should rejoice before God; they should be happy and glad.


text:
Sing to God; ·sing praises [make a psalm] to his name. Prepare the way for him who rides ·through the desert [on the clouds; as on a chariot; ; ; ; ; ; ], whose name is the Lord. Rejoice before him.


text:
God gives the lonely a home. He leads prisoners out ·with joy [with singing; or to prosperity], but ·those who turn against God [the rebellious] will live in a dry land.


text:
God, you led your people out when you marched through the ·desert [wasteland; wilderness]. ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
The ·ground [earth; land] shook and the ·sky [heavens] poured down rain before God, the God of Mount Sinai [], before God, the God of Israel.


text:
“Kings and their ·armies [hosts] ·run away [flee]. ·In camp they [The abode of the house; may indicate the women] divide the ·wealth taken in war [plunder].


text:
Those who stayed ·by the campfires [between the saddlebags/or sheepfolds] will share the ·riches taken in battle [wings of a dove covered with silver and its feathers with green gold; specific precious items among the plunder].”


text:
The mountains of Bashan [in the Golan heights, east of the Sea of Galilee] are ·high [mighty]; the mountains of Bashan have many peaks.


text:
Why do you mountains with many peaks look with ·envy [or hostility] on the mountain that God ·chose [desired] for his home [Zion, the location of the Temple]? The Lord will live there forever.


text:
God comes with ·millions [twice ten thousand, thousands of thousands] of chariots; the Lord ·comes from Mount Sinai to his holy place [is among them Sinai in holiness].


text:
When you went up to the heights, you led a parade of captives. You received gifts from the people, even from those who ·turned [rebelled] against you [; ]. And the Lord God will live there.


text:
·Praise [Blessed be] the Lord, God our ·Savior [Victor], who ·helps us [bears our burdens] every day. ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
Our God is a God who ·saves us [gives us victory]; the Lord God ·saves us [brings us out] from death.


text:
God will ·crush [shatter] his enemies’ heads, the hairy ·skulls [pates; tops of their heads] of those who continue to ·sin [walk in their guilt].


text:
The Lord said, “I will bring ·the enemy [them] back from Bashan []; I will bring them back from the depths of the sea [representing chaos].


text:
Then you can ·stick [bathe; or shatter] your feet in their blood, and ·your dogs can lick [the tongues of your dogs can have] their share.”


text:
God, people have seen your victory ·march [procession]; God my King marched into the holy place [the Tabernacle].


text:
The singers are in front and the ·instruments [musicians] are behind. In the middle are the girls with the tambourines.


text:
·Praise [Bless] God in the ·meeting place [assembly]; ·praise [bless] the Lord ·in the gathering [or the fountain] of Israel.


text:
There is the smallest tribe, Benjamin, ·leading them [bringing them down]. And there are the ·leaders [princes] of Judah with their group. There also are the ·leaders [princes] of Zebulun and of Naphtali.


text:
Kings will bring their ·wealth [presents; gifts] to you, ·to [or because of] your Temple in Jerusalem.


text:
·Punish [Reprimand; Rebuke] the beast in the ·tall grass along the river [reed; crocodile or hippopotamus representing Egypt]. ·Punish [Reprimand; Rebuke] ·those bulls among the cows [the herd of bulls among the calves of the peoples; leaders of other nations]. ·Defeated [Trampled], they will bring you their silver. Scatter those ·nations [peoples] that ·love [delight in] war.


text:
Messengers will come from Egypt; the people of ·Cush [Ethiopia] will ·pray [stretch their hands] to God.


text:
Sing to the one who rides through the ·skies [heavens], ·which are from long ago [the ancient heavens; ]. He ·speaks with a thundering voice [puts forth his voice, his strong voice].


text:
·Announce [Ascribe] that God is ·powerful [strong]. ·He rules [His majesty is] over Israel, and his power is in the ·skies [clouds].


text:
God, you are ·wonderful [awesome] in your ·Temple [sanctuary; Holy Place]. The God of Israel gives his people strength and power. ·Praise [Bless] God!


text:
A Cry for Help For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” A psalm of David. God, ·save me [give me victory], because the water has risen to my neck [the waters of chaos].


text:
I’m sinking down into the ·mud [mire], and there is nothing to stand on. I ·am in deep water [have come into the depths of the waters], and the flood ·covers [overwhelms] me.


text:
I am ·tired [exhausted] from calling for help; my throat is ·sore [dry]. My eyes are ·tired [worn out] from ·waiting [hoping] for God to help me.


text:
There are more people who hate me for no reason than hairs on my head; ·powerful [or many] enemies want to destroy me for no reason. They make me ·pay back [return] what I did not steal.


text:
Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts], do not let those who ·hope in [wait for] you be ashamed because of me. God of Israel, do not let ·your worshipers [those who seek you] be disgraced because of me.


text:
My ·strong love [jealousy; passion; zeal] for your ·Temple [house] ·completely controls [consumes] me []. ·When people insult you, it hurts me [The reproaches/scorn of those who reproach/scorn you fall on me; ].


text:
When I wear ·rough cloth [sackcloth; burlap; a sign of grief], ·they joke about me [I am a byword/proverb/joke to them].


text:
·They make fun of me in public places [Those who sit in the gate complain about me], and the drunkards make up songs about me.


text:
But I pray to you, Lord, ·for favor [or at an appropriate time]. God, because of your great ·love [loyalty], answer me. You are ·truly able [faithful] to ·save [give victory].


text:
·Pull [Protect] me from the ·mud [mire], and do not let me sink. ·Save [Protect] me from those who hate me and from the deep water.


text:
Do not let the flood ·drown [overwhelm] me or the deep water swallow me or the ·grave [pit] close its mouth over me.


text:
Lord, answer me because your ·love [loyalty] is so good. Because of your ·great kindness [abundant compassion], turn to me.


text:
Do not hide your face from me, your servant. I am in ·trouble [distress]. Hurry to ·help [answer] me!


text:
You ·see [know] my ·shame [reproach; scorn] and disgrace. ·You know all my enemies and what they have said [The humiliation of all my foes is before you].


text:
·Insults [Reproach; Scorn] have broken my heart and ·left me weak [I am depressed]. I ·looked [hoped; waited] for ·sympathy [pity; consolation], but there was none; I found no one to comfort me.


text:
Let their ·own feasts cause their ruin [table be a snare before them]; ·let their feasts trap them and pay them back [or a trap for their friends].


text:
Let their eyes be ·closed [darkened] so they cannot see and their ·backs [loins] ·be forever weak from troubles [tremble all the time].


text:
They ·chase after [persecute; pursue] those you have ·hurt [struck], and they talk about the pain of those you have wounded.


text:
Charge them with ·crime after crime [guilt on guilt], and do not ·let them have anything good [vindicate them].


text:
·Wipe [Blot] their names from the book of life [kill them], and do not ·list them [write them down] with those who ·do what is right [are righteous].


text:
I am ·sad [afflicted] and ·hurting [in pain]. God, ·save me [give me victory] and ·protect me [give me refuge].


text:
That will please the Lord more than ·offering him cattle [an ox], more than sacrificing a bull with horns and hoofs.


text:
Poor people will see this and be glad [offering an ox or bull is expensive]. ·Be encouraged, you who worship God [The hearts of those who seek God will be enlivened].


text:
God will ·save Jerusalem [give Zion victory; the location of the Temple] and rebuild the cities of Judah. Then people will live there and own the land.


text:
The ·descendants [seed] of his servants will inherit that land, and those who love ·him [his name] will live there.


text:
A Cry for God to Help Quickly For the director of music. A psalm of David. ·To help people remember [For remembrance; or For a memorial offering]. God, ·come quickly and save [protect] me. Lord, hurry to help me.


text:
Let those who are ·trying to kill me [seeking my life] be ashamed and ·disgraced [scorned; reproached]. Let those who want to hurt me ·run away [turn back] in disgrace.


text:
But let all those who ·worship [seek] you rejoice and be glad. Let those who love your ·salvation [victory] always say, “·Praise the greatness of [Magnify] God.”


text:
I am poor and ·helpless [needy]; God, hurry to me. You ·help me and save me [are my helper and my rescuer]. Lord, do not ·wait [delay].


text:
Because you ·do what is right [are righteous], ·save [protect] and rescue me; ·listen [extend your ear] to me and ·save me [give me victory].


text:
Be my ·place of safety [rock of refuge] where I can always come. Give the command to ·save me [give me victory], because you are my rock and my ·strong, walled city [fortress].


text:
My God, ·save [rescue] me from the ·power [hand] of the wicked and from the ·hold [grasp; palm] of evil and cruel people.


text:
I have ·depended [leaned] on you ·since I was born [from the belly; the womb]; you ·helped me even on the day of my birth [brought me forth/cut off my umbilical cord from my mother’s innards]. I will always praise you.


text:
·I am always praising you [My mouth is filled with your praise]; all day long I ·honor [glorify] you.


text:
Do not ·reject me [cast me off] when I am old; do not ·leave [abandon; forsake] me when my strength is ·gone [exhausted].


text:
They say, “God has ·left [abandoned; forsaken] him. ·Go after [Pursue; Persecute] him and ·take [capture] him, because no one will ·save [protect] him.”


text:
Let those who accuse me be ashamed and ·destroyed [annihilated]. Let those who are ·trying [seeking] to hurt me be covered with shame and disgrace.


text:
·I will tell how you do what is right [My mouth will recount your righteousness]. I will tell about your ·salvation [victory] all day long, even though ·it is more than I can tell [I do not know the number].


text:
I will come and tell about your powerful works, Lord God. I will remind people ·that only you do what is right [that you alone are righteous].


text:
God, you have taught me since I was young. To this day I tell ·about the miracles you do [of your wonderful works].


text:
Even though I am old and gray, do not ·leave [abandon; forsake] me, God. I will tell ·the children [a generation, to all that come] about your ·power [arm]; I will tell of your might.


text:
God, your ·justice [righteousness] reaches to the ·skies [high heavens]. You have done great things; God, there is no one like you.


text:
You have ·given [shown] me ·many troubles [much distress] and bad times, but you will give me life again. ·When I am almost dead [From the depths of the earth], you ·will keep me alive [again bring me up].


text:
I will ·praise [thank] you with the harp. ·I trust you […for your faithfulness], my God. I will ·sing to [make a psalm for] you with the lyre, Holy One of Israel.


text:
·I will [My lips] shout for joy when I ·sing praises to [make a psalm for] you. You have ·saved [redeemed] me.


text:
·I [My tongue] will tell about your ·justice [righteousness] all day long. And those who ·want [seek] to hurt me will be ·ashamed [scorned and reproached] and disgraced.


text:
A Prayer for the King Of Solomon. God, give the king your good judgment and the king’s son your ·goodness [righteousness].


text:
Let there be ·peace [or prosperity] on the mountains and ·goodness [righteousness] on the hills for the people.


text:
Help him be ·fair [just] to the poor and ·save [give victory to] the ·needy [or children of the needy] and ·punish [crush] those who ·hurt [oppress; exploit] them.


text:
May they ·respect [fear] you as long as the sun and as long as the moon, throughout the generations.


text:
Let ·goodness [righteousness] ·be plentiful [bloom forth] while he lives. Let ·peace [or prosperity] continue ·as long as there is a [until there is no] moon.


text:
·Let his kingdom go [May he have dominion/rule] from sea to sea, and from the ·Euphrates River [river] to the ends of the earth.


text:
Let the people of the ·desert [wilderness] ·bow down to [cringe/cower before] him, and make his enemies lick the dust.


text:
Let the kings of Tarshish [] and the ·faraway lands [islands] bring him ·gifts [tribute]. Let the kings of Sheba [an unknown location, perhaps present-day Yemen, Eritrea, or Ethiopia; see ] and Seba [either in southern Egypt or further south; ; ; ] bring their ·presents [tribute] to him.


text:
He will ·be kind to [take pity on] the poor and the needy, and he will ·save their lives [give victory to the needy].


text:
He will ·save [redeem] them from ·cruel people who try to hurt them [violence and oppression], because their ·lives [blood] are precious to ·him [his eyes].


text:
Long live the king! Let him receive gold from Sheba []. Let people always pray for him and ·bless [praise] him all day long.


text:
Let ·the fields grow plenty of grain [there be much grain in the land/earth] and ·the hills be covered with crops [let there be abundance on the top of the mountains; or let it wave on the top of the mountains]. ·Let the land be as fertile as Lebanon [May its fruit be like that of Lebanon], and let the cities grow like the grass in a field.


text:
Let ·the king be famous [his name/fame be] forever; let ·him be remembered as long as the sun shines [his name/fame continue as long as the sun]. Let the nations be ·blessed [praised] because of him, and may they all ·bless [praise] him [].


text:
·Praise [Blessed be] the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does such ·miracles [wonderful things].


text:
Praise his glorious name forever. Let his glory [manifest presence] fill the whole world. Amen and amen.


text:
This ends the prayers of David son of Jesse [at one time it did, but see other Davidic psalms at , , , and others].


text:
Book 3: Should the Wicked Be Rich? A psalm of Asaph [a Levitical musician, a descendant of Gershon, at the time of David; ; ; ]. ·God is truly [Surely God is] good to ·Israel [or those with integrity/virtue], to those who have pure hearts.


text:
But ·I had almost stopped believing [as for me, my feet almost stumbled]; ·I had almost lost my faith [my steps almost slipped]


text:
because I was ·jealous [envious] of ·proud people [braggers; boasters]. I saw wicked people ·doing well [prospering].


text:
They are not ·suffering [struggling; in pain]; ·they [their bodies] are ·healthy [perfect] and strong.


text:
They don’t have ·troubles [toils] like the rest of us; they ·don’t have problems [are not plagued] like other people [].


text:
They wear pride like a necklace and ·put on violence as their clothing [adorn themselves with garments of violence].


text:
·They are looking for profits [Their eyes bulge with fat] and ·do not control their selfish desires [cunning overflows from their hearts/minds].


text:
They ·make fun of others [scoff] and speak ·evil [harm]; ·proudly [from high] they speak of ·hurting [oppressing; exploiting] others.


text:
They ·brag to the sky [set their mouth against heaven]. ·They say that they own [Their tongue wanders] the earth.


text:
·So why have I kept my heart pure [In vain, I kept my heart pure…]? ·Why have I kept my hands from doing wrong […and washed my hands in innocence; ]?


text:
God, if I had ·decided to talk like this [said, “I will recount this,”], I would have ·let your people down [betrayed the generation/race of your children].


text:
I ·tried [thought how] to understand all this, but it was too ·hard [wearisome] ·for me to see [in my eyes]


text:
until I went to the ·Temple [sanctuary; Holy Place] of God. Then I understood ·what will happen to them [their fate/end].


text:
You have put them in ·danger [slippery places]; you cause them to ·be destroyed [fall into disaster].


text:
It will be like waking from a dream. Lord, when you ·rise up [awake; arouse yourself], ·they will disappear [you despise their shadows].


text:
But I am always with you [in covenant relationship]; you have held my ·hand [right hand; guiding him].


text:
You guide me with your advice, and later you will receive me in ·honor [glory; perhaps in the afterlife].


text:
My body and my ·mind [heart] may become weak, but God is ·my strength [the rock of my heart]. He is ·mine [my portion] forever.


text:
Those who are far from ·God [you] will ·die [perish]; you ·destroy [bring to an end] those who ·are unfaithful [prostitute themselves spiritually].


text:
But I am close to God, and that is good. The Lord God ·is [I have made] my ·protection [refuge]. I will ·tell [recount] all that you have done.


text:
A Nation in Trouble Prays A ·maskil [skillful psalm; meditation] of Asaph [a Levitical musician, a descendant of Gershon, at the time of David; ; ; ]. God, why have you rejected us ·for so long [forever]? Why ·are you angry with us, [does your anger smoke against] the sheep of your pasture []?


text:
Remember the ·people [assembly; congregation] you ·bought [acquired] long ago. You ·saved [redeemed] us, and we are ·your very own [the tribe of your inheritance]. After all, you live on Mount Zion.


text:
·Make your way [Direct your steps] through ·these old [or the utter] ruins; the enemy ·wrecked [destroyed] everything in the ·Temple [sanctuary; Holy Place; perhaps a reference to the Babylonian destruction of the Temple; ; ; ].


text:
Those who were against you ·shouted [roared] in your meeting place and ·raised their flags [set their signs as signs] there.


text:
·They came with axes raised [or They hacked at the upper entrances] as if to cut down a forest of trees.


text:
They ·smashed [beat to pieces] the ·carved [engraved] panels with their axes and ·hatchets [crowbars].


text:
They ·burned your Temple to the ground [set your sanctuary/Holy Place on fire]; they have made the ·place where you live [residence of your name] ·unclean [profane].


text:
They ·thought [said in their hearts], “We will completely crush them!” They burned ·every place where God was worshiped [all the meeting places of God] in the land.


text:
We do not see any signs. There are no more prophets [who can tell them what will happen], and no one knows how long this will last.


text:
God, how much longer will the enemy ·make fun of [scorn] you? Will they ·insult [revile] ·you [your name] forever?


text:
Why do you ·hold back your power [return your hand]? ·Bring your power out in the open [Take your right hand out of your bosom] and ·destroy [annihilate] them!


text:
God, you have been our king ·for a long time [of old; ]. You bring ·salvation [victory] to the earth.


text:
You split open the sea by your power and broke the heads of the sea monster [an ancient Near Eastern symbol of chaos].


text:
You ·smashed [crushed in pieces] the heads of the monster Leviathan [a sea monster and symbol of chaos; ; ; ; ] and gave it to the ·desert [wilderness] creatures as food.


text:
Lord, remember how the enemy ·insulted [scorned] you. Remember how those foolish people ·made fun of you [reviled your name].


text:
·Remember [Regard] the ·agreement [covenant] you made with us, because violence fills every dark corner of this land.


text:
Do not let your ·suffering [crushed] people be ·disgraced [humiliated]. Let the poor and ·helpless [needy] praise ·you [your name].


text:
God, arise and ·defend [contend for] yourself. Remember the ·insults [scorn] that come from those foolish people all day long.


text:
God the Judge For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A psalm of Asaph [a Levitical musician, a descendant of Gershon, at the time of David; ; ; ]. A song. God, we ·thank [praise] you; we ·thank [praise] you because ·you [your name] are near. We tell about the ·miracles [wonders] you do.


text:
The earth with all its people may ·shake [totter], but I ·am the one who holds it steady [set/establish its pillars; the idea was that the earth was supported by pillars]. ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
I say to those who ·are proud [brag; boast], ‘Don’t ·be proud [brag; boast],’ and to the wicked, ‘Don’t ·show your power [exalt your horn; a horn is a symbol of strength].


text:
Don’t ·try to use your power [exalt your horn] against ·heaven [the heights; or on high]. Don’t ·be stubborn [speak with an insolent neck].’”


text:
God is the judge; he ·judges one person as guilty [puts one down] and ·another as innocent [raises another up].


text:
The Lord holds a cup in his hand; it is ·full of wine mixed with [foaming wine full of] spices [the cup of God’s wrath; ; ; ; ]. He pours it out ·even to the last drop [until its dregs drain out], and the wicked drink it all.


text:
·He will take all power away from [I will cut off all the horns of] the wicked [], but the ·power [horn] of ·good [righteous] people will ·grow [be exalted].


text:
The God Who Always Wins For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of Asaph [a Levitical musician, a descendant of Gershon, at the time of David; ; ; ]. A song. ·People in Judah know God [God is known in Judah]; his ·fame [name] is great in Israel.


text:
His Tent is in ·Jerusalem [Salem; shortened name of Jerusalem]; his ·home [abode] is on Mount Zion [].


text:
There God broke the flaming arrows, the shields, the swords, and the weapons of war. ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
God, how ·wonderful [glorious; awesome; or radiant] you are! You are more ·splendid [majestic] than the ·hills full of animals [hills full of prey; or everlasting mountains].


text:
The ·brave soldiers [strong of heart] were ·stripped [plundered] as they ·lay asleep in death [sleep their last sleep]. Not one ·warrior [valiant person] ·had the strength to stop it [could lift their hand].


text:
God of Jacob, ·when you spoke strongly [at your rebuke/reprimand], horses and riders ·fell dead [were in deep sleep; or lay stupefied].


text:
God, you ·stood [rose] up to judge and to ·save [give victory to] the needy people of the earth. ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
·People praise you for your anger against evil [or Human anger praises you]. ·Those who live through your anger are stopped from doing more evil [Those who survive your wrath are restrained; You gird the remains of wrath on you].


text:
Make and keep your ·promises [vows] to the Lord your God. From all around, gifts should come to the God ·we worship [who is awesome].


text:
Remembering God’s Help For the director of music. For Jeduthun [a Levitical musician; ; , ; ]. A psalm of Asaph [a Levitical musician, a descendant of Gershon, at the time of David; ; ; ]. I cry out to God; I call to God, and he ·will hear [or heard] me.


text:
I ·look [sought] for the Lord on the day of ·trouble [my distress]. All night long I ·reach out my untiring hands [flow forth my hand and it does not grow weak], but I ·cannot [refuse to] be comforted.


text:
When I remember God, I ·become upset [moan]; when I ·think [reflect; meditate], ·I become afraid [my soul faints]. ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
You ·keep my eyes from closing [grab the eyelids of my eyes]. I am too ·upset [disturbed] to say anything.


text:
Is his ·love [loyalty] gone forever? Has he stopped speaking for all time [he questions God’s commitment to the covenant]?


text:
Has God forgotten ·mercy [compassion]? Is he too angry to ·pity [have mercy on] us?” ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
Then I say, “This is what makes me sad: ·For years the power of God Most High was with us [The right hand of the God Most High has changed].”


text:
By your ·power [arm] you have ·saved [redeemed] your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
God, the waters saw you; they saw you and ·became afraid [writhed]; the deep waters shook with fear.


text:
The clouds poured down their rain. The ·sky [clouds] ·thundered [gave forth a sound]. Your lightning flashed back and forth like arrows.


text:
Your thunder sounded in the whirlwind. Lightning lit up the world. The earth trembled and ·shook [quaked].


text:
You made a way through the sea and paths through the ·deep [many] waters, but your footprints were not ·seen [revealed].


text:
God Saved Israel from Egypt A ·maskil [skillful psalm; meditation] of Asaph [a Levitical musician, a descendant of Gershon, at the time of David; ; ; ]. My people, ·listen [give ear] to my ·teaching [instruction; law]; ·listen [incline your ear] to ·what I say [the words of my mouth].


text:
I will ·speak [open my mouth] ·using stories [with a proverb/parable]; I will ·tell [expound] ·secret things [riddles] from long ago [the past contains lessons for the present generation].


text:
We will not ·keep [hide] them from our children; we will ·tell [recount them to] ·those who come later [a later generation] about the praises of the Lord. We will tell about his power and the ·miracles [wonderful acts] he has done.


text:
The Lord ·made an agreement [established a decree/testimony] with Jacob and gave the ·teachings [instructions; laws] to Israel [], which he commanded our ·ancestors [fathers] to ·teach [make known] to their children [, ].


text:
Then ·their children [the later generation] would know them, even their children not yet born. And they would ·tell [rise up and recount them to] their children.


text:
So they would ·all trust [place their trust/confidence in] God and would not forget what he had done but would ·obey [protect] his commands.


text:
They would not be like their ·ancestors [fathers] who were ·stubborn and disobedient [a stubborn and rebellious generation]. Their hearts were not ·loyal [steadfast; set] to God, and they were not ·true [faithful] to him [, , ; ; ; ].


text:
The men of Ephraim ·had bows for weapons [were armed for shooting the bow], but they ·ran away [turned back] on the day of battle [perhaps or ].


text:
They didn’t ·keep [observe; guard] their ·agreement [covenant; treaty] with God and refused to ·live [walk] by his ·teachings [instructions; laws].


text:
He did ·miracles [wonderful acts] while their ·ancestors [fathers] watched, in the fields of Zoan [a city in the Nile Delta also known as Tanis] in Egypt [the plagues; ].


text:
He divided the ·Red Sea [Sea; probably a lake north of the Gulf of Suez] and led them through []. He made the water stand up like a ·wall [or heap; ].


text:
He split the rocks in the ·desert [wilderness] and gave them more ·than enough water, as if from the deep ocean [water, as much as the deeps].


text:
But the people continued to sin against him; in the ·desert [wasteland; wilderness] they ·turned [rebelled] against God Most High.


text:
They ·decided to test God [tested God in their hearts] by asking for the food ·they wanted [for their appetite].


text:
When he ·hit [struck] the rock, water ·poured out [gushed] and rivers flowed down. But can he give us bread also? Will he provide his people with meat []?”


text:
When the Lord heard them, he was very angry. ·His anger was like fire to the people of [A fire was ignited against] Jacob; his anger ·grew against the people of [rose up against] Israel [].


text:
They had not ·believed [trusted; been faithful to] God and had not ·trusted [put confidence in] him to ·save them [give them victory].


text:
So the people ate and became very ·full [satisfied; satiated]. God had given them what they ·wanted [desired].


text:
While ·they were still eating [their desire had not turned aside], and while the food was still in their mouths,


text:
·God became angry with them [the anger of God came up on them]. He killed some of the ·healthiest [most robust; sturdiest] of them; he ·struck down [laid low] the best young men of Israel.


text:
Anytime he killed them, they would ·look to him for help [seek him]; they would ·come back to God [repent] and ·follow [be intent on] him.


text:
They would remember that God was their Rock [the one who protected them], that God Most High had ·saved [redeemed] them.


text:
But ·their words were false [they deceived/or flattered him with their mouths], and with their tongues they lied to him.


text:
Their hearts were not really ·loyal to [steadfast toward] God; they ·did not keep [were not faithful to] his ·agreement [covenant].


text:
Still God was ·merciful [compassionate]. He ·forgave their sins [made atonement for their guilt] and did not destroy them. Many times he held back his anger and did not stir up all his ·anger [wrath].


text:
He remembered that they were ·only human [flesh; ; ; ; ; ], like a wind that blows and does not come back.


text:
They ·turned [rebelled] against God so often in the ·desert [wilderness] and grieved him ·there [in the wasteland].


text:
They did not remember his ·power [hand] or the ·time [day] he ·saved [ransomed] them from the ·enemy [foe].


text:
He ·destroyed [killed] their vines with hail and their ·sycamore [or fig] trees with ·sleet [or frost; or floods; ].


text:
He ·killed their animals with [handed over their beasts to the] hail and their cattle with lightning [].


text:
He ·showed [sent against] them his hot anger. He sent his strong anger against them, his ·destroying angels [or messengers of evil/harm].


text:
He ·found a way to show [made a path for] his anger. He did not ·keep them from dying [hold back their lives from death] but ·let them die by a terrible disease [handed their lives over to plague].


text:
God ·killed [struck] all the firstborn sons in Egypt [], the ·oldest son of each family [first of their virility in the tents] of Ham [the ancestor of the Egyptians; ].


text:
But God led his people out like sheep and he guided them like a flock through the ·desert [wilderness].


text:
He led them to safety so they had nothing to fear, but ·their enemies drowned in the sea [the sea covered their enemies].


text:
So God brought them to his holy ·land [boundary], to the mountain country ·he took with his own power [his hand acquired].


text:
He ·forced out [dispossessed before them] the other nations, and he ·had his people inherit the land [alloted the land as an inheritance]. He let the tribes of Israel settle there in tents.


text:
But they tested God and ·turned [rebelled] against God Most High; they did not ·keep [observe; guard] his ·rules [decrees; testimonies].


text:
They ·turned away [recoiled] and were disloyal just like their ·ancestors [fathers]. They ·were like [turned into] a ·crooked bow that does not shoot straight [slack bow; unreliable and ineffective].


text:
They made God angry ·by building places to worship gods [with their high places; worship sites associated with pagan worship or inappropriate worship of God; ]; they made him jealous with their idols.


text:
He let his ·Power [Strength; the Ark] be captured; he let his ·glory [beauty; the Ark] be taken by ·enemies [the hand of the foe; ].


text:
He ·let his people be killed [handed his people over to the sword]; he was very angry with his ·children [inheritance].


text:
The young men ·died [were consumed] by fire, and the young women ·had no one to marry [had no wedding songs; or could not sing a lament for them].


text:
Then the Lord ·got up [awoke] as if he had been asleep; ·he awoke like a man [like a soldier] who had been ·drunk with [shouting/singing because of] wine.


text:
He struck ·down [back] his enemies and ·disgraced them forever [placed on them eternal scorn/reproach].


text:
But God rejected the ·family [tent] of Joseph [the tribe of Ephraim]; he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim [the most important northern tribe, here representing the house of Saul].


text:
And he built his ·Temple [sanctuary; Holy Place] ·high like the mountains [or like the high heavens]. Like the earth, ·he built it to last [its foundations are] forever.


text:
He brought him from tending the ·sheep [ewes] so he could ·lead the flock, [shepherd] the people of Jacob, his ·own people [inheritance], the people of Israel.


text:
And David ·led [shepherded] them with an ·innocent [blameless] heart and guided them with skillful hands.


text:
The Nation Cries for Jerusalem A psalm of Asaph [a Levitical musician, a descendant of Gershon, at the time of David; ; ; ]. God, nations have come against your ·chosen people [inheritance]. They have ·ruined [profaned] your holy Temple. They have turned Jerusalem into ·ruins [a dump; ].


text:
They have given the bodies of your servants as food to the ·wild birds [birds of the sky/heavens]. They have given the ·bodies [flesh] of ·those who worship you [your faithful ones; saints] to the wild animals [].


text:
We are a ·joke [reproach; scorn] to the ·other nations [residents]; ·they [the people around us] ·laugh [ridicule] and make fun of us.


text:
·Be angry with [Pour out your wrath on] the nations that do not know you and ·with [or on] the kingdoms that do not ·honor you [call on your name].


text:
They have ·gobbled up [devoured] the people of Jacob and ·destroyed [desolated] their ·land [pasturage].


text:
Don’t ·punish us for our past sins [remember our former guilt]. Show your ·mercy [compassion] to us soon, because we are ·helpless [very low]!


text:
God our ·Savior [Victor], help us ·so people will praise you [for the glory of your name]. ·Save [Protect] us and ·forgive [atone for] our sins ·so people will honor you [for your name].


text:
Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” ·Tell [Inform] the other nations ·in our presence [before our eyes] that you ·punish [avenge] ·those who kill your servants [the blood of your servants that has been poured out].


text:
·Hear the moans of the prisoners [Let the groans of the prisoner come before you]. Use your great ·power [arm] to save those ·sentenced [doomed] to die.


text:
Repay ·those around [into the bosom of those around] us seven times over for their ·insults to [reproach/scorn of] you, Lord.


text:
We are your people, the sheep of your ·flock [pasture]. We will ·thank [praise] you always; ·forever and ever [from generation to generation] we ·will praise you [recount your praise].


text:
A Prayer to Bring Israel Back For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies of the Agreement.” A psalm of Asaph [a Levitical musician, a descendant of Gershon, at the time of David; ; ; ]. Shepherd of Israel, ·listen to us [give ear]. You ·lead [guide] the people of Joseph [the northern empire of Israel] like a flock. You sit on your throne between the ·gold creatures with wings [cherubim; ; ]. ·Show your greatness [Shine forth]


text:
to the people of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh. ·Use [Arouse] your strength, and come to ·save us [give us victory].


text:
God, ·take us back [restore us]. ·Show us your kindness [Make your face shine on us; ; ; ] so we can ·be saved [have victory].


text:
Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts], how long will you ·be angry [smoke/fume at us] at the prayers of your people?


text:
You have fed your people ·with tears [the bread/food of tears]; you have made them drink ·many tears [tears by measure/the third].


text:
You made ·those around us fight over us [us the strife of our neighbors], and our enemies ·make fun of [ridicule] us.


text:
God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts], ·take us back [restore us]. ·Show us your kindness [Make your face shine on us; ; ; ] so we can ·be saved [have victory].


text:
You brought ·us out of Egypt as if we were a vine [a vine out of Egypt; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ]. You ·forced out [dispossessed] other nations and planted us in the land.


text:
So why did you ·pull [break] down our walls? Now everyone who passes by ·steals from us [picks our fruit].


text:
Like ·wild pigs [boars of the forest] they ·walk over us [ravage us; gobble us up]; like ·wild animals [creatures of the field] they feed on us.


text:
God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts], ·come back [restore us]. Look down from heaven and see. Take care of us, your vine.


text:
Now it is cut down and burned with fire; you destroyed us by ·your angry looks [the rebuke of your face].


text:
·With your hand, strengthen the one you have chosen for yourself [Let your hand be on the man of your right hand; the king].


text:
Then we will not ·turn away from [deviate from; be disloyal to] you. Give us life again, and we will call ·to you for help [on your name].


text:
Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts], ·take us back [restore us]. ·Show us your kindness [Make your face shine on us; ; ; ] so we can ·be saved [have victory].


text:
A Song for a Holiday For the director of music. By the gittith [perhaps a musical term or instrument]. A psalm of Asaph [a Levitical musician, a descendant of Gershon, at the time of David; ; ; ]. Sing for joy to God, our strength; shout out loud to the God of Jacob [another name for Israel].


text:
·Begin the music [Lift up a psalm]. ·Play [Sound; Give] the tambourines [; ; ; ]. ·Play pleasant music on the harps […the pleasant/sweet harps] and lyres.


text:
Blow the ·trumpet [ram’s horn] at ·the time of the New Moon [the month; a monthly religious festival], when the moon is full, when our feast begins.


text:
This is the ·law [statute; ordinance; requirement] for Israel; it is the ·command [judgment] of the God of Jacob [].


text:
He ·gave [set] this ·rule [decree; testimony] to the people of Joseph [reference to the northern tribes] when they went out of the land of Egypt [the exodus; ]. I heard a ·language [tongue] I did not know, saying [God now speaks]:


text:
“I ·took the load off [removed the burden from] their shoulders; ·I let them put down their baskets [Their hands were removed from the baskets].


text:
When you were in ·trouble [distress], you called, and I ·saved [rescued] you. I answered you ·with thunder [in the secret place of thunder; ]. I tested you at the waters of Meribah [; ; ; ]. ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
I, the Lord, am your God, who brought you out of Egypt. ·Open [Widen] your mouth and I will feed you [; ].


text:
So I ·let them go their stubborn way [threw them away because of their stubborn hearts] and ·follow [walk according to] their own advice.


text:
Those who hate the Lord would ·bow [cringe; cower] before him. Their ·punishment [doom] would continue forever.


text:
A Cry for Justice A psalm of Asaph [a Levitical musician, a descendant of Gershon, at the time of David; ; ; ]. God ·is in charge of the great meeting [takes his place/presides in the great assembly/or the assembly of the gods/divine council; the angels (powers and authorities; ) are here called “gods”]; he judges among the “gods” [].


text:
He says, “How long will you ·defend evil people [or judge unfairly]? How long will you show ·greater kindness [favor; preference] to the wicked? ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
·Defend [Judge] the ·weak [or poor] and the orphans; ·defend the rights of [vindicate] the poor and ·suffering [needy].


text:
·Save [Rescue] the ·weak [or poor] and helpless; ·free [protect] them from the ·power [hand] of the wicked.


text:
“You know nothing. You don’t understand. You walk in the dark, while the ·world is falling apart [foundations of the earth are tottering].


text:
But you will die like any other person; you will fall like all the ·leaders [princes; God will punish these evil angels].”


text:
A Prayer Against the Enemies A song. A psalm of Asaph [a Levitical musician, a descendant of Gershon, at the time of David; ; ; ]. God, do not keep quiet; God, do not be silent or still.


text:
Your enemies are ·making noises [in tumult]; those who hate you ·are getting ready to attack [raise up their head; ].


text:
They are making secret ·plans [plots] against your people; they plot against those you ·love [cherish; treasure].


text:
They say, “Come, let’s ·destroy them [wipe them out] as a nation. Then no one will ever remember the name ‘Israel.’”


text:
They ·are united in their plan [plot with one mind/heart]. These have ·made an agreement [cut a covenant/treaty] against you:


text:
Even Assyria has joined them to ·help Ammon and Moab, the [be the arm of the] descendants of Lot [a list of traditional enemies of Israel]. ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
God, do to them what you did to Midian, what you did to Sisera and Jabin at the Kishon ·River [Wadi; ].


text:
Do to their ·important leaders [princes; nobles] what you did to Oreb and Zeeb []. Do to their princes what you did to Zebah and Zalmunna [].


text:
My God, make them like tumbleweed, like chaff blown ·away by [before] the wind [rootless and landless; ].


text:
·Chase [Pursue] them with your ·storm [tempest], and ·frighten [terrify] them with your ·wind [hurricane].


text:
Then they will know that ·you are the Lord [the Lord is your name], that only you are God Most High over all the earth.


text:
Wishing to Be in the Temple For the director of music. On the gittith [perhaps a musical term or instrument]. A psalm of the sons of Korah [descendants of Kohath, son of Levi, who served as temple musicians; ]. Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts], how lovely is your ·Temple [residence; dwelling place]!


text:
I ·want more than anything to be in [long, even faint for] the courtyards of the ·Lord’s Temple [Lord]. My ·whole being wants to be with [heart/mind and flesh sing for joy to] the living God.


text:
The sparrows have found a home, and the swallows have nests. They raise their young near your altars, Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts], my King and my God.


text:
·Happy [Blessed] are the people who live at your ·Temple [house]; they are always praising you. ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
·Happy [Blessed] are those whose strength comes from you, ·who want to travel to Jerusalem [in whose hearts are highways; they want to make pilgrimage to Jerusalem to celebrate religious festivals].


text:
As they pass through the Valley of Baca [“weeping,” location unknown], they make it ·like [a place with] a spring. The ·autumn [early] rains ·fill [wrap; cover] it with ·pools of water [or blessings].


text:
The people ·get stronger as they go [go from strength to strength], and everyone ·meets with [sees] ·God [the God of gods] in ·Jerusalem [Zion; the location of the Temple].


text:
Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts], hear my prayer; God of Jacob [another name for Israel], ·listen to me [give ear]. ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
God, look at our shield [the king]; be kind to your ·appointed king [anointed; Messiah; the king, ultimately Jesus; ].


text:
One day in your courtyards is better than a thousand days anywhere else. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the Temple of my God than live in the ·homes [tents] of the wicked.


text:
The Lord God is like a sun and shield; the Lord gives us ·kindness [mercy; grace] and ·honor [glory]. He does not hold back anything good from those ·whose lives are innocent [who walk in innocence/blamelessness].


text:
Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts], ·happy [blessed] are the people who ·trust [have confidence in] you!


text:
A Prayer for the Nation For the director of music. A psalm of the sons of Korah [descendants of Kohath, son of Levi, who served as temple musicians; ]. Lord, you ·have been kind to [delight in] your land; you ·brought back [restored the fortunes of; perhaps at the end of the exile] the people of Jacob [another name for Israel].


text:
Will you be angry with us forever? Will you ·stay angry [draw out your anger against us] from now on?


text:
I will listen to what God the Lord says. He has ·ordered [spoken; promised] ·peace [prosperity] for ·those who worship him [his people, his saints/loyal ones]. Don’t let them go back to foolishness.


text:
·God will soon save those who respect him [His salvation/victory is near to those who fear him; ], and his glory will ·be seen [dwell] in our land.


text:
·Love [Loyalty] and ·truth [faithfulness] ·belong to God’s people [meet]; ·goodness [righteousness] and ·peace [prosperity] ·will be theirs [kiss].


text:
·On earth people will be loyal to God [Faithfulness sprouts/blooms from the earth/land], and ·God’s goodness [righteousness] will ·shine [look] down from heaven.


text:
A Cry for Help A prayer of David. Lord, ·listen to me [incline your ear] and answer me. I am poor and ·helpless [needy].


text:
·Protect [Guard] me, because I ·worship you [am loyal/holy/a saint]. My God, ·save me [give me victory], your servant who ·trusts [has confidence] in you.


text:
Lord, you are ·kind [good] and forgiving and have great ·love [loyalty] for those who call to you [].


text:
Lord, ·hear [give ear to] my prayer, and ·listen [pay attention] ·when I ask for mercy [to the sound of my supplication].


text:
Lord, all the nations you have made will come and ·worship [bow down before] you. They will ·honor you [glorify your name].


text:
Lord, teach me ·what you want me to do [your way], and I will ·live [walk] ·by your truth [in your faithfulness]. ·Teach me to respect you completely [Give me an undivided heart to fear your name].


text:
Lord, my God, I will ·praise [thank] you with all my heart, and I will ·honor [glorify] your name forever.


text:
You have great ·love [loyalty] for me. You have ·saved [delivered] me from ·death [Sheol down below; the grave or the underworld].


text:
God, ·proud [arrogant] people ·are attacking [rise up against] me; a ·gang [assembly] of ·cruel [violent] people ·is trying to kill me [seek my life]. They do not ·respect you [set you before them].


text:
But, Lord, you are a God who shows ·mercy [compassion] and is ·kind [merciful; compassionate]. You ·don’t become angry quickly [are patient/longsuffering]. You have great ·love [loyalty] and ·faithfulness [truth; ].


text:
Turn to me and ·have mercy [be gracious]. Give me, your servant, strength. ·Save [Give victory to] me, the son of your female servant.


text:
·Show [Give] me a sign of your goodness. When my enemies look, they will be ashamed. You, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.


text:
God Loves Jerusalem A song. A psalm of the sons of Korah [descendants of Kohath, son of Levi, who served as temple musicians; ]. ·The Lord built Jerusalem [Its foundations are] on the holy mountain [Zion, the location of the Temple].


text:
God says, “I will ·put Egypt and Babylonia on the list of nations that know me [mention Rahab and Babylonia as those who know me]. People from Philistia, Tyre, and Cush [Ethiopia] will be born there.”


text:
They will say about ·Jerusalem [Zion; the location of the Temple], “This one and that one were born there. God Most High will ·strengthen [establish] her.”


text:
The Lord will keep a list of the nations. He will note, “This person was born there.” ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
A Sad Complaint A song. A psalm of the sons of Korah [descendants of Kohath, son of Levi, who served as temple musicians; ]. For the director of music. By the ·mahalath [perhaps “sickness”; ] ·leannoth [perhaps related to a word for “affliction” or a word for “chant”]. A ·maskil [skillful psalm; meditation] of Heman the Ezrahite [perhaps a wise man () or a Levitical singer (, , , ; , )]. Lord, you are the God who ·saves me [gives me victory]. I cry out to you day and night.


text:
My life is full of ·troubles [hurt; harm], and ·I am nearly dead [my life approaches/touches Sheol; the grave or the underworld].


text:
They think I am ·on the way to my grave [like someone who goes down into the Pit]. I am like a man with no strength.


text:
I have been ·left as dead [freed among the dead], like a ·body [corpse] lying in a grave whom you don’t remember anymore, cut off from your ·care [hand].


text:
You have ·brought me close to death [set me in a Pit below]; ·I am almost in the dark place of the dead […in the deepest darkness].


text:
You have ·been very angry with [put your wrath on] me; ·all your waves crush me [you have afflicted me with all your breakers]. ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
You have ·taken [moved] my friends away from me and have made ·them hate me [me an abomination to them]. I am ·trapped [imprisoned] and cannot ·escape [get out].


text:
My eyes ·are weak [waste away] from ·crying [affliction]. Lord, I have ·prayed [called] to you every day; I have ·lifted [spread out] my hands to you [in prayer].


text:
Do you ·show [do] your ·miracles [wonderful acts] for the dead? Do their ·spirits [shades; departed] rise up and ·praise [thank] you? ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
Will your ·love [loyalty] be ·told [recounted] in the grave? Will your ·loyalty [faithfulness] be told in ·the place of death [Abaddon/Destruction]?


text:
Will your ·miracles [wonderful acts] be known in the ·dark grave [darkness]? Will your ·goodness [righteousness] be known in the land of forgetfulness?


text:
But, Lord, I have called out to you for help; every morning ·I pray to you [my prayer comes before you].


text:
I have been ·weak [afflicted] and dying since I was young. I suffer from your terrors, and I am ·helpless [or depressed].


text:
·You have been angry with me [Your wrath has passed over me], and your terrors have ·destroyed [or silenced] me.


text:
A Song About God’s Loyalty A ·maskil [skillful psalm; meditation] of Ethan the Ezrahite [a wise man; ]. I will always sing about the Lord’s ·love [loyalty]; I will ·tell of [make known with my mouth] his ·loyalty [faithfulness] ·from now on [for generations].


text:
I will say, “Your ·love [loyalty] ·continues [is built] forever; your ·loyalty [faithfulness] ·goes on and on [is established] like the ·sky [heavens].”


text:
You said, “I ·made an agreement [cut a covenant/treaty] with the man of my choice; I made a promise to my servant David.


text:
I told him, ‘I will ·make your family continue [establish your seed] forever. ·Your kingdom will go on and on [I will build your throne for generations; ; ; ; ; ].’” ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
Lord, the heavens praise you for your ·miracles [wonderful acts] and for your ·loyalty [faithfulness] in the ·meeting [assembly] of your holy ones.


text:
Who in ·heaven [the skies] ·is equal to [ranks with] the Lord? None of the ·angels [gods; divine council/assembly; sons of God; ] is like the Lord.


text:
When the ·holy ones [council of holy ones] meet, it is God they fear. He is more ·frightening [awesome] than all who surround him.


text:
Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts], who is like you? Lord, you are powerful and completely ·trustworthy [faithful].


text:
You crushed the Rahab [a sea monster, representing chaos (; ) and in some contexts Egypt defeated at the Sea (; ; ; )] like a corpse; by your ·power [strong arm] you scattered your enemies.


text:
The ·skies [heavens] and the earth belong to you. You ·made [founded] the world and ·everything in it [its fullness].


text:
You created the north and the south. Mount Tabor and Mount Hermon [majestic mountains] sing for joy at your name.


text:
Your ·kingdom [throne] is ·built [established] on ·what is right and fair [righteousness and judgment/justice]. ·Love [Loyalty] and ·truth [faithfulness] are ·in all you do [before your face].


text:
·Happy [Blessed] are the people who know how to ·praise [shout to] you. Lord, let them ·live [walk] in the light of your ·presence [face].


text:
You are their ·glorious [beautiful] strength, and in your ·kindness [favor] you ·honor our king [lift up our horn; symbol of power and here of the king].


text:
·Once [Then], in a vision [], you spoke to ·those who worship you [your faithful ones/saints]. You said, “I have ·given strength to [set help on] a warrior; I have raised up a ·young man [chosen one] from my people [; ].


text:
I have found my servant David; I ·appointed him by pouring [have anointed him with] holy oil on him [].


text:
No enemy will ·make him give forced payments [make him pay tribute; or prevail over/or outwit him], and wicked people will not ·defeat [afflict; humble] him.


text:
My ·loyalty [faithfulness] and ·love [loyalty] will be with him. Through ·me [my name] ·he will be strong [his horn will be raised up; ].


text:
I will ·give him power [set his hand] over the sea ·and control [his right hand] over the rivers [the waters represent chaos].


text:
My ·love [loyalty] will ·watch over [keep; guard] him forever, and my ·agreement [covenant; treaty] with him will ·never end [be faithful].


text:
I will ·make his family continue [set his seed forever], and his ·kingdom [throne] ·will last as long as the skies [like the days of the skies/heavens].


text:
“If his descendants ·reject [leave; abandon] my ·teachings [instructions; laws] and do not ·follow [walk in] my ·laws [judgments],


text:
if they ·ignore [profane] my ·demands [statutes; ordinances; requirements] and ·disobey [do not keep/guard] my commands,


text:
then I will punish their ·sins [transgressions] with a rod and their ·wrongs [guilt] with ·a whip [lashes].


text:
But I will not ·hold back [break; invalidate] my ·love [loyalty] from ·David [him], nor will I ·stop being loyal [deal falsely with my faithfulness].


text:
I will not ·break [profane; violate] my ·agreement [covenant; treaty] nor ·change [alter] what ·I have said [came out of my lips].


text:
It will ·continue [be established] forever, like the moon, like a ·dependable [reliable; faithful] witness in the sky.” ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
But now you have ·refused [spurned] and rejected him. You have been angry with your ·appointed king [anointed; ].


text:
You have ·abandoned [disavowed] the ·agreement [covenant; treaty] with your servant and ·thrown [profaned; defiled] his crown ·to [or in] the ground [].


text:
Everyone who passes by ·steals from [plunders] him. ·His neighbors insult him [He is scorned by/a reproach to his neighbors].


text:
You have ·given strength of [exalted the right hand of] his ·enemies [foes] and have made ·them all [all his enemies] happy.


text:
You have ·made his sword useless [turned back the blade/rock of his sword]; you did not help him stand in battle.


text:
You have cut ·his life [the days of his youth] short and ·covered [wrapped] him with shame. ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
Lord, how long will this go on? Will you ·ignore [hide from] us forever? How long will your anger burn like a fire?


text:
Remember how ·short [fleeting] my life is. Why did you create us? For ·nothing [futility; vanity; no purpose]?


text:
What person alive will not ·die [see death]? Who can escape ·the grave [from the hand/power of Sheol; the grave or the underworld]? ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
Lord, where is your ·love [loyalty] from times past, which in your ·loyalty [faithfulness] you ·promised [swore] to David []?


text:
Lord, remember ·how they insulted [the reproach/scorn of] your servant; remember how I ·have suffered the insults of the nations [carry in my bosom all of the many peoples].


text:
Lord, remember how your enemies ·insulted [reproached; scorned] you and how they ·insulted [reproached; scorned] ·your appointed king wherever he went [the footsteps of your anointed; ].


text:
Book 4: God Is Eternal, and We Are Not A prayer of Moses, the man of God. Lord, you have been our ·home [dwelling place; ] ·since the beginning [from all generations].


text:
Before the mountains were born and before you ·created [brought forth] the earth and the world, you are God []. You have always been, and you will always be.


text:
You turn people back into ·dust [what is crushed; ; ; ]. You say, “·Go back into dust [Return; Turn back], human beings.”


text:
·To you [In your eyes], a thousand years is like the passing of a day [], or ·like a few hours [a watch; the night was divided into four watches of three hours each] in the night.


text:
While people sleep, you ·take [put an end to] their lives. They are like grass that ·grows up [is new] in the morning.


text:
In the morning they ·are fresh and new [blossom and are renewed], but by evening they ·dry up [fade] and ·die [wither].


text:
You have ·put [set] ·the evil we have done [our guilt/iniquity] right in front of you; ·you clearly see our secret sins [our hidden/secret sins in the light of your face].


text:
·Our lifetime is [The days of our years are] seventy years or, if we are strong, eighty years. But ·the years are full of [their pride are] ·hard work [toil] and ·pain [trouble; ]. They pass quickly, and then we ·are gone [fly away].


text:
Who knows the ·full power [strength] of your anger? Your anger is as great as our fear of you should be.


text:
·Teach us [Make us know] ·how short our lives really are [to count our days] so that we ·may be wise [gain a wise heart].


text:
·Fill [Satisfy] us with your ·love [loyalty] every morning. Then we will sing and rejoice all our ·lives [days].


text:
We have seen years of ·trouble [harm; hurt]. Now give us as ·much [many days of] joy as you gave us ·sorrow [affliction].


text:
Show your servants ·the wonderful things you do [your miracles]; ·show your greatness [your splendor/beauty] to their children.


text:
Lord our God, ·treat us well [favor us]. ·Give us success in what we do [Establish the work of our hands for us]; ·yes, give us success in what we do [establish the work of our hands].


text:
Safe in the Lord Those who ·go to God Most High for safety [dwell/sit in the shelter of God Most High] will ·be protected by [lodge in the shade/shadow of] the Almighty.


text:
I will say to the Lord, “You are my ·place of safety [refuge] and ·protection [fortress]. You are my God and I ·trust [have confidence in] you.”


text:
God will ·save [protect] you from ·hidden traps [the snare of the fowler] and from deadly ·diseases [pestilence].


text:
He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you ·can hide [will find refuge; ; ; ; ]. His ·truth [faithfulness] will be your shield and ·protection [buckler; a small shield].


text:
·You will not be afraid of diseases […or the pestilence] that ·come [walks; stalks] in the dark or ·sickness [stings] that ·strikes [devastates; overpowers] at noon.


text:
At your side one thousand people may ·die [fall], or even ten thousand ·right beside you [at your right hand], but ·you will not be hurt [it will not touch you].


text:
·The Lord is your protection [For you, Lord, are my refuge]; you have made God Most High your ·place of safety [dwelling place].


text:
Nothing ·bad [evil; harmful] will ·happen to [befall] you; no ·disaster [blow; or plague] will ·come to [approach] your ·home [tent].


text:
He has ·put his angels in charge of [commanded his angels/messengers concerning] you to ·watch over [keep; guard] ·you wherever you go [all your ways].


text:
They will ·catch you [lift you up] in their hands so that you will not hit your foot on a rock [; ].


text:
The Lord says, “Whoever ·loves [desires] me, I will ·save [rescue]. I will ·protect [lift to safety] those who know ·me [my name].


text:
They will call to me, and I will answer them. I will be with them in ·trouble [distress]; I will rescue them and ·honor [glorify] them.


text:
I will ·give them a long, full life [satisfy them with length of days], and ·they will see how I can save [show them my salvation/victory].”


text:
Thanksgiving for God’s Goodness A psalm. A song for the Sabbath day [; ]. It is good to ·praise [thank] you, Lord, to ·sing praises to [make a psalm to the name of] God Most High.


text:
It is good to ·tell of [proclaim] your ·love [loyalty] in the morning and of your ·loyalty [faithfulness] at night.


text:
It is good to praise you with the ten-stringed lyre and ·with the soft-sounding [melody of the] harp.


text:
Lord, you have made me ·happy [rejoice] by what you have done; I will ·sing [shout] for joy about ·what your hands have done [the works of your hand].


text:
Wicked people ·grow [may sprout] like the grass. Evil people ·seem to do well [may blossom/flourish], but they will be ·destroyed [doomed] forever.


text:
Lord, surely your enemies, surely your enemies will ·be destroyed [perish], and all who do evil will be scattered.


text:
But you have ·made me as strong as [exalted my horn like; symbol of strength] an ox. You have poured ·fine [rich; fresh] oils on me [a gesture of hospitality].


text:
When ·I [my eyes] looked, I saw my enemies; I heard the cries of those who ·are against me [rose against me with evil; he sees and hears the defeat of his enemies].


text:
But ·good [righteous] people will ·grow [sprout] like palm trees [; ]; they will ·be tall [grow great] like the cedars of Lebanon [trees that are strong, majestic, and long-lived].


text:
Like trees planted in the ·Temple [house] of the Lord, they will ·grow strong [sprout] in the courtyards of our God.


text:
They will ·say [proclaim] that the Lord is ·good [virtuous; full of integrity; upright]. He is my Rock [; ; ; ], and there is no wrong in him.


text:
The Majesty of the Lord The Lord ·is king [reigns; ; ; ; ; ; ]. He is ·clothed [robed] in majesty. The Lord is ·clothed [robed] in majesty and ·armed [girded] with strength. The world is ·set [established], and it ·cannot be moved [will not totter].


text:
Lord, the ·seas [rivers; perhaps referring to currents within the sea] raise, the ·seas [rivers] raise their voice. The ·seas [rivers] raise up their pounding waves [representing chaos].


text:
The sound of the water is loud; the ·ocean waves [breakers of the sea] are ·powerful [majestic], but the Lord above is much ·greater [more powerful/majestic; God is in control of chaos].


text:
Lord, your ·laws [decrees; testimonies] ·will stand forever [are very faithful/true]. ·Your Temple will be holy forevermore [At your house holiness is fitting/appropriate and will be for length of days].


text:
God Will Pay Back His Enemies The Lord is a God ·who punishes [of vengeance; ; ; ; ; ; ; ]. ·God, show your greatness and punish [God of vengeance, shine forth]!


text:
They ·are full of [bubble forth, speaking] ·proud [insolent] words; those who do evil ·brag about what they have done [talk a lot].


text:
They say, “The Lord doesn’t see; the God of Jacob [another name for Israel] doesn’t ·notice [understand].”


text:
You ·stupid [senseless; dull witted] ones among the people, ·pay attention [understand]. You fools, when will you ·understand [get insight]?


text:
Won’t the one who ·corrects [instructs; disciplines] nations ·punish [reprimand; reprove] you? Doesn’t the teacher of people know everything?


text:
The Lord knows ·what people think [the thoughts of humans]. He knows their thoughts are ·just a puff of wind [a bubble/vapor/meaningless/futile; ].


text:
Lord, those you ·correct [instruct; discipline] are ·happy [blessed]; you teach them from your ·law [instruction; teaching].


text:
You give them ·rest [peace; quiet] from ·times [days] of ·trouble [harm; evil] until a pit is dug for the wicked [; ].


text:
The Lord won’t ·leave [abandon; cast off] his people nor ·give up [abandon; forsake] his ·children [inheritance].


text:
Judgment will again be ·fair [just; righteous], and all who are ·honest [upright/virtuous of heart] will follow it.


text:
Who will ·help me fight [rise up with me] against the wicked? Who will stand with me against those who do evil?


text:
I said, “·I am about to fall [My feet totter],” but, Lord, your ·love [loyalty] ·kept me safe [steadied/supported me].


text:
·I was very worried [In my many disquieting thoughts in my insides], but you comforted me and ·made me happy [cheered me up].


text:
·Crooked leaders [Ruinous thrones] cannot be your ·friends [allies]. They use the ·law [statute; ordinance; requirement] to cause ·suffering [distress].


text:
They ·join forces [band together] against ·people who do right [righteous people] and ·sentence [condemn] to death the innocent.


text:
But the Lord is my ·defender [stronghold; fortress]; my God is the rock [; ; ; ] of my ·protection [refuge].


text:
God will pay them back for their ·sins [guilt; iniquity] and will destroy them for their evil. The Lord our God will destroy them.


text:
A Call to Praise and Obedience Come, let’s sing for joy to the Lord. Let’s shout praises to the Rock [; ; ; ] who ·saves us [gives us victory].


text:
Let’s ·come [present ourselves] to him with ·thanksgiving [praise]. Let’s ·sing songs [shout psalms] to him,


text:
The deepest places on earth are ·his [in his hand], and the ·highest [peaks of the] mountains belong to him.


text:
Come, let’s ·worship him [bow down] and ·bow down [bend the knee]. Let’s kneel before the Lord who made us,


text:
because he is our God and we are the people ·he takes care of [of his pasture], the sheep ·that he tends [of his hand; ; ; ; ]. Today listen to ·what he says [his voice]:


text:
“Do not ·be stubborn [harden your heart], as at Meribah [“contending”; ; ; ; ], as that day at Massah [“testing”] in the ·desert [wilderness; ].


text:
I ·was angry with [felt disgust for] ·those people [that generation] for forty years. I said, ‘They are ·not loyal to me [a people whose hearts wander/go astray] and have not understood my ways.’


text:
Praise for the Lord’s Glory Sing to the Lord a new song [celebrating victory; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ]; sing to the Lord, all the earth.


text:
Sing to the Lord and ·praise [bless] his name; every day ·tell [announce the good news] ·how he saves us [of his salvation/victory].


text:
Tell the nations of his glory [his manifest presence]; tell all peoples the ·miracles [wonderful acts] he does,


text:
because the Lord is great; he should be praised ·at all times [or with vigor]. He ·should be honored [is awesome; should be feared] more than all the gods,


text:
because all the gods of the nations are ·only idols [or worthless], but the Lord made the heavens [].


text:
The Lord has ·glory [splendor] and majesty; he has power and beauty in his ·Temple [sanctuary; Holy Place].


text:
·Praise [Ascribe to] the Lord, all ·nations on earth [families of peoples]; ·praise the Lord’s [ascribe to the Lord] glory and power.


text:
·Praise the glory of the Lord’s [Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his] name. Bring an ·offering [grain/gift/tribute sacrifice; ] and come into his Temple courtyards.


text:
·Worship [Bow down to] the Lord ·because he is holy [in the splendor of his holiness]. Tremble before him, everyone on earth.


text:
Tell the nations, “The Lord ·is king [reigns; ; ; ; ; ; ].” The earth is ·set [established], and it cannot be moved. He will judge the people fairly.


text:
Let the ·skies [heavens] rejoice and the earth be glad; let the sea and everything in it ·shout [thunder; roar].


text:
before the Lord, because he is coming. He is coming to judge the world; he will judge the world with ·fairness [righteousness] and the peoples with ·truth [faithfulness; ].


text:
A Hymn About the Lord’s Power The Lord ·is king [reigns; ; ; ; ; ; ]. Let the earth rejoice; ·faraway lands [or islands; or coastlands] should be glad.


text:
Thick, dark clouds surround him. His ·kingdom [throne] is ·built [established] on ·what is right [righteousness] and ·fair [justice].


text:
His lightning ·lights up [illuminates] the world; when the ·people [earth] see it, they ·tremble [writhe].


text:
The heavens ·tell about [declare] his ·goodness [righteousness], and all the people see his glory [his manifest presence].


text:
Those who ·worship [serve] idols should be ·ashamed [embarrassed; ; ]; they brag about their ·gods [worthless things]. All the gods should ·worship [bow down to] the Lord.


text:
When ·Jerusalem [Zion; the location of the Temple] hears this, she is glad, and the ·towns [daughters] of Judah rejoice. They are happy because of your judgments, Lord.


text:
People who love the Lord hate evil. The Lord ·watches over [keeps; guards] ·those who follow him [his loyal ones/saints] and ·frees [rescues] them from the ·power [hand] of the wicked.


text:
Light ·shines [is sown] on ·those who do right [the righteous]; joy belongs to those who are ·honest [virtuous/upright in heart].


text:
Rejoice in the Lord, you who ·do right [are righteous]. Praise his ·holy name [or unforgettable holiness].


text:
The Lord of Power and Justice A psalm. Sing to the Lord a new song [celebrating victory; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ], because he has done ·miracles [wonderful acts]. By his right hand and holy arm he has won the victory.


text:
The Lord has made known his ·power to save [salvation; victory]; he has ·shown [revealed to] ·the other [before the eyes of the] nations his ·victory for his people [righteousness].


text:
He has remembered his ·love [loyalty] and his ·loyalty [faithfulness] to the ·people [house] of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen God’s ·power to save [salvation; victory].


text:
Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth; ·burst into songs [break forth and sing for joy] and make ·music [a psalm].


text:
Let the sea and ·everything in it [its fullness] ·shout [thunder]; let the world and everyone in it sing.


text:
Let them sing before the Lord, because he is coming to judge the world. He will judge the world ·fairly [with righteousness]; he will judge the peoples with fairness [].


text:
The Lord, the Fair and Holy King The Lord ·is king [reigns; ; ; ; ; ; ]. Let the peoples ·shake [tremble; with fear]. He sits between the ·gold creatures with wings [cherubim; above the Ark of the Covenant; ; ]. Let the earth shake.


text:
The Lord in ·Jerusalem [Zion; the location of the Temple] is great; he is ·supreme [exalted] over all the peoples.


text:
The King is ·powerful [strong] and loves justice. Lord, you ·made [established] things fair; you have done what is ·fair [righteous] and ·right [just] for the people of Jacob [another name for Israel].


text:
·Praise [Exalt] the Lord our God, and ·worship [bow down] at the footstool of his feet [the Ark located in the Temple]. He is holy.


text:
Moses and Aaron were among his priests, and Samuel was among ·his worshipers [those who called on his name]. They called to the Lord, and he answered them [, ; ; ; , ; ; ].


text:
He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud []. They ·kept [observed; guarded] the ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements] and ·laws [decrees; testimonies] he gave them.


text:
Lord our God, you answered them. You showed them that you are a forgiving God, but you ·punished them [are an avenger] for their wrongs [; ; ; ; ; ; ].


text:
·Praise [Exalt] the Lord our God, and ·worship [bow down] at his holy mountain, because the Lord our God is holy.


text:
Know that the Lord is God. He made us [], and ·we belong to him [or not ourselves]; we are his people, the sheep ·he tends [of his pasture; ; ; ].


text:
Come into his ·city [gates] with songs of thanksgiving and into his courtyards with songs of praise. ·Thank [Praise] him and ·praise [bless] his name.


text:
The Lord is good. His ·love [loyalty] is forever, and his ·loyalty [faithfulness] ·goes on and on [for all generations].


text:
A Promise to Rule Well A psalm of David. I will sing of your ·love [loyalty] and ·fairness [justice; judgment]; Lord, I will ·sing praises [make a psalm] to you.


text:
I will ·be careful to live [lead; or study] ·an innocent life [the way that is blameless]. When will ·you [or it; the “way that is blameless”] come to me? I will ·live [go; walk] ·an innocent life [in the blamelessness of my heart] in my house.


text:
I will not ·look at [set before my eyes] anything ·wicked [vile]. I hate those who ·turn against you [are crooked/transgressors]; they will not ·be found near [cling to] me.


text:
Let those who ·want to do wrong [have a perverse heart] stay away from me; I ·will have nothing to do with [do not know] evil.


text:
If anyone secretly ·says things against [slanders] his neighbor, I will ·stop [destroy; silence] him. I will not allow people to ·be proud [have broad hearts] and ·look down on others [haughty eyes; ].


text:
·I will look for trustworthy people [My eyes are on the faithful of the land] so ·I can live with them [they may dwell with me]. Only those who ·live innocent lives [walk in the way of blamelessness] will ·be my servants [serve me].


text:
No one who ·is dishonest [deceives] will live in my house; no ·liars [one who speaks falsehoods] will ·stay around me [be established before my eyes].


text:
Every morning I will ·destroy [silence] all the wicked in the land. I will ·rid [cut off] the Lord’s city [Jerusalem; ] of people who do evil.


text:
A Cry for Help A prayer of a person who is suffering when he is ·discouraged [faint; disturbed] and ·tells the Lord his complaints [pours out his concerns before the Lord]. Lord, listen to my prayer; let my cry for help come to you.


text:
Do not hide your ·presence [face] from me in my time of ·trouble [distress]. ·Pay attention [Extend your ear] to me. ·When I cry for help [On the day I call], answer me quickly.


text:
My ·life [days] is ·passing away [vanishing] like smoke, and my bones are burned up ·with fire [like a furnace/oven/or glowing embers].


text:
My heart is like grass that has been ·cut [stricken] and dried. I forget to eat my ·food [or bread].


text:
Because of ·my grief [the sounds of my groans], my ·skin hangs on my bones [bones cling to my flesh].


text:
All day long enemies ·insult [scorn; reproach] me; those who ·make fun of [mock] me use my name as a curse.


text:
But, Lord, you ·rule [are enthroned] forever, and your ·fame [memory] ·goes on and on [throughout the generations].


text:
You will ·come [rise up] and have ·mercy [compassion] on ·Jerusalem [Zion; the location of the Temple], because the time has now come to be ·kind [gracious] to her; the ·right [appointed] time has come.


text:
Your servants ·love even [are pleased/delighted with] her stones; they even ·care about [have pity/compassion for] her dust.


text:
Nations will fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings on earth ·will honor you [your glory; God’s manifest presence].


text:
The Lord will rebuild ·Jerusalem [Zion; the location of the Temple]; there his glory [manifest presence] will be seen.


text:
He will answer the prayers of the ·needy [lowly; naked]; he will not ·reject [despise] their prayers.


text:
Write these things for ·the future [a future generation] so that people who are not yet ·born [created] will praise the Lord.


text:
The name of the Lord will be ·heard [recounted] in ·Jerusalem [Zion; the location of the Temple]; his praise ·will be heard there [in Jerusalem].


text:
·God has made me tired of living [He broke my strength in midcourse/the way]; he has cut short my ·life [days].


text:
So I said, “My God, do not take me in the middle of my ·life [days]. Your years ·go on and on [endure for generations].


text:
In the beginning you ·made [founded] the earth, and ·your hands made the skies [the heavens are the work of your hands; ].


text:
They will be destroyed, but you will ·remain [endure]. They will all wear out like ·clothes [garments]. And, like clothes, you will change them and throw them away.


text:
·Our children [The children of your servants] will live in your presence, and their ·children [offspring; seed] will remain with you.”


text:
Praise to the Lord of Love Of David. ·All that I am [O my soul], ·praise [bless] the Lord; ·everything in me [all my inward parts], ·praise [bless] his holy name.


text:
·My whole being [O my soul], ·praise [bless] the Lord and do not forget all his ·kindnesses [gifts; benefits].


text:
He ·saves [redeems] ·my [or your] life from the ·grave [pit] and ·loads [or crowns] ·me [or you] with ·love [loyalty] and ·mercy [compassion].


text:
He satisfies ·me [or you] with good things [as long as you live; or according to your desires] and ·makes me young again [renews your youth], like the eagle [].


text:
The Lord does what is ·right [righteous] and ·fair [just] for all who are ·wronged by others [oppressed; exploited].


text:
The Lord shows ·mercy [compassion] and ·is kind [grace]. He ·does not become angry quickly [is slow to anger], and he has great ·love [loyalty; ; ; ; . ; ; ].


text:
He will not always ·accuse [charge; contend with] us, and he will not ·be angry forever [keep watch forever].


text:
He ·has not punished us as our sins should be punished [does not act toward us according to our sins]; he has not repaid us ·for the evil we have done [according to our iniquity].


text:
As high as the ·sky [heaven] is above the earth, so great is his ·love [loyalty] for those who ·respect [fear] him [].


text:
The Lord has ·mercy [compassion] on those who ·respect [fear] him [], as a father has ·mercy [compassion] on his children.


text:
After the wind ·blows [passes by], ·the flower [it] is gone, and ·there is no sign of where it was [no one can recognize its place].


text:
But the Lord’s ·love [loyalty] for those who ·respect [fear] him [] continues forever and ever, and his ·goodness [righteousness] continues to their ·grandchildren [children’s children]


text:
and to those who ·keep [observe; guard] his ·agreement [covenant; treaty; ] and who remember to ·obey [do] his ·orders [precepts].


text:
You who are his ·angels [or messengers], ·praise [bless] the Lord. You are the mighty warriors who do what he says and who ·obey [listen to] his voice.


text:
You, his ·armies [hosts; perhaps the angelic army], ·praise [bless] the Lord; you are his ·servants [ministers] who do what he ·wants [desires].


text:
Everything the Lord has made should ·praise [bless] him in all the places he rules. ·My whole being [O my soul], ·praise [bless] the Lord.


text:
Praise to God Who Made the World ·My whole being [O my soul], ·praise [bless] the Lord. Lord my God, you are very great. You are clothed with ·glory [splendor] and ·majesty [beauty];


text:
you ·wear [wrap yourself in] light like a robe [; ]. You stretch out the ·skies [heavens] like a tent [].


text:
You ·build your room above the clouds [set the beams of your upper room on the waters]. You make the clouds your chariot [; ; ; ; ; ], and you ride on the wings of the wind.


text:
But at your ·command [reprimand; rebuke], the water ·rushed away [fled]. ·When you thundered your orders [At the sound of your thunder], it hurried away.


text:
You set borders for the seas that they cannot ·cross [pass], so water will never cover the earth again [as before the third day creation or during the Flood; ; ; ; ].


text:
They water all the ·wild animals [creatures of the field]; the wild donkeys ·come there to drink [quench their thirst].


text:
·Wild birds [Birds of the sky/heavens] ·make nests by the water [dwell by them]; they ·sing [give voice] among the tree branches.


text:
You water the mountains from ·above [your high dwelling]. The earth is ·full of [or satisfied by] ·the things you made [the fruit of your works].


text:
You make the grass grow for cattle and ·vegetables [plants] for the people to ·use [cultivate]. You make ·food [or bread] ·grow [come out] from the earth.


text:
You give us wine that ·makes happy hearts [rejoices the hearts of people; ] and olive oil that makes our faces shine [soothing skin in a dry climate; ]. You give us bread that gives us ·strength [sustenance].


text:
The Lord’s trees ·have plenty of water [flourish]; they are the cedars of Lebanon [the most majestic trees known], which he planted.


text:
You made the moon ·to mark the seasons [for appointed times; ; , , , ], and the sun always knows when to set.


text:
You make it dark, and it becomes night. Then all the ·wild animals [creatures of the forest] ·creep [swarm] around.


text:
Lord, ·you have made many things; with your wisdom you made them all []. The earth is full of your ·riches [or creatures].


text:
Look at the sea, so big and wide, with creatures large and small, ·creeping [swarming] things that cannot be counted.


text:
Ships travel over the ocean, and there is Leviathan [a sea monster and symbol of chaos; ; ; ; ], which you made to play there.


text:
When you give it to them, they gather it up. When you open your hand, they are ·filled [satisfied] with good food.


text:
When you ·turn away [hide your face] from them, they ·become frightened [are terrified]. When you take away their breath, they ·die [expire] and turn to dust [; ].


text:
When you ·breathe [send your breath/or Spirit] on them, they are created [], and you make the land new again.


text:
May the glory of the Lord [his manifest presence] be forever. May the Lord ·enjoy [rejoice in] what he has made.


text:
I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will ·sing praises [make a psalm] to my God as long as I live.


text:
Let sinners be ·destroyed [obliterated] from the earth, and let the wicked live no longer. ·My whole being [O my soul], ·praise [bless] the Lord. Praise the Lord.


text:
God’s Love for Israel Give thanks to the Lord and ·pray to him [call on his name]. ·Tell [Make known among] the nations what he has done.


text:
·Be glad that you are his [Exult/Glory in his holy name]; let ·those [the heart of those] who seek the Lord ·be happy [rejoice].


text:
Remember the ·miracles [wonderful acts] he has done; remember his ·wonders [signs] and ·his decisions [the judgments of his mouth].


text:
He will ·keep [remember] his ·agreement [covenant; treaty] forever; ·he will keep his promises always [the word which he commanded, for a thousand generations].


text:
He will keep the ·agreement [covenant; treaty] he ·made [cut] with Abraham [; ] and the ·promise [oath] he made to Isaac [].


text:
He made it a ·law [statute; ordinance; requirement] for the people of Jacob; he made it an ·agreement [covenant; agreement] with Israel to last forever.


text:
The Lord said, “I will give you the land of Canaan [], ·and it will belong to you [as a portion of your inheritance].”


text:
Then ·God’s people [they] were few in number. They were ·strangers [sojourners; wanderers; resident aliens] in the land.


text:
But the Lord did not let anyone ·hurt [exploit; oppress] them; he warned kings ·not to harm them [concerning them].


text:
·God [He] ·ordered [proclaimed] a ·time of hunger [famine] in the land, and he ·destroyed all the food [broke every staff of bread; ].


text:
They ·put chains around his feet [afflicted his feet with chain] and an iron ·ring [collar] around his neck.


text:
·Then the time he had spoken of came, and the Lord’s words proved that Joseph was right [or Until the time he had spoken of came, the words of the Lord kept testing him].


text:
The king [of Egypt] sent for Joseph and ·freed [released] him; the ruler of the people set him free [, ].


text:
Then Israel [another name for Jacob, Joseph’s father] came to Egypt; Jacob lived in the land of Ham [Egypt; ].


text:
The Lord made his people ·grow in number [fruitful; ], and he ·made them stronger than [strengthened them against] their ·enemies [foes].


text:
He ·caused the Egyptians [turned their hearts] to hate his people and to ·make plans [act deceptively] against his servants [].


text:
They did many signs among the Egyptians and worked ·wonders [miracles; the plagues; ] in the land of Ham [Egypt; ].


text:
The Lord sent darkness and made the land dark, but the Egyptians ·turned against what he said [rebelled against his word; ].


text:
Then their country ·was filled [swarmed] with frogs, even in the bedrooms of their ·rulers [kings; ].


text:
He struck down their grapevines and fig trees, and he ·destroyed [shattered] every tree in the country [].


text:
He spoke and ·grasshoppers [locusts] came; the ·locusts [young locusts] ·were too many to count [without number].


text:
They ate all the ·plants [vegetation] in the land and ·everything the earth produced [the fruit of the ground; ].


text:
·The Lord [He] also ·killed [struck] all the firstborn sons in the land, the oldest son of each family [the first of their virility; ].


text:
Then he brought them out with silver and gold []. ·Not one of his people stumbled [There was no stumbling among the tribe].


text:
The Egyptians ·were glad [rejoiced] when they left, because ·the Egyptians were afraid of them [dread of them fell on them; because of the plagues].


text:
·The Lord covered them with a cloud [He spread out a cloud as a covering] and ·lit up the night with fire [a fire to illuminate the night; ].


text:
God ·split [opened] the rock, and water flowed out; it ran like a river through the ·desert [wasteland; ].


text:
He gave them lands of other nations, so they received ·what others had worked for [the labors of peoples].


text:
This was so they would ·keep [observe; guard] his ·orders [statutes; ordinances; requirements] and ·obey [protect] his ·teachings [instructions; laws]. Praise the Lord!


text:
Israel’s Failure to Trust God Praise the Lord! Thank the Lord because he is good. His ·love [loyalty] continues forever.


text:
·No one [Who…?] can tell all the mighty things the Lord has done; ·no one [who…?] can ·speak [declare] all his praise.


text:
·Happy [Blessed] are those who ·do [keep; observe; guard] ·right [justice], who do what is ·fair [righteous] at all times.


text:
Lord, remember me when you ·are kind [show favor] to your people; ·help [come to] me when you ·save them [give them victory].


text:
Let me see the ·good things you do for [prosperity of] your chosen people. Let me ·be happy [rejoice] along with your ·happy [rejoicing] nation; let me join your ·own people [inheritance] in praising you.


text:
Our ·ancestors [fathers] in Egypt did not ·learn [grow in wisdom] from your ·miracles [wonderful acts]. They did not remember all your ·kindnesses [loyalty], so they ·turned [rebelled] against you at the ·Red [or Reed] Sea [; ].


text:
But the Lord ·saved them [gave them victory] ·for his own sake [because of his name], to ·show [reveal] his great power.


text:
He ·commanded [reprimanded; rebuked] the ·Red [or Reed] Sea [], and it dried up. He led them through the deep sea as if it were a ·desert [wilderness].


text:
He ·saved them [gave them victory over] from those who hated them. He ·saved [redeemed] them from the ·power [hand] of their enemies,


text:
They ·became greedy for food [developed deep cravings] in the ·desert [wilderness; ], and they tested God ·there [in desolate places; ].


text:
So he gave them what they ·wanted [asked for], but he also sent ·a terrible disease [a wasting sickness; emaciation] among them [].


text:
The people made a gold calf at ·Mount Sinai [Horeb; another name for Sinai] and ·worshiped [bowed down to] a metal statue [; ].


text:
They exchanged their ·glorious God [glory; God’s manifest presence] for ·a statue [the image] of a bull that eats grass.


text:
So God said he would destroy them. But Moses, his chosen one, stood ·before him [in the breech before him] and ·stopped God’s anger from destroying them [calmed his destructive wrath; ; ].


text:
Then they refused to go into the ·beautiful land of Canaan [desired/coveted land]; they did not ·believe what God promised [trust his word; ].


text:
So he ·swore [lifted his hand; an oath-taking gesture] to them that ·they would die [he would make them fall] in the ·desert [wilderness].


text:
He ·said their children would be killed by [would make their seed fall to] other nations and that they would be scattered among other countries [as happened in the exile; ].


text:
They ·joined in worshiping [yoked themselves to] Baal at Peor and ate ·meat that had been sacrificed to lifeless statues [sacrifices to the dead; ].


text:
They ·made the Lord angry [provoked him] by what they did, so ·many people became sick with a terrible disease [plague broke out among them].


text:
But Phinehas ·prayed to the Lord [stood and prayed], and the ·disease [plague] ·stopped [was restrained; ].


text:
·Phinehas did what was right [It was counted/credited to him as righteousness], ·and it will be remembered from now on [throughout the generations, forever; ; ].


text:
The people ·turned [rebelled] against ·the Spirit of God [his Spirit/spirit], so Moses ·spoke without stopping to think [chattered with his lips; ].


text:
They ·killed [spilled the blood of] innocent people, their own sons and daughters, as sacrifices to the idols of Canaan []. So the land was ·made unholy [polluted] by their blood.


text:
The people became ·unholy [unclean; ritually] by their ·sins [acts]; they ·were unfaithful to God in [prostituted themselves by] what they did.


text:
So the Lord became angry with his people and ·hated [was disgusted with] his own ·children [inheritance].


text:
He ·handed them over to [gave them over to the hand/power of] other nations and let ·their enemies [those who hated them] ·rule over [dominate] them.


text:
Their enemies ·were cruel to [oppressed] them and ·kept them [they were brought into subjection] under their ·power [hand].


text:
The Lord ·saved [rescued] his people many times, but they continued to ·turn [rebel] against him. So they ·became even more wicked [were brought low by their iniquity].


text:
He remembered his ·agreement [treaty; covenant] with them, and he felt ·sorry [compassion] for them because of his great ·love [loyalty].


text:
Lord our God, ·save us [give us victory] and ·bring us back [gather us] from other nations [perhaps from the exile]. Then we will ·thank [praise] ·you [your holy name] and will ·gladly praise you [glory in your praise].


text:
·Praise [Bless] the Lord, the God of Israel. He ·always was and always will be [is from everlasting to everlasting]. Let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the Lord!


text:
Book 5: God Saves from Many Dangers Thank the Lord because he is good. His ·love [loyalty] continues forever.


text:
That is what those whom the Lord has ·saved [redeemed] should say. He has ·saved [redeemed] them from the ·enemy [foe]


text:
and has gathered them from other lands, from east and west, north and south [; perhaps after the Babylonian exile].


text:
Some people had wandered in the ·desert lands [wilderness, wasteland]. They found no way to a city in which to live.


text:
In their ·misery [distress] they cried out to the Lord, and he ·saved [rescued; protected] them from their troubles [, , ].


text:
Let them ·give thanks to [praise] the Lord for his ·love [loyalty] and for the ·miracles [wonderful works] he does for people [, , ].


text:
Some sat in ·gloom [darkness] and ·darkness [deep darkness]; they were prisoners ·suffering [afflicted] in ·chains [irons].


text:
They had ·turned [rebelled] against the words of God and had ·refused [rejected] the advice of God Most High.


text:
So he ·broke their pride by [made their hearts cower with] hard work. They stumbled, and no one helped.


text:
In their ·misery [distress] they cried out to the Lord, and he ·saved them from [gave them victory over] their troubles [, , ].


text:
He brought them out of their ·gloom [darkness] and ·darkness [deep darkness] and ·broke [burst] their chains.


text:
Some ·fools turned against God [became fools in the way of transgression] and ·suffered [were afflicted] ·for the evil they did [because of their guilt].


text:
·They refused to eat anything [Their appetite loathed any food], so they ·almost died [approached the gates of death].


text:
In their ·misery [distress] they cried out to the Lord, and he ·saved them [gave them victory] from their troubles [, , ].


text:
God ·gave the command [sent forth his word] and healed them, so they were ·saved [rescued] from ·dying [destruction; or their pits].


text:
Let them offer ·sacrifices to thank him [thanksgiving offerings]. With joy they should ·tell [recount] what he has done.


text:
·The ships [They] ·were tossed as high as [went up to] the ·sky [heavens] and fell low to the depths. ·The storm was so bad that they lost their courage [Their life/soul melted in evil/trouble].


text:
They ·stumbled [reeled; leapt] and ·fell [tottered; staggered] like people who were drunk. ·They did not know what to do [All their wisdom was confused].


text:
In their ·misery [distress] they cried out to the Lord, and he ·saved [brought them out] them from their troubles [, , ].


text:
Let them ·praise his greatness [exalt him] in the ·meeting [assembly] of the people; let them praise him in the meeting of the elders.


text:
He ·changed [turned; set] rivers into a ·desert [wilderness] and springs of water into ·dry [parched; thirsty] ground.


text:
He ·changed [turned; set] the ·desert [wilderness] into pools of water and ·dry [parched] ground into springs of water.


text:
They ·planted seeds in the fields and vineyards [sowed fields and planted vineyards], and they had a ·good harvest [fruitful crop].


text:
God blessed them, and they ·grew in number [multiplied greatly]. Their cattle did not ·become fewer [diminish].


text:
Because of ·disaster [oppression], ·troubles [evil], and sadness, ·their families [they] ·grew smaller [diminished] and ·weaker [were brought low].


text:
He ·showed he was displeased with [poured contempt on] their ·leaders [princes] and made them wander in a pathless ·desert [waste].


text:
But he lifted the ·poor [needy] out of their suffering and ·made their families grow [set their clans] like flocks of sheep.


text:
·Good people [The upright/virtuous] see this and are happy, but the wicked ·say nothing [shuts their mouths].


text:
Whoever is wise will ·remember [keep; guard] these things and will ·think about [consider] the ·love [loyalty] of the Lord.


text:
A Prayer for Victory A song. A psalm of David. God, my heart is ·steady [steadfast; ready]. I will sing and ·praise [play a psalm for] you ·with all my being [as will my soul/or glory].


text:
Lord, I will ·praise [thank] you among the ·nations [peoples]; I will sing ·songs of praise [psalms] about you to all the nations.


text:
Your great ·love [loyalty] ·reaches to [is greater than] the ·skies [heavens], your ·truth [faithfulness] to the heavens.


text:
God, you are ·supreme [exalted] above the ·skies [heavens]. Let your glory [manifest presence] be over all the earth [].


text:
Answer us and ·save us [give us victory] by your ·power [right hand] so ·the people you love [your beloved] will be rescued.


text:
A Prayer Against an Enemy For the director of music. A psalm of David. God, I praise you. Do not be silent.


text:
·Wicked [The mouth of evil] people and ·liars [the mouth of deceivers] have ·spoken [opened] against me; they ·have told lies about me [speak against me with lying tongues].


text:
They have ·said hateful things about me [surrounded me with hateful words] and attack me for no reason.


text:
They ·attacked [accuse; charge] me, ·even though I loved them and prayed for them [in return for my love and prayer].


text:
I was good to them, but they ·repay [reward] me with evil. I loved them, but they hate me in return.


text:
They say about me [this added phrase suggests another speaker, or perhaps the psalmist is speaking about his accusers], “·Have an evil person work [Appoint an evil person] against him, and let an ·accuser [adversary] stand ·against him [at his right hand; ].


text:
When he is judged, let him be found guilty, and let even his prayers ·show [be counted as] his ·guilt [sin].


text:
Let his ·life [days] be ·cut short [brief], and let another man ·replace him as leader [take his position/office; ].


text:
Make his children wander around, begging for food []. Let them be forced out of the ruins in which they live.


text:
Let ·the people to whom he owes money [creditors] ·take [ensnare] everything he owns [], and let strangers ·steal [plunder] everything he has worked for.


text:
Let no one ·show [extend to] him ·love [loyalty] or have ·mercy [compassion] on his orphaned children.


text:
Let all his descendants ·die [be cut off] and ·be forgotten [their name be blotted/wiped out] by ·those who live after him [a later generation].


text:
Lord, ·remember how wicked his ancestors were [let the guilt of his fathers be remembered], and don’t let the sins of his mother be ·wiped [blotted] out.


text:
·Lord, always remember their sins [Let them be before the Lord forever]. ·Then make people forget about them completely [Let memory of them be cut off from the land].


text:
“He did not remember to be ·loving [loyal]. He ·hurt [persecuted; pursued] the poor, the needy, and those who were ·sad [depressed; brokenhearted] ·until they were nearly dead [to their death].


text:
He loved to put curses on others, so let those same curses ·fall on [come to] him. He did not like to bless others, so ·do not let good things happen to him [let them (blessings) be far from him].


text:
He ·cursed others as often as he wore clothes [wore curses like a coat]. ·Cursing others filled his body and his life, like drinking water and using olive oil [Let them come like water in his innards and like oil in his bones].


text:
So let curses ·cover [wrap] him like ·clothes [a garment] and ·wrap around him like a belt [continually gird him].”


text:
But you, Lord God, ·be kind to me so others will know you are good [act on my behalf for the sake of your name]. Because your ·love [loyalty] is good, ·save [protect] me.


text:
My knees ·are weak [buckle; stumble] from fasting, and ·I have grown thin [my flesh is lean of fat].


text:
Then they will know that ·your power has done this [this is your hand]; they will know that you have done it, Lord.


text:
They may curse me, but you bless me. They may ·attack [rise against] me, but they will be ·disgraced [embarrassed]. Then I, your servant, will be glad.


text:
Let those who ·accuse [charge; attack] me be ·disgraced [clothed with disgrace] and ·covered [wrapped up] with shame like a coat.


text:
I will ·thank [praise] the Lord very much [with my mouth]; I will praise him in ·front [the midst] of many people.


text:
He ·defends [stands at the right hand of] the helpless and ·saves them from [gives them victory over] those who ·accuse [judge] them.


text:
The Lord Appoints a King A psalm of David. ·The Lord said [Utterance/Oracle of the Lord] to my Lord, “Sit at my right ·side [hand] until I put your enemies under your ·control [feet; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; , ; ; ; ].”


text:
The Lord will ·enlarge [send] ·your kingdom [the scepter of your strength; symbol of royal power] beyond ·Jerusalem [Zion; location of the Temple], and ·you will rule over [give you dominion in the midst of] your enemies.


text:
Your people will ·join [freely offer themselves to] you on ·your day of battle [the day of your power/army]. You have been dressed in ·holiness [splendor of holiness] from ·birth [the womb of dawn]; you have the ·freshness of a child [dew of your youth].


text:
The Lord has made a promise and will not ·change his mind [waver]. He said, “You are a priest forever, a priest like Melchizedek [in reference to an ancient priest-king in Jerusalem; ultimately fulfilled in Christ; ; ; , ].”


text:
The Lord is ·beside you to help you [by your right hand]. ·When he becomes angry [In the day of his anger], he will ·crush [shatter] kings.


text:
He will judge those nations, filling them with ·dead bodies [corpses]; he will ·defeat rulers [crush/shatter heads] ·all over the [throughout the wide] world.


text:
·The king [or The Lord; He] will drink from the brook on the way. Then he will ·be strengthened [lift up his head].


text:
Praise the Lord’s Goodness Praise the Lord! I will ·thank [praise] the Lord with all my heart in the ·meeting of his good people [council of the upright/virtuous, in the assembly].


text:
·What he does is [His deeds are] ·glorious [beautiful] and ·splendid [majestic], and his ·goodness [righteousness] ·continues [stands] forever.


text:
His ·miracles [wonderful acts] are ·unforgettable [remembered; well-known]. The Lord is ·kind [gracious] and ·merciful [compassionate].


text:
He gives ·food [prey] to those who fear him []. He remembers his ·agreement [covenant; treaty] forever.


text:
He has ·shown [proclaimed to] his people ·his power [the power/strength of his deeds] when he gave them the ·lands [inheritance] of other nations [the conquest; ].


text:
·Everything he does is [The deeds of his hands are] ·good [faithful; true] and ·fair [just]; all his ·orders [precepts] ·can be trusted [are faithful/true/reliable].


text:
They will ·continue [endure; be unshakeable] forever. They were made ·true [faithful] and ·right [virtuous; with integrity].


text:
He ·sets his people free [sent redemption to his people]. He ·made his agreement everlasting [commanded his covenant/treaty forever]. ·He [His name] is holy and ·wonderful [awesome].


text:
·Wisdom begins with respect for [The beginning/foundation of wisdom is fear of] the Lord []; those who ·obey [do] ·his orders [them] have good ·understanding [insight]. He ·should be praised [endures; stands] forever.


text:
Honest People Are Blessed Praise the Lord! ·Happy [Blessed] are those who ·respect [fear] the Lord [; ], who ·want [take great delight in] ·what he [his] commands.


text:
Their ·descendants [seed] will be ·powerful [strong] in the land; the ·children [generation] of ·honest [virtuous] people will be blessed.


text:
Their houses will be full of wealth and riches, and their ·goodness [righteousness] will ·continue [endure; stand] forever.


text:
A light shines in the dark for ·honest [virtuous] people, for those who are ·merciful [gracious] and ·kind [compassionate] and ·good [merciful].


text:
It is good to be ·merciful [gracious] and ·generous [to lend]. Those who ·are fair in their business [conduct their affairs justly]


text:
They ·won’t be afraid of [do not fear] ·bad news [to hear evil; ]; their hearts are ·steady [steadfast; established; prepared] because they ·trust [have confidence in] the Lord.


text:
They ·are confident [endure; are unshakeable; ] and will not ·be afraid [fear]; they will look down on their ·enemies [foes].


text:
They ·give freely [distribute/scatter, they give] to the ·poor [needy]. ·The things they do are right and [Their righteousness] will ·continue [endure] forever []. ·They will be given great honor [Their horn is exalted in glory; an animal’s horn symbolizes strength].


text:
The wicked will see this and become angry; they will ·grind [gnash] their teeth [in anger] and then ·disappear [melt away]. The ·wishes [cravings; desires] of the wicked will ·come to nothing [perish].


text:
Praise for the Lord’s Kindness Praise the Lord! Praise him, you servants of the Lord; praise the name of the Lord.


text:
The Lord is ·supreme [exalted] over all the nations []; his glory [God’s manifest presence] ·reaches to the skies [is over the heavens].


text:
The Lord ·lifts [raises] the poor from the ·dirt [dust] and ·takes [exalts] the ·helpless [needy] from the ashes.


text:
He gives ·children to the woman who has none [the barren woman a home] and makes her ·a happy mother [joyful with children]. Praise the Lord!


text:
God Brought Israel from Egypt When ·the Israelites [Israel] went out of Egypt, the ·people [house] of Jacob left ·that foreign country [a people of incomprehensible language].


text:
Mountains, why did you ·dance [skip] like ·sheep [rams]? Hills, why did you ·dance [skip] like little lambs?


text:
The One True God ·It does not belong [Not to us, not] to us, Lord. The glory belongs to ·you [your name] because of your ·love [loyalty] and ·loyalty [faithfulness].


text:
They have hands, but they cannot feel. They have feet, but they cannot walk. No sounds come from their throats.


text:
People who make ·idols [them] ·will be [or are] like them, and so will those who ·trust [have confidence in] them [; ; ; ; ].


text:
·Family of [O] Israel, ·trust [have confidence in] the Lord; he is your helper and your ·protection [shield].


text:
·Family [House] of Aaron [the priests], ·trust [have confidence in] the Lord; he is your helper and your ·protection [shield].


text:
You who ·respect [fear] the Lord [] should ·trust [have confidence in] him; he is your helper and your ·protection [shield].


text:
The Lord remembers us and will bless us. He will bless the ·family [house] of Israel; he will bless the ·family [house] of Aaron [the priests].


text:
The Lord will bless those who ·respect [fear] him [], from the ·smallest [or least] to the greatest.


text:
May the Lord ·give you success [make you increase], and may he give you and your children ·success [increase].


text:
Thanksgiving for Escaping Death I love the Lord, because he ·listens to my prayers for help [hears/or heard my voice, my prayer of supplication].


text:
He ·paid attention [extends his ear] to me, so I will ·call to him for help [call; pray] ·as long as I live [in my days].


text:
The ·ropes [cords] of death ·bound [encompass] me, and the ·fear [hardship; distress] of ·the grave [Sheol; the grave or the underworld] ·took hold of [reached; found] me. I ·was troubled and sad [found distress and sadness].


text:
The Lord is ·kind [gracious] and ·does what is right [righteous]; our God is ·merciful [compassionate; ].


text:
The Lord ·watches over [keeps; guards] the ·foolish [immature; simpleminded]; when I was ·helpless [brought low], he ·saved me [gave me victory].


text:
I said to myself, “·Relax [Return, my soul/life to your rest], because the Lord ·takes care of you [treats you well].”


text:
Lord, you ·saved [rescued] me from death. ·You stopped my eyes from crying […and my eyes from tears]; ·you kept me from being defeated […my feet from stumbling].


text:
So I will walk ·with [before; in the presence of] the Lord in the land of the living [as opposed to the grave].


text:
The death of ·one that belongs to the Lord [his loyal ones/saints] is precious in his ·sight [eyes].


text:
Lord, I am your servant; I am your servant and the son of your female servant. You have ·freed me from [loosened] my chains.


text:
I will give you ·an offering to show thanks to you [a thanksgiving offering], and I will pray ·to [in the name of] the Lord.


text:
in the ·Temple courtyards [courtyards of the house of the Lord] in your midst, Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!


text:
because ·the Lord loves us very much [great is his loyalty/love toward us], and his ·truth [faithfulness] is everlasting. Praise the Lord!


text:
Thanksgiving for Victory ·Thank [Praise] the Lord because he is good. His ·love [loyalty] ·continues [endures] forever.


text:
Let the ·family [house] of Aaron [the priests] say, “His ·love [loyalty] ·continues [endures] forever.”


text:
I was in ·trouble [distress], so I ·called [prayed] to the Lord. The Lord answered me and set me ·free [in a broad place].


text:
I will not ·be afraid [fear], because the Lord is with me []. ·People can’t do anything [What can people do…?] to me [].


text:
They surrounded me; they surrounded me on every side, but ·with the Lord’s power [in the name of the Lord] I ·defeated them [warded them off].


text:
They surrounded me like a swarm of bees, but they ·died [were extinguished] as quickly as thorns burn. ·By the Lord’s power [In the name of the Lord], I ·defeated them [warded them off].


text:
They [or You] ·chased me [pushed me hard] until I ·was almost defeated [almost fell], but the Lord helped me.


text:
The Lord ·gives me strength and a song [is my strength and song/or might]. He has ·saved me [given me victory].


text:
Shouts of joy and victory come from the tents of ·those who do right [the righteous]: “The right hand of the Lord has done powerful things.”


text:
The ·power [right hand] of the Lord ·has won the victory [is exalted]; with his ·power [right hand] the Lord has done powerful things.


text:
The Lord has ·taught me a hard lesson [surely disciplined/instructed me], but he did not ·let me die [give me over to death].


text:
Open for me the ·Temple gates [gates of righteousness]. Then I will come in and ·thank [praise] the Lord.


text:
·God bless [Blessed be] the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless all of you from the ·Temple [house] of the Lord [; ; ].


text:
The Lord is God, and he has ·shown kindness to [illuminated; given light to] us. ·With branches in your hands, join the feast [Bind the feast/procession with branches]. Come to the ·corners [horns; ] of the altar.


text:
You are my God, and I will ·thank [praise] you; you are my God, and I will ·praise your greatness [exalt you].


text:
The Word of God ·Happy [Blessed] are those ·who live pure lives [whose way is blameless], who follow the Lord’s ·teachings [instructions; law].


text:
Happy are those who keep his ·rules [decrees; testimonies], who ·try to obey [seek] him with their whole heart.


text:
·I wish I [O that my ways] were more ·loyal [steadfast; established; set] in obeying your ·demands [statutes; ordinances; requirements].


text:
When I learned that your ·laws [judgments] are fair, I ·praised [thanked] you with an ·honest [upright] heart.


text:
I will obey your ·demands [statutes; ordinances; requirements], so please don’t ever ·leave [abandon; forsake] me.


text:
How can a young person ·live a pure life [keep his way pure]? By ·obeying [guarding; keeping] your word.


text:
I have ·taken your words to heart [treasured/stored your words in my heart] so I would not sin against you.


text:
Lord, you ·should be praised [are blessed]. Teach me your ·demands [statutes; ordinances; requirements].


text:
I enjoy ·obeying your demands [your statutes/ordinances/requirements], and I will not forget your word.


text:
I am a ·stranger [sojourner; alien resident] ·on earth [or in the land]. Do not hide your commands from me.


text:
·I wear myself out [My soul pines away] with ·desire [longing] for your ·laws [judgments] all the time.


text:
You ·scold [rebuke; reprimand] ·proud [arrogant] people; those who ·ignore [wander from] your commands are cursed.


text:
·Don’t let me be insulted and hated [Take away insult and contempt] because I keep your ·rules [decrees; testimonies].


text:
Even if princes sit around and speak against me, I, your servant, will ·think [meditate] about your ·demands [statutes; ordinances; requirements].


text:
Your ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements] give me pleasure; they ·give me good advice [are my advisors/counselors].


text:
I ·told you about my life [recounted my way], and you answered me. Teach me your ·demands [statutes; ordinances; requirements].


text:
Help me understand your ·orders [the way of your precepts]. Then I will ·think [meditate] about your ·miracles [wonders].


text:
·I am sad and tired [My soul is weary/melts with sorrow affliction]. Make me ·strong [rise up] again as you have promised.


text:
·Don’t let me be dishonest [Turn me away from a false way]; ·have mercy on me by helping me obey your teachings [graciously teach me your instructions/laws].


text:
I have chosen the way of ·truth [faithfulness]; I have ·obeyed [placed before me] your ·laws [judgments].


text:
I ·hold on [cling] to your ·rules [decrees; testimonies]. Lord, do not let me be ·disgraced [shamed].


text:
I will ·quickly obey [run the way of] your commands, because you have ·made me happy [enlarged my heart/mind].


text:
Lord, teach me ·your demands [the way of your demands/statutes/ordinances/requirements], and I will ·keep [observe] them until the end.


text:
Help me understand, so I can ·keep [protect] your ·teachings [instructions; laws], ·obeying [guarding] them with all my heart.


text:
Make me want to keep your ·rules [decrees; testimonies] ·instead of wishing for riches [not to gain/profit].


text:
·Keep me [Turn my eyes] from looking at ·worthless [false; vain] things. Let me live ·by your word [in your path].


text:
How I ·want to follow [long for] your ·orders [precepts]. Give me life because of your ·goodness [righteousness].


text:
Lord, ·show [bring] me your ·love [loyalty], and ·save me [give me victory] as you have ·promised [said].


text:
Never ·keep me from speaking your truth [take the word of truth from my mouth], because I ·depend [pin my hopes] on your ·fair laws [judgments].


text:
I ·praise [lift my palms/hands to] your commands, which I love, and I ·think [meditate] about your ·demands [statutes; ordinances; requirements].


text:
·Proud [Arrogant] people always ·make fun of [mock] me, but I do not ·reject [stray from] your ·teachings [instructions; laws].


text:
·I become angry with wicked people [Indignation seizes me because of the wicked] who ·do not keep [abandon; forsake] your ·teachings [instructions; laws].


text:
I sing about your ·demands [statutes; ordinances; requirements] ·wherever I live [in the house of my dwelling].


text:
Lord, I remember ·you [your name] at night, and I will ·obey [keep; guard] your ·teachings [instructions; laws].


text:
I ·prayed to [entreat; implore] you with all my heart. ·Have mercy on [Be gracious to] me as you have promised.


text:
I ·thought about [considered] my ·life [path], and I ·decided to follow [turned my feet to] your ·rules [decrees; testimonies].


text:
Wicked people have ·tied me up [ensnared me], but I have not forgotten your ·teachings [instructions; laws].


text:
In the middle of the night, I get up to ·thank [praise] you because your ·laws [judgments] are ·right [righteous].


text:
I am a ·friend [companion] to everyone who fears you, to anyone who ·obeys [keeps; guards] your ·orders [precepts].


text:
Lord, your ·love [loyalty] fills the earth. Teach me your ·demands [statutes; ordinances; requirements].


text:
·Proud [Arrogant] people ·have made up lies about me [smear me with lies], but I will ·follow [keep; protect] your ·orders [precepts] with all my heart.


text:
·Those people have no feelings [Their hearts are gross and fat], but I ·love [delight in] your ·teachings [instructions; laws].


text:
It was good for me to ·suffer [be humbled] so I would learn your ·demands [statutes; ordinances; requirements].


text:
·Your teachings [The instructions/laws of your mouth] are ·worth more to [better for] me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.


text:
You made me and ·formed [fashioned; or established] me with your hands. Give me understanding so I can learn your commands.


text:
Lord, I know that your ·laws [judgments] are ·right [righteous] and that it was ·right [faithful] for you to ·punish [humble] me.


text:
·Have mercy [Let your mercy/compassion come] on me so that I may live. I ·love [delight in] your ·teachings [laws; instructions].


text:
Make ·proud [arrogant] people ashamed because they ·lied about me [perverted me with lies]. But I will ·think about [meditate on] your ·orders [precepts].


text:
Let those who ·respect [fear; ] you return to me, those who know your ·rules [decrees; testimonies].


text:
·Let me obey your demands perfectly [May my heart be blameless in regard to your statutes/ordinances/requirements] so I will not be ashamed.


text:
I ·am weak from waiting for you to save me [grow weak for your salvation/victory], but I hope in your word.


text:
Even though I am like a wine bag in smoke [shrunken and dried out], I do not forget your ·demands [statutes; ordinances; requirements].


text:
·How long will I live [Like what are the days of your servant]? When will you ·judge [perform judgment on] those who are ·hurting [pursuing] me?


text:
·Proud [Arrogant] people have dug pits [to trap him]. They ·have nothing to do with your teachings [are not according to your teachings/instructions/laws].


text:
They have almost put me in the ·grave [earth], but I have not ·rejected [abandoned; forsaken] your ·orders [precepts].


text:
Give me life ·by your love [according to your loyalty] so I can ·obey [keep; guard] your ·rules [decrees; testimonies].


text:
·Lord, your word is everlasting [or The Lord is everlasting]; ·it [your word] ·continues forever [is firm] in heaven.


text:
Your ·loyalty [faithfulness; truth] will go on and on; you ·made [established] the earth, and it ·still stands [endures].


text:
All things ·continue [endure] to this day because of your ·laws [judgments], because all things ·serve you [are your servants].


text:
If I had not ·loved [delighted in] your ·teachings [instructions; laws], I would have ·died [perished] ·from my sufferings [in my afflictions].


text:
Wicked people ·are waiting [hope] to ·destroy me [make me perish], but I will ·think about [consider] your ·rules [decrees; testimonies].


text:
How I love your ·teachings [instructions; laws]! I ·think about [ponder; meditate on] them all day long.


text:
I am ·wiser [more insightful] than all my teachers, because I ·think about [ponder; meditate on] your ·rules [decrees; testimonies].


text:
·Your promises are sweet to me [How sweet your words slip/slide down my palate], sweeter than honey in my mouth!


text:
I ·will do what I have promised [have sworn and confirmed it] and ·obey [keep; guard] your ·fair [righteous] ·laws [judgments].


text:
My life is always in ·danger [my hand], but I haven’t forgotten your ·teachings [instructions; laws].


text:
Wicked people have set a trap for me, but I haven’t ·strayed [wandered] from your ·orders [precepts].


text:
·I will follow your rules forever [Your rules/decrees/precepts are my inheritance forever], because they make ·me [my heart] happy.


text:
I will ·try [incline my heart] to do ·what you demand [your statutes/ordinances] forever, until the end.


text:
·Support [Uphold] me as you promised so I can live. Don’t let me be embarrassed because of my hopes.


text:
·Help [Strengthen] me, and I will ·be saved [have victory]. I will always ·respect [care about] your ·demands [statutes; ordinances; requirements].


text:
You ·reject [treat as worthless] those who ·ignore [go astray from] your ·demands [statutes; ordinances; requirements], because their lies ·mislead them [leave them in the lurch].


text:
You throw away the wicked of the world like ·trash [dross]. So I will love your ·rules [decrees; testimonies].


text:
I have done what is ·fair [just] and ·right [righteous]. Don’t leave me to ·those who wrong me [my oppressors/exploiters].


text:
·Promise that you will help me, [Stand as security for/Guarantee good for] your servant. Don’t let ·proud [arrogant] people ·wrong [oppress; exploit] me.


text:
My eyes ·are tired from looking [fail; grow weak] for your ·salvation [victory] and for your good promise.


text:
·Show your love to me, your servant [Deal with your servant according to your love/loyalty], and teach me your ·demands [statutes; ordinances; requirements].


text:
I am your servant. ·Give me wisdom [Make me understand] so I can ·understand [know] your ·rules [decrees; testimonies].


text:
Lord, it is time for you to do something, because ·people have disobeyed your teachings [your teachings/instructions/laws have been broken].


text:
·Learning [Opening] your words ·gives wisdom [illuminates; gives light] and understanding for the ·foolish [immature; simpleminded].


text:
·I am nearly out of breath [I crack/open my mouth and pant]. I ·really want to learn [long for] your commands.


text:
·Look at [Turn to] me and have ·mercy [compassion] on me ·as you do [as is your custom] for those who love ·you [your name].


text:
·Guide my steps [Steady my feet] as you promised; don’t let any ·sin [guilt] ·control [dominate] me.


text:
·Save [Redeem] me from ·harmful [oppressive; exploitative] people so I can ·obey [keep; guard] your ·orders [precepts].


text:
·Show your kindness to [Make your face shine on] me, your servant []. Teach me your ·demands [statutes; ordinances; requirements].


text:
·Tears stream [Streams of water come down] from my eyes, because people do not ·obey [keep; guard] your ·teachings [instructions; laws].


text:
Lord, you ·do what is right [are righteous], and your ·laws [judgments] are ·fair [virtuous; upright].


text:
·The rules [Your decrees/testimonies] you commanded are ·right [righteous] and completely ·trustworthy [true; faithful].


text:
·I am so upset I am worn out [My passion/zeal consumes; or silences me], because my ·enemies [foes] have forgotten your words.


text:
Your ·goodness continues forever [righteousness is an everlasting righteousness], and your ·teachings [instructions; laws] are ·true [faithful].


text:
·I have had troubles and misery [Distress and pressure have found me], but I ·love [delight in] your commands.


text:
Your ·rules [decrees; testimonies] are always ·good [righteous]. ·Help [Make] me understand so I can live.


text:
I call to you with all my heart. Answer me, Lord, and I will ·keep [protect] your ·demands [statutes; ordinances; requirements].


text:
I call to you. ·Save me [Give me victory] so I can ·obey [keep; guard] your ·rules [decrees; testimonies].


text:
·I stay awake all night [My eyes awake in the watches of the night] so I can ·think about [meditate on] your promises.


text:
·Listen to me [Hear my voice] because of your ·love [loyalty]; Lord, ·give me [spare my] life by your ·laws [judgments].


text:
Those who ·love evil [pursue/persecute me with an evil plan] are near, but they are far from your ·teachings [instructions; laws].


text:
Long ago I learned from your ·rules [decrees; testimonies] that you made them ·to continue [foundational] forever.


text:
See my ·suffering [affliction] and rescue me, because I have not forgotten your ·teachings [instructions; laws].


text:
·Wicked people are far from being saved [Salvation/Victory is far from the wicked], because they do not ·want [seek] your ·demands [statutes; ordinances; requirements].


text:
Lord, ·you are very kind [your compassion/mercies are abundant]; give me life by your ·laws [judgments].


text:
Many ·enemies [foes] ·are after [pursue; persecute] me, but I have not ·rejected [swerved from] your ·rules [decrees; testimonies].


text:
I see those traitors, and I ·hate [loathe; am disgusted by] them, because they do not ·obey [keep; guard] what you say.


text:
·Your words are true from the start [The head of your word is true/faithful], and all your ·laws [judgments] will be ·fair [righteous] forever.


text:
Leaders ·attack [pursue] me for no reason, but ·I fear your law in my heart [my heart fears your words].


text:
Those who love your ·teachings [instructions; laws] will find ·true peace [or much prosperity], and nothing will ·defeat them [make them stumble].


text:
I am ·waiting [hoping] for ·you to save me [your salvation/victory], Lord. I will ·obey [do] your commands.


text:
I ·obey [keep; guard] your ·orders [precepts] and ·rules [decrees; testimonies], because ·you know everything I do [all my ways are before you].


text:
Let ·me [my lips] ·speak [bubble forth] your praise, because you have taught me your ·demands [statutes; ordinances; requirements].


text:
I ·want you to save me [desire your salvation/victory], Lord. I ·love [delight in] your ·teachings [instructions; laws].


text:
I have ·wandered [gone astray] like a lost sheep. ·Look for [Seek] your servant, because I have not forgotten your commands.


text:
A Prayer of Someone Far from Home A psalm ·for going up to worship [of ascents; perhaps sung while traveling to Jerusalem to celebrate an annual religious festival like Passover]. When I was in ·trouble [distress], I called to the Lord, and he answered me.


text:
Lord, ·save [protect] me from ·liars [false lips] and from ·those who plan evil [a deceptive tongue].


text:
·You who plan evil [O deceptive tongue], what will ·God do [he give] to you? ·How will he punish [What will he add to] you?


text:
·He will punish you with the sharp arrows of a warrior and with burning coals of wood [The sharp arrows of a warrior and the burning coals of a broom tree; the broom tree produces excellent charcoal].


text:
·How terrible it is for [Woe to] me to ·live in the land of [sojourn/wander in] Meshech [by the Black Sea in Asia Minor; ; ], to ·live [dwell; reside] among the ·people [tents] of Kedar [in the Arabian desert; ; ; ; ].


text:
The Lord Guards His People A song ·for going up to worship [of ascents; perhaps sung while traveling to Jerusalem to celebrate an annual religious festival like Passover]. I ·look up [raise my eyes] to the hills [the hills surrounding Zion, the location of the Temple], but where does my help come from?


text:
He will not let ·you be defeated [your feet be moved/slip]. He who ·guards [watches] you never sleeps.


text:
The Lord ·guards [watches] you. The Lord is the shade ·that protects you from the sun [at your hand, your right hand; ].


text:
The Lord will ·protect [guard; watch] you from all ·dangers [trouble; evil]; he will ·guard [watch] your life.


text:
Happy People in Jerusalem A song ·for going up to worship [of ascents; perhaps sung while traveling to Jerusalem to celebrate an annual religious festival like Passover]. Of David. I ·was happy [rejoiced] when they said to me, “Let’s ·go [walk] to the ·Temple [house] of the Lord.”


text:
The tribes [the twelve tribes of Israel] go up there, the tribes who belong to the Lord. It is the ·rule [decree; testimony] in Israel to ·praise [thank the name of] the Lord at Jerusalem.


text:
There ·are set thrones to judge the people [dwell thrones of judgment], the thrones of the ·descendants [dynasty; house] of David.


text:
To help my ·relatives [brothers] and ·friends [neighbors], I say, “Let ·Jerusalem have peace [peace be within you].”


text:
A Prayer for Mercy A song ·for going up to worship [of ascents; perhaps sung while traveling to Jerusalem to celebrate an annual religious festival like Passover]. Lord, I ·look upward [lift up my eyes] to you, you who ·live [are enthroned; sit] in heaven.


text:
·Slaves depend on their masters [Like the eyes of servants/slaves to the hand of their master], and ·a female servant depends on her mistress [like the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress]. ·In the same way, we depend on the Lord our God […thus our eyes are to the Lord our God as…]; we wait for him to show us ·mercy [grace].


text:
·Have mercy on [Be gracious to] us, Lord. ·Have mercy on [Be gracious to] us, because we have been insulted.


text:
We ·have suffered [are filled with the] ·many insults [much ridicule] from ·lazy [untroubled; unworried] people and much ·cruelty [scorn] from the proud.


text:
The Lord Saves His People A song ·for going up to worship [of ascents; perhaps sung while traveling to Jerusalem to celebrate an annual religious festival like Passover]. Of David. What if the Lord had not been on our side? (Let Israel ·repeat this [say].)


text:
They would have been like ·a flood [water] ·drowning [overflowing] us; they would have ·poured [passed] over us like a ·river [torrent].


text:
God Protects Those Who Trust Him A song ·for going up to worship [of ascents; perhaps sung while traveling to Jerusalem to celebrate an annual religious festival like Passover]. Those who ·trust [have confidence in] the Lord are like Mount Zion [the location of the Temple], which sits unmoved forever.


text:
The ·wicked will not rule over [scepter of the wicked will not rest on; the scepter is a symbol of rule] ·those who do right [the allotment of the righteous]. ·If they did, the people who do right might use their power to do evil […so the righteous do not send forth their hands in evil].


text:
Lord, ·be [or do] good to those who are good, whose hearts are ·honest [virtuous; filled with integrity].


text:
But, Lord, when you ·remove [turn aside] those who ·do evil [are twisted/perverted], also ·remove [make go away] those who ·stop following you [do evil]. Let there be peace in Israel.


text:
Lord, Bring Your People Back A song ·for going up to worship [of ascents; perhaps sung while traveling to Jerusalem to celebrate an annual religious festival like Passover]. When the Lord ·brought the prisoners back to [brought back those who returned to; or restored the fortunes of] Jerusalem [Zion; probably the return from the exile; ; ], it seemed as if we were dreaming [so surprised and happy that it did not seem real].


text:
Then ·we [our mouths] were filled with laughter, and ·we [our tongues] ·sang happy songs [shouted joyfully]. Then the other nations said, “The Lord has done great things for them.”


text:
Lord, ·return our prisoners [bring back those who return; or restore our fortunes] again, as you bring streams to the ·desert [Negev; an arid area in the south of Israel].


text:
Those who ·cry [go out weeping] as they carry out the ·seeds [bag with seeds] will return singing and carrying ·bundles of grain [sheaves].


text:
All Good Things Come from God A song ·for going up to worship [of ascents; perhaps sung while traveling to Jerusalem to celebrate an annual religious festival like Passover]. Of Solomon. If the Lord doesn’t build the house, the builders are working ·for nothing [in vain; without purpose]. If the Lord doesn’t guard the city, the guards are watching ·for nothing [in vain; without purpose].


text:
It is ·no use [in vain; without purpose] for you to get up early and stay up late, ·working for a living [eating the bread of hardship/pain]. The Lord ·gives sleep to those he loves [or provides for those he loves while they sleep].


text:
Children ·who are born to a young man [of one’s youth] are like arrows in the hand of a warrior [they help in the challenges and conflicts of life].


text:
·Happy [Blessed] is the man who has his ·bag [quiver] full of ·arrows [them]. They will not be ·defeated [humiliated] when they ·fight [speak to] their enemies at the city gate [the central place of commerce and government].


text:
The Happy Home A song ·for going up to worship [of ascents; perhaps sung while traveling to Jerusalem to celebrate an annual religious festival like Passover]. ·Happy [Blessed] are those who ·respect [fear] the Lord [] and ·obey him [walk in his ways].


text:
You will ·enjoy what you work for [eat the labor of your hands], and you will be ·blessed [happy] with ·good things [prosperity].


text:
Your wife will be like a fruitful vine [produce many children] in your house []. Your children will be like olive branches [bringing much good] around your table [; ].


text:
May the Lord bless you from Mount Zion [the location of the Temple]; may you ·enjoy [experience; see] the ·good things [prosperity] of Jerusalem all the days of your life.


text:
A Prayer Against the Enemies A song ·for going up to worship [of ascents; perhaps sung while traveling to Jerusalem to celebrate an annual religious festival like Passover]. ·They have treated me badly all my life [Many are my foes from my youth]. (Let Israel ·repeat this [say].)


text:
·They have treated me badly all my life [Many are my foes from my youth], but they have not ·defeated [overcome; prevailed over] me.


text:
·Like farmers plowing, they plowed over my back [The plowers plowed my back], making ·long wounds [their furrows long].


text:
Let those who hate ·Jerusalem [Zion; the location of the Temple] be ·turned back in shame [humiliated and turn back].


text:
There is not enough of it ·to [for the harvester to] fill a hand or ·to make into a bundle [those who bind sheaves] to fill one’s arms.


text:
Let those who pass by them not say, “May the Lord bless you. We bless you by the ·power [name] of the Lord.”


text:
A Prayer for Mercy A song ·for going up to worship [of ascents; perhaps sung while traveling to Jerusalem to celebrate an annual religious festival like Passover]. Lord, ·I am in great trouble [from the depths], so I ·call out [pray] to you.


text:
Lord, hear my voice; ·listen to my prayer for help [let your ear pay attention to the sound of my supplication].


text:
Lord, if you ·punished people for all their sins [observed/watched/guarded against iniquity], ·no one would be left [who could stand…?], Lord.


text:
I ·wait for the Lord to help me [hope for the Lord] more than night watchmen wait for the ·dawn [morning], more than night watchmen wait for the ·dawn [morning].


text:
People of Israel, put your hope in the Lord because he is ·loving [loyal] and ·able to save [with him is abundant redemption].


text:
Childlike Trust in the Lord A song ·for going up to worship [of ascents; perhaps sung while traveling to Jerusalem to celebrate an annual religious festival like Passover]. Of David. Lord, my heart is not proud; ·I don’t look down on others [my eyes are not haughty/lifted up]. I don’t ·do [consider doing] great things, and I ·can’t do [don’t consider doing] ·miracles [wonderful acts].


text:
But I ·am calm and quiet [have stilled and quieted my soul] like a ·baby [weaned child] with its mother, like a ·baby [weaned child] with its mother [a relationship with God is like that of a mother with her weaned child resting comfortably in her arms].


text:
In Praise of the Temple A song ·for going up to worship [of ascents; perhaps sung while traveling to Jerusalem to celebrate an annual religious festival like Passover]. Lord, remember David and all his ·suffering [afflictions].


text:
He said, “I will not ·go home to my house [enter into the tent of my house], or ·lie down on my bed [go up to the couch of my bed],


text:
We heard about it [the Ark] in ·Bethlehem [Ephrathah]. We found it in the fields of Jearim [Kiriath Jearim; ].


text:
May your priests ·do what is right [be clothed with righteousness]. May your ·people [saints; loyal ones] sing for joy.


text:
For the sake of your servant David, do not ·reject [turn from the face of] your ·appointed [anointed] king.


text:
The Lord ·made a promise [swore] to David, a sure promise that he will not take back [, ]. He promised, “I will ·make one of your descendants rule as king after you [set on your throne from the fruit of your womb; ].


text:
If your sons ·keep [observe; guard] my ·agreement [covenant; treaty] and the ·rules [decrees; testimonies] that I teach them, then their sons after them will ·rule [sit] on your throne forever and ever.”


text:
The Lord has chosen ·Jerusalem [Zion; the location of the Temple]; he ·wants [desires] it for his home.


text:
He says, “This is my resting place forever. Here is where I ·want to stay [will sit/reside because I desire it].


text:
I will ·cover [clothe] her priests with ·salvation [victory], and ·those who worship me [her saints/loyal ones] will really sing for joy.


text:
“I will ·make a king come from the family of [cause a horn to sprout up for; an animal’s horn symbolizes strength] David []. I will ·provide my appointed one descendants to rule after him [prepare a lamp for my anointed king; ].


text:
The Love of God’s People A song ·for going up to worship [of ascents; perhaps sung while traveling to Jerusalem to celebrate an annual religious festival like Passover]. Of David. ·It is [How] good and pleasant when ·God’s people [brothers] live together [in unity]!


text:
It is like ·perfumed [fine] oil on the head and running down his beard []. It ran down Aaron’s beard and on to the collar of his robes.


text:
It is like the dew of Mount Hermon [in the extreme north of Israel] falling on the hills of ·Jerusalem [Zion; the location of the Temple]. There the Lord ·gives [commanded] his blessing of life forever.


text:
Temple Guards, Praise the Lord A song ·for going up to worship [of ascents; perhaps sung while traveling to Jerusalem to celebrate an annual religious festival like Passover]. ·Praise [Bless] the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, you who ·serve [stand] at night in the ·Temple [house] of the Lord.


text:
May the Lord bless you from Mount Zion [the location of the Temple], he who made heaven and earth [].


text:
The Lord Saves, Idols Do Not Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord; praise him, you servants of the Lord,


text:
you who stand in the Lord’s ·Temple [house] and in the ·Temple courtyards [courtyards of the house of our God].


text:
Praise the Lord, because the Lord is good; ·sing praises [make a psalm] to him, because it is pleasant.


text:
The Lord has chosen the people of Jacob for himself; he has chosen the people of Israel ·for his very own [as his special possession/treasure; ; ; ; ].


text:
He brings the clouds from the ends of the earth. He ·sends [makes] the lightning with the rain. He brings out the wind from his storehouses [].


text:
He ·did [sent] many signs and ·miracles [wonders] in Egypt against ·the king [Pharaoh] and all his servants [the plagues; ].


text:
Then he gave their land as a ·gift [inheritance], a ·gift [inheritance] to his people, the Israelites [].


text:
People who make idols will be like them, and so will those who ·trust [have confidence in] them [; ; ; ; ].


text:
·Family [House] of Israel, ·praise [bless] the Lord. ·Family [House] of Aaron [the priests], ·praise [bless] the Lord.


text:
·Family [House] of Levi [assistants to the priests], ·praise [bless] the Lord. You who ·respect [fear] the Lord [] should ·praise [bless] him.


text:
You ·people of [who live in] Jerusalem, ·praise [bless] the Lord on Mount Zion [the location of the Temple]. Praise the Lord!


text:
God’s Love Continues Forever ·Give thanks to [Praise] the Lord because he is good. His ·love [loyalty] continues forever.


text:
With his ·wisdom [understanding; ; ; ] he made the ·skies [heavens; ]. His ·love [loyalty] continues forever.


text:
He brought the people of Israel out of ·Egypt [their midst; ]. His ·love [loyalty] continues forever.


text:
He did it with his ·great power [strong hand] and ·strength [outstretched arm]. His ·love [loyalty] continues forever.


text:
But ·the king of Egypt [Pharaoh] and his army ·drowned in [were swept into] the ·Red [Reed] Sea []. His ·love [loyalty] continues forever.


text:
It was a ·gift [inheritance] to his servants, the Israelites. His ·love [loyalty] continues forever.


text:
He remembered us ·when we were in trouble [in our low condition]. His ·love [loyalty] continues forever.


text:
He gives ·food [bread] to ·every living creature [all flesh]. His ·love [loyalty] continues forever.


text:
Israelites in Captivity By the rivers in Babylon we sat and ·cried [wept; during the Babylonian exile] when we remembered ·Jerusalem [Zion; the location of the Temple].


text:
·Those who captured us [Our captors] asked us to sing; our ·enemies [oppressors] wanted happy songs. They said, “Sing us a song about ·Jerusalem [Zion; the location of the Temple]!”


text:
Jerusalem, if I forget you, let my right hand ·lose its skill [forget; its skill of playing a musical instrument].


text:
Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not ·think about Jerusalem as my greatest joy [or go up to Jerusalem with joy on my head].


text:
Lord, remember ·what the Edomites did [the sons of Edom] on the day ·Jerusalem fell [of Jerusalem; ; ; ; ]. They said, “Tear it down! Tear it down to its foundations!”


text:
·People [Daughter] of Babylon, you will be destroyed. The people who pay you back for what you did to us will be ·happy [blessed].


text:
A Hymn of Thanksgiving A psalm of David. Lord, I will ·thank [praise] you with all my heart; I will ·sing [make a psalm] to you before the gods.


text:
I will bow down facing your holy Temple, and I will ·thank [praise] ·you [your name] for your ·love [loyalty] and ·loyalty [faithfulness]. You have ·made your name and your word greater than anything [exalted your word above all your name].


text:
On the day I ·called [prayed] to you, you answered me. You ·made me strong and brave [have emboldened/encouraged my soul with strength].


text:
Lord, let all the kings of the earth ·praise [thank] you when they hear the words ·you speak [of your mouth].


text:
They will sing about ·what the Lord has done [the way of the Lord], because the Lord’s glory [his manifest presence] is great.


text:
Though the Lord is ·supreme [exalted], he ·takes care of [looks on] ·those who are humble [the lowly], but he ·stays away from the proud [perceives the proud from far away].


text:
Lord, ·even when I have trouble all around me [if I walk in the midst of distress], you will keep me alive. When my enemies are angry, you will ·reach down [send out your hand] and save me by your ·power [right hand].


text:
Lord, you ·do everything [fulfill/accomplish your plan] for me. Lord, your ·love [loyalty] continues forever. Do not ·leave [abandon; forsake] us, ·whom you made [the work of your hands].


text:
God Knows Everything For the director of music. A psalm of David. Lord, you have ·examined [investigated; searched] me and know all about me.


text:
You know when I sit down and when I ·get up [rise]. You ·know [understand] my thoughts ·before I think them [from afar].


text:
You ·know [measure] ·where I go [my path] and ·where I lie down [my lying down]. You ·know [are familiar with] ·everything I do [all my path].


text:
Your knowledge is ·amazing [wonderful; or overwhelming] to me; it is ·more than I can understand [too high/unattainable. I am not able to grasp it; ].


text:
If I ·go [climb] up to the heavens, you are there. If I ·lie down [spread out; make my bed] in ·the grave [Sheol; the grave or the underworld], you are there.


text:
If I rise with the ·sun in the east [wings of the dawn] and settle in the ·west beyond [back of] the sea,


text:
But even the darkness is not dark to you. The night ·is as light as [shines like] the day; darkness and light are the same to you.


text:
You ·made [created] my ·whole being [inward parts]; you ·formed [knitted] me in my mother’s ·body [belly; womb].


text:
I ·praise [thank] you because you made me in an ·amazing [awesome] and wonderful way. What you have done is wonderful. I know this very well.


text:
·You saw my bones being formed [My bones were not hidden from you] as I ·took shape [was made] in ·my mother’s body [secret]. When I was ·put together [woven] ·there [in the depths of the earth],


text:
·you [your eyes] saw my ·body as it was formed [embyro]. All the days ·planned [formed] for me were written in your book ·before I was one day old [not one of them existed].


text:
If I could count them, they would be more than all the grains of sand. When I ·wake up [or come to the end], I am still with you.


text:
They ·say evil things about [make evil plans against] you. Your enemies ·use your name thoughtlessly [lift in vain; ].


text:
Lord, ·I hate [Do I not hate…?] those who hate you; ·I hate [Do I not abhor…?] those who rise up against you.


text:
See if there is any ·bad thing [hurtful way] in me. Lead me on the ·road to everlasting life [everlasting/or ancient way].


text:
A Prayer for Protection For the director of music. A psalm of David. Lord, rescue me from evil people; protect me from ·cruel [violent] people


text:
who ·make evil plans [consider evil in their hearts], who ·always start fights [every day stir up war; ; ].


text:
They make their tongues sharp as a snake’s; ·their words are like snake poison [the venom of vipers is under their lips; ]. ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
Lord, ·guard [keep] me from the ·power [hand] of wicked people; protect me from ·cruel [violent] people who plan ·to trip me up [my downfall].


text:
The ·proud [arrogant] hid a trap for me. They spread out a net [with cords] beside the road; they set ·traps [snares] for me. ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
I said to the Lord, “You are my God.” Lord, ·listen [give ear] to my prayer ·for help [of supplication].


text:
Lord God, my ·mighty [strong] ·savior [victor], you ·protect me in [cover my head in the day of] battle.


text:
Lord, do not give the wicked what they ·want [desire]. Don’t let their plans succeed, or they will become ·proud [exalted]. ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
Those around me have ·planned trouble [uplifted heads]. Now let ·it [the trouble of their lips] come to them.


text:
Let burning coals ·fall [rain] on them. ·Throw them [Let them fall] into the fire or into pits from which they cannot ·escape [get up].


text:
Don’t let ·liars [a tongue-man] ·settle [be established] in the land. Let evil ·quickly [or with blows] hunt down ·cruel [violent] people.


text:
·Good [Righteous] people will ·praise [thank] his name; ·honest [virtuous] people will live in his presence.


text:
A Prayer Not to Sin A psalm of David. Lord, I ·call [pray] to you. Come quickly to me. ·Listen to me [Give ear to my voice] when I ·call [pray] to you.


text:
Let my prayer be like incense placed before you [; ], and ·my praise [the lifting of my hands] like the evening sacrifice.


text:
Lord, ·help me control my tongue [set a guard on my mouth]; ·help me be careful about what I say [keep watch on the door of my mouth; ; ; ].


text:
·Take away my desire to do evil [Don’t incline my heart to an evil matter] or to join others in doing wrong. Don’t let me eat tasty food with those who do evil.


text:
If a ·good [righteous] person ·punished [hit] me, that would be ·kind [an act of loyalty]. If he corrected me, that would be like perfumed oil on my head. ·I [My head] shouldn’t refuse it. But I pray against those who do evil.


text:
Let their ·leaders [judges] be thrown down the cliffs. Then people will ·know that I have spoken correctly [listen to my words for they are pleasant]:


text:
“·The ground [or The rock; Like it] is plowed and broken up. In the same way, our bones have been scattered at the ·grave [mouth of Sheol; the grave or the underworld].”


text:
God, ·I look to you for help [my eyes are to you]. I ·trust [find refuge] in you, Lord. Don’t let ·me die [my life pour out].


text:
·Protect [Guard; Keep] me from the traps they set for me and from the net that evil people have spread.


text:
A Prayer for Safety A ·maskil [skillful psalm; meditation] of David when he was in the cave [at Adullam (, ) or En-Gedi ()]. A prayer. I cry out to the Lord; I ·pray [cry out] to the Lord for ·mercy [grace].


text:
When ·I am afraid [I am depressed; my spirit is faint], you, Lord, know ·the way out [my way]. In the path where I walk, ·a trap is hidden [they have hidden a trap] for me.


text:
Look ·around me [at/on my right hand] and see. No one cares about me. ·I have no place of safety [A place of refuge perishes from me]; no one ·cares if I live [seeks for my soul].


text:
Lord, I cry out to you. I say, “You are my ·protection [refuge]. ·You are all I want in this life […my portion in the land of the living].”


text:
·Listen [Pay attention] to my cry, because I am ·helpless [brought very low]. ·Save [Protect] me from those who are ·chasing [pursuing; persecuting] me, because they are too strong for me.


text:
·Free me [Bring me out] from my prison, and then I will ·praise [thank] your name. Then ·good [righteous] people will surround me, because you have ·taken care of me [given me my reward].


text:
A Prayer Not to Be Killed A psalm of David. Lord, hear my prayer; ·listen [give ear] to my ·cry for mercy [prayer of supplication]. Answer me because you are ·loyal [faithful] and ·good [righteous].


text:
Don’t ·judge me [bring me into judgment], your servant, because no one alive is ·right [righteous] before you [; ].


text:
My enemies are ·chasing [pursuing; persecuting] me; they crushed me to the ground. They made me ·live [sit] in darkness like those long dead [].


text:
·I am afraid [I am depressed; my spirit is faint; ]; my ·courage is gone [heart within me is desolated].


text:
I remember ·what happened long ago [the former days]; I ·consider [meditated on] everything you have done. I ·think [considered] ·about all you have made [the work of your hands].


text:
I ·lift my hands to you in prayer [spread out my hands to you]. ·As a dry land needs rain, I thirst [My life/soul is like a thirsty/parched land] for you. ·Selah [Interlude]


text:
Lord, answer me quickly, because ·I am getting weak [my spirit languishes]. Don’t ·turn away [hide your face] from me, or I will be like those who ·are dead [go down to the pit].


text:
·Tell me [Make me hear] in the morning about your ·love [loyalty], because I ·trust [have confidence in] you. ·Show me what I should do [Make me know the way I should walk], because ·my prayers go up [I lift up my soul] to you.


text:
Teach me to do ·what you want [your will], because you are my God. Let your good Spirit [or spirit] ·lead [guide] me on level ground.


text:
Lord, let me live ·so people will praise you [for the sake of your name]. In your ·goodness [righteousness] ·save me [bring me out] from my ·troubles [distress].


text:
In your ·love [loyalty] ·defeat [destroy] my enemies. ·Destroy [Make perish] all those who ·trouble [distress] me, because I am your servant.


text:
A Prayer for Victory Of David. ·Praise [Blessed be] the Lord, my Rock [], who trains ·me [my hands] for war, who trains ·me [my fingers] for battle.


text:
·He protects me like a strong, walled city, and he loves me [He is my loyal one and my fortress]. He is my ·defender [stronghold] and my ·Savior [rescuer], my shield ·and my protection [in whom I find refuge]. He ·helps me keep my people under control [subdues my people under me].


text:
Lord, ·why are people important to you [what are people that you care about them]? ·Why do you even think about human beings [What are human beings that you think about them; ]?


text:
Lord, ·tear open [bend] the ·sky [heavens] and come down. Touch the mountains so they will smoke [; , ].


text:
Send the lightning and scatter ·my enemies [them]. Shoot your arrows and ·force them away [rout them; ].


text:
·Reach down [Send forth your hand] from above. ·Save me [Set me free] and ·rescue [protect] me ·out of this sea of enemies [from the mighty waters; symbolizing chaos], from ·these [the hand/power of] foreigners.


text:
·They are liars [Their mouths speak vanities/falsehood]; ·they are dishonest [their right hand is a false right hand].


text:
God, I will sing a new song [celebrating victory; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ] to you; I will ·play [make a psalm] to you on the ten-stringed harp.


text:
You give ·victory [salvation] to kings. You ·save [set free] your servant David from ·cruel [evil] swords.


text:
·Save me [Set me free], ·rescue [protect] me from ·these [the hand/power of the] foreigners. ·They are liars [Their mouths speak vanities/falsehood]; ·they are dishonest [their right hand is a false right hand].


text:
Let our sons in their youth ·grow like plants [or be like full-grown plants; robust and vital; ]. Let our daughters be like the ·decorated [cut] ·stones [or pillars] in the ·Temple [or palace; stately and beautiful].


text:
Let our barns be filled with crops of all kinds. Let our sheep in the fields have thousands and tens of thousands of lambs.


text:
Let our cattle be ·strong [well fed; or heavy with young]. Let ·no one break in [there be no breach; or no miscarriage; in the city walls]. Let there be no ·war [going out; in war or exile, or perhaps referring to premature birth], no screams in our ·streets [public areas].


text:
·Happy [Blessed] are ·those [the people] who are like this; ·happy [blessed] are the people whose God is the Lord.


text:
Praise to God the King A psalm of praise. Of David. I ·praise your greatness [exalt you], my God the King; I will ·praise [bless] ·you [your name] forever and ever.


text:
The Lord is great and ·worthy of our praise [greatly to be praised; ]; ·no one can understand how great he is [there is no searching out/limit to his greatness].


text:
·Parents [A generation] will ·tell their children [praise to a generation] what you have done. They will ·retell [proclaim] your mighty acts,


text:
·wonderful majesty, and glory [and the majestic glory of your splendor; God’s manifest presence]. And I will ·think about [meditate on] your ·miracles [wonderful works].


text:
They will tell about the ·amazing things you do [might of your awesomeness], and I will ·tell [recount] how great you are.


text:
They will ·remember [bubble forth with] ·your great goodness [the remembrance of your goodness] and will sing about your ·fairness [righteousness].


text:
The Lord is ·kind [gracious] and ·shows mercy [compassionate]. He ·does not become angry quickly [is slow to anger] but ·is full of love [has great loyalty].


text:
Lord, everything you have made will ·praise [bless] you; ·those who belong to you [your saints/loyal ones] will bless you.


text:
Then everyone will know the mighty things you do and the glory and ·majesty [splendor] of your kingdom.


text:
Your kingdom ·will go on and on [is an eternal kingdom], and you will rule ·forever [from generation to generation; ]. The Lord ·will keep all his promises [is faithful/true in all his words]; he is loyal to all he has made.


text:
The Lord ·helps [supports] those who have ·been defeated [fallen] and ·takes care of [lifts up] those who are ·in trouble [bowed down].


text:
·All living things look to you for food [The eyes of all look to you], and you give ·it [their food] to them at the right time.


text:
·Everything the Lord does is right [The Lord is righteous in all his ways]. He is loyal ·to all he has made [or in all his deeds].


text:
The Lord is ·close [near] to everyone who ·prays to [calls on] him, to all who ·truly pray to him [call on him in truth/faithfulness].


text:
He ·gives those who respect him what they want [accomplishes the desire of all who fear him; ]. He listens when they cry, and he ·saves them [gives them victory].


text:
·I will praise [My mouth will speak the praise of] the Lord. Let ·everyone [all flesh] ·praise [bless] his holy name forever.


text:
I will praise the Lord ·all [with] my life; I will ·sing praises [make a psalm] to my God as long as I live.


text:
Do not put your ·trust [confidence] in princes or other people, who cannot ·save you [give you victory; ].


text:
·When people die [Their spirit goes out], they ·are buried [return to the ground]. ·Then all of [On that day] their plans ·come to an end [perish].


text:
·Happy [Blessed] are those who are helped by the God of Jacob [another name for Israel]. Their hope is in the Lord their God.


text:
He made heaven and earth, the sea and everything in it []. He ·remains [keeps; observes; guards] ·loyal [faithfulness; truth] forever.


text:
He does ·what is fair [justice] for those who have been ·wronged [oppressed; exploited]. He gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free.


text:
The Lord ·gives sight to [opens the eyes of] the blind. The Lord lifts up people who are ·in trouble [bowed down; ]. The Lord loves ·those who do right [the righteous].


text:
The Lord ·protects [guards] the ·foreigners [sojourners]. He ·defends [supports] the orphans and widows [the socially vulnerable], but he ·blocks [frustrates] the way of the wicked.


text:
The Lord will ·be King [reign] forever [; ; ; ; ; ; ]. ·Jerusalem [Zion; the location of the Temple], your God is everlasting. Praise the Lord!


text:
Praise God Who Helps His People Praise the Lord! It is good to ·sing praises [make a psalm] to our God; it is pleasant and ·good [fitting] to praise him.


text:
The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem [; ; ]; he ·brings back [gathers; assembles] the ·captured [scattered; dispersed] Israelites [perhaps a reference to those who returned after the Babylonian exile; ; ].


text:
He ·fills [covers] the ·sky [heavens] with clouds and ·sends [sets; establishes] rain to the earth and makes grass ·grow [sprout] on the ·hills [mountains].


text:
He ·is not impressed with [does not delight in] the strength of a horse, nor does he take pleasure in ·human might [the thighs of a person].


text:
The Lord ·is pleased with [takes pleasure in] those who ·respect [fear] him [], with those who ·trust [wait for; hope in] his ·love [loyalty].


text:
Jerusalem, ·praise [celebrate] the Lord; ·Jerusalem [Zion; the location of the Temple], praise your God.


text:
He ·makes your city gates strong [strengthens the bars of your gates] and blesses your children ·inside [within you].


text:
He ·brings [sets] peace to your ·country [boundaries] and ·fills [satisfies; satiates] you with the finest ·grain [wheat].


text:
He ·gives a command [sends forth his word] to the earth, and ·it quickly obeys him [his word quickly runs].


text:
He throws down hail like ·rocks [morsels; bits; pieces]. No one can stand ·the cold he sends [before his cold].


text:
Then he ·gives a command [sends forth his word], and it melts. He sends the breezes, and the waters flow.


text:
He ·gave [announced] his word to Jacob [another name for Israel], his laws [statutes; requirements; ordinances] and ·demands [judgments] to Israel [].


text:
He didn’t do this for ·any other [all the] nation. They don’t know his ·laws [judgments]. Praise the Lord!


text:
The World Should Praise the Lord Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the ·skies [heavens]. Praise him ·high above the earth [in the heights].


text:
Praise him, all you ·angels [messengers]. Praise him, all ·you armies of heaven [his hosts; the angelic army].


text:
Let them praise the name of the Lord, because ·they were created by his command [he commands and they were created; ].


text:
He ·put them in place [made them stand] forever and ever; he made a ·law [statute; requirement; ordinance] that will never ·change [pass].


text:
Praise the Lord from the earth, you large sea ·animals [monsters; like Leviathan; ; ; ; ; ; ] and all the ·oceans [deeps],


text:
·lightning [fire] and hail, snow and ·mist [cloud; or smoke], and stormy winds that ·obey him [do his word],


text:
Praise the name of the Lord, because ·he [his name] alone is ·great [exalted]. ·He is more wonderful than [His splendor is over] heaven and earth.


text:
God has ·given his people a king [exalted/raised a horn over his people; an animal’s horn symbolizes power]. He should be praised by all ·who belong to him [his saints/loyal ones]; he should be praised by the ·Israelites [sons/children of Israel], the people ·closest to his heart [nearest to him]. Praise the Lord!


text:
Praise the God of Israel Praise the Lord! Sing a new song [celebrating victory; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ] to the Lord; sing his praise in the ·meeting [assembly; congregation] of his ·people [saints; loyal ones].


text:
Let the Israelites ·be happy [rejoice] because of God, [in] their Maker. Let the ·people of Jerusalem [sons of Zion; location of the Temple] rejoice ·because [in] of their King.


text:
They should praise him with dancing. They should ·sing praises [make a psalm] to him with tambourines and harps.


text:
Let ·those who worship him [the saints/loyal ones] rejoice in his glory [God’s manifest presence]. Let them sing for joy even in bed!


text:
Let them ·shout his praise [exalt God with their throats] with their two-edged swords in their hands.


text:
They will ·punish them as God has written [accomplish a written judgment]. God is honored by ·all who worship him [his saints/loyal ones]. Praise the Lord!


text:
Praise the Lord with Music Praise the Lord! Praise God in his ·Temple [holy place; or holiness]; praise him in his ·mighty heaven [strong firmament; ].


text:
The Importance of Proverbs These are the ·wise words [proverbs] of Solomon son of David, king of Israel.


text:
They teach wisdom and ·self-control [discipline; instruction]; they will help you understand ·wise words [insightful sayings].


text:
They will teach you how to be ·wise [insightful] and ·self-controlled [disciplined] and will teach you to do what is ·honest [righteous] and ·fair [just] and ·right [virtuous].


text:
They make the ·uneducated [simpleminded; immature; naive] ·wise [prudent] and give knowledge and ·sense [discretion] to the young.


text:
Wise people can also listen and ·learn [add/increase teaching]; even ·they [those with understanding] can find good ·advice in these words [guidance].


text:
Then ·anyone [they] can understand ·wise words [proverbs] and ·stories [or difficult sayings], the words of the wise and their ·riddles [difficulties].


text:
Knowledge begins with ·respect [fear; awe] for the Lord, but fools ·hate [despise] wisdom and ·discipline [self-control; instruction].


text:
Warnings Against Evil My ·child [son], listen to your father’s ·teaching [instruction; discipline] and do not ·forget [neglect] your mother’s ·advice [instruction].


text:
[For] ·Their teaching [It] will be like ·flowers in your hair [a gracious garland on your head] or ·a necklace [beads] around your neck.


text:
They will say, “Come with us. Let’s ambush and kill someone; let’s attack some innocent people just for fun.


text:
Let’s swallow them alive, ·as death does [like the grave/Sheol]; let’s swallow them whole, ·as the grave does [like those who go down into the pit].


text:
We will ·take [find] all kinds of ·valuable things [precious wealth] and fill our houses with ·stolen goods [plunder].


text:
·Come join us [Throw in your lot with us], and we will share ·with you stolen goods [a single bag (of loot)].”


text:
My ·child [son], do not go ·along with them [on their path]; ·do not do what they do [keep your foot from their way/path].


text:
But sinners will ·fall into their own traps [set up a deadly ambush]; they ·will only catch [lie in wait for] themselves!


text:
Wisdom Speaks Wisdom [the personification of God’s wisdom; ; ] ·is like a woman shouting [shouts] in the street; she ·raises her voice [yells out] in the city squares [the hub for business, government, and social interaction].


text:
She cries out ·in the noisy street [at the top of the noisy throng] and shouts at the [entrances of] city gates:


text:
“You ·fools [simpletons; immature ones], how long will you be ·foolish [immature]? How long will you make ·fun of wisdom [mocking so dear to you] and hate knowledge?


text:
If only you had ·listened [responded] when I corrected you, I would have ·told you what’s in my heart [poured forth my spirit to you]; I would have ·told you what I am thinking [revealed my words to you].


text:
You ·did not follow [ignored] my advice and did not ·listen when I corrected [want me to correct] you.


text:
So I will laugh ·when you are in trouble [at your calamity]. I will ·make fun [ridicule you] when disaster strikes you,


text:
when ·disaster [dread] comes over you like a ·storm [tempest], when trouble strikes you like a whirlwind, when ·pain [distress] and ·trouble [oppression] overwhelm you.


text:
“Then you will call to me, but I will not answer. You will ·look for [seek] me, but you will not find me.


text:
It is because you ·rejected [hated] knowledge and did not choose to ·respect [fear; hold in awe] the Lord.


text:
So you will ·get what you deserve [eat from the fruit of your path]; you will ·get what you planned for others [or be satisfied with your own counsel].


text:
·Fools [The simple/immature] will die because they ·refuse to listen [turn away]; ·they [fools] will be destroyed because ·they do not care [of complacency].


text:
But those who ·listen to [obey] me will live in safety ·and be at peace, without fear of injury [untroubled by the dread of harm].”


text:
Rewards of Wisdom My ·child [or son], ·listen to [grasp] what I say and ·remember [store up] what I command you.


text:
·Listen carefully [Bend your ear] to wisdom; ·set your mind on [stretch your heart to] understanding.


text:
Then you will understand ·respect [fear; awe; ] for the Lord, and you will find ·that you know God [the knowledge of God].


text:
He stores up ·wisdom [resourcefulness] for those who ·are honest [have integrity]. Like a shield he protects the innocent.


text:
He ·makes sure that justice is done [guards the path of justice], and he protects those who are loyal to him.


text:
Then you will understand what is ·honest [righteous] and ·fair [just] and what is ·the good and right thing to do [virtuous, every good course/path].


text:
Wisdom will ·come into your mind [penetrate your heart], and knowledge will be ·pleasing [attractive] to you.


text:
It will keep you from the ·wicked [evil path], from those whose words are ·bad [perverted; twisted],


text:
It [Wisdom] will save you from the ·unfaithful wife [strange woman] ·who tries to lead you into adultery [from the foreign woman] with ·pleasing words [flattery; compliments].


text:
She leaves ·the husband she married when she was young [the intimate relationship of her youth]. She ·ignores [forgets] ·the promise she made before [her covenant with] God.


text:
Her house ·is on the way [sinks down] to death; ·those who took that path are now all dead [or her paths come down to her dead ancestors].


text:
·But wisdom will help you be good [or Stay on the path of good people] and ·do what is right [guard the road of the righteous].


text:
Those who ·are honest [have integrity/virtue] will live in the land, and those who are ·innocent [blameless] will remain in it.


text:
But the wicked will be ·removed [cut off] from the land, and the unfaithful will be ·thrown out of [uprooted from] it.


text:
Advice to Children My ·child [son], do not forget my ·teaching [instruction; law], but ·keep my commands in mind [let your heart/mind protect my commands].


text:
Then ·you will live a long time, and your life will be successful [length of days and years of life and peace will be added to you].


text:
Don’t ·ever forget kindness and truth [let loyalty and faithfulness abandon you]. ·Wear [Bind] them ·like a necklace [on your neck]. Write them on your heart as if on a tablet.


text:
·Remember the Lord [Know him] ·in all you do [on all your paths], and he will ·give you success [keep your roads straight].


text:
Don’t ·depend on your own wisdom [be wise in your own eyes]. ·Respect [Fear; Hold in awe] the Lord and ·refuse to do wrong [turn away from evil].


text:
My ·child [son], do not reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t ·get angry [loathe] when he corrects you.


text:
·With [In] her right hand ·wisdom offers you a long life [are length of days], and ·with [in] her left hand ·she gives you [are] riches and honor.


text:
As a tree produces fruit, wisdom gives life to those who use it, and everyone who uses it will be happy.


text:
The Lord ·made [laid the foundations of] the earth, ·using his wisdom [or with Wisdom; ]. He set the ·sky [heavens] in place, using his ·understanding [competence].


text:
With his knowledge, ·he made springs flow into rivers [the deeps burst open] and the clouds drop ·rain on the earth [dew].


text:
My ·child [son], ·hold on to [protect] ·wisdom [resourcefulness] and ·good sense [discretion]. Don’t let them ·out of your sight [slip from your eyes].


text:
Then you will ·go your way [walk on your path; of life] in safety, and ·you will not get hurt [your foot will not stumble].


text:
because the Lord will ·keep you safe [be your confidence]. He will ·keep you from being trapped [guard your feet from capture].


text:
If you have what your neighbor asks for, don’t say, “Come back later. I will give it to you tomorrow.”


text:
Don’t be jealous of those who use violence, and don’t ·choose to be like them [prefer their path; of life].


text:
·The Lord hates those who do wrong [The devious are an abomination to the Lord], but he is a ·friend [confidant] to those who are ·honest [virtuous].


text:
The Lord will curse the evil person’s house, but he will bless the home of ·those who do right [the righteous].


text:
The Lord ·laughs at [mocks] those who ·laugh at [mock] him, but he ·gives grace [shows favor] to ·those who are not proud [the humble].


text:
Wise people ·will receive honor [possess glory], but fools ·will be disgraced [give off/exude shame].


text:
Wisdom Is Important My ·children [sons], listen to your father’s ·teaching [discipline; instruction]; pay attention ·so you will understand [to the knowledge of understanding].


text:
·What I am telling you is good [I will give you good teaching], so do not ·forget [abandon; forsake] ·what I teach you [my instruction].


text:
When I was a ·young boy in my father’s house [son to my father] ·and like an only child to [tender, and the only one of] my mother,


text:
my father taught me and said, “Hold on to my words with all your heart. ·Keep [Guard] my commands and you will live.


text:
·Get [Acquire] wisdom and ·get [acquire] understanding. Don’t forget or ·ignore [turn away from] ·my words [the speeches of my mouth].


text:
·Hold on to wisdom [Don’t abandon her; Wisdom is here personified as a woman; ; ], and it [or she] will ·take care of [guard] you. Love ·it [or her], and ·it [or she] will ·keep you safe [protect you].


text:
·Wisdom is the most important thing; so get wisdom [The beginning of wisdom is: Get/Acquire wisdom]. ·If it costs everything you have [Above all your acquisitions], ·get [acquire] understanding.


text:
·Treasure wisdom [Highly esteem her], and ·it [or she] will ·make you great [exalt you]; ·hold on to it [or embrace her], and ·it [or she] will bring you honor.


text:
·It will be like flowers in your hair [She will place on your head a graceful garland;] ·and like a beautiful crown on your head [she will bestow on you a crown of glory].”


text:
My ·child [son], listen and ·accept what I say [take in my speech]. Then ·you will have a long life [your years will be multiplied].


text:
I am ·guiding [teaching] you in the way of wisdom, and I am leading you on the ·right [or straight] path.


text:
·Nothing will hold you back [When you walk, your step will not be hindered]; ·you will not be overwhelmed [when you run, you will not stumble].


text:
·Always remember what you have been taught [Be determined/resolute in our instruction], and don’t ·let go of it [slack off]. ·Keep all that you have learned [Protect it]; it is ·the most important thing in [your] life.


text:
Don’t ·follow the ways [go in the way] of the wicked; don’t ·do what evil people do [walk straight on to the path of evil people].


text:
because they cannot sleep until they do evil. ·They cannot rest until they harm someone [They are robbed of sleep unless they cause people to stumble].


text:
They feast on wickedness as if they were eating bread. They drink violence as if they were drinking wine.


text:
The way of the ·good [righteous] person is like the ·light of dawn [shining light], growing brighter and brighter until full daylight.


text:
But the ·wicked walk around in the dark [path of the wicked is like deep darkness]; they ·can’t even see what makes them [don’t know where they will] stumble.


text:
My ·child [son], pay attention to my words; ·listen closely to what I say [bend your ear to my speech].


text:
Don’t ·ever forget my words [let your eyes slip]; ·keep them always in mind [guard them in your heart].


text:
·Be careful what you think [Above all that you guard, protect your heart], because ·your thoughts run your life [life flows from it].


text:
·Don’t use your mouth to tell lies [Have nothing to do with a perverse mouth]; ·don’t ever say things that are not true [keep loose lips far from you].


text:
Keep your eyes focused on what is ·right [or straight ahead], and ·look straight ahead to what is good [your eyelids on what is in front].


text:
·Be careful what you do [Watch your feet on the way], and ·always do what is right [all your paths will be secure/sure].


text:
Don’t turn off ·the road of goodness [to the right or to the left]; ·keep away [turn your feet] from evil paths.


text:
Warning About Adultery My son, pay attention to my wisdom; ·listen [bend your ear] to my words of understanding.


text:
·Be careful to use good sense [or So you might keep discrete] and ·watch what you say [your lips might protect knowledge].


text:
The ·words of another man’s wife [lips of an immoral/strange woman] may ·seem sweet as [drip like] honey; ·they [her tongue/palette] may be as smooth as olive oil.


text:
But in the end she ·will bring you sorrow [is bitter like wormwood], ·causing you pain [sharp] like a two-edged sword.


text:
·She is on the way [Her feet go down] to death; her steps ·are headed straight [or grab on] to ·the grave [Sheol].


text:
She gives little thought to the path of life. ·She doesn’t even know that her ways are wrong [Her paths wander and she does not even realize it].


text:
Now, my sons, listen to me, and don’t ·ignore what I say [turn aside from the speeches of my mouth].


text:
·Stay away from such a woman [Keep your path far from her]. Don’t even go near the ·door [entrance] of her house,


text:
or you will give your ·riches [honor; or vitality; vigor] to others, and the best years of your life will be given to someone cruel.


text:
Strangers will ·enjoy your wealth [or sap your strength], and what you worked so hard for will ·go to someone else [end up in the house of a foreigner].


text:
Then you will say, “I hated ·being told what to do [instruction; discipline]! ·I would not listen to [My heart despised] correction!


text:
I ·came [or am] close to being completely ruined in front of ·a whole group of people [the assembled congregation].”


text:
·Be faithful to your own wife [Drink water from your own well; ], ·just as you drink [gushing] water from your own ·well [cistern].


text:
Don’t ·pour your water in the streets [let your fountains burst forth outside]; ·don’t give your love to just any woman [streams of water in the public squares].


text:
·Be happy with the wife you married when you were young [Rejoice in the wife of your youth]. ·She gives you joy, as your fountain gives you water [May your spring be blessed].


text:
She is a lovely deer and a graceful doe. Let her ·love [or breasts] always make you happy; let her love always ·hold you captive [intoxicate/inebriate you; ].


text:
My son, ·don’t be held captive [why should you be intoxicated/inebriated…?] by a ·woman who takes part in adultery [stranger]. Don’t fondle the bosom of a ·woman who is not your wife [foreigner].


text:
The ·Lord sees everything you do [eyes of the Lord are on the path of every person], and he watches ·where you go [all their ways].


text:
He will die ·because he does not control himself [without discipline/instruction], and he will be ·held captive [or intoxicated; inebriated] by his ·foolishness [stupidity].


text:
Dangers of Being Foolish My ·child [son], ·be careful about giving [if you make] a guarantee for ·somebody else’s loan [your neighbor/friend], ·about promising to pay what someone else owes [shaking hands with a stranger in agreement; ; ; ; ; ].


text:
You ·might [or will] get trapped by what you say; you ·might [or will] be caught by ·your own words [or what you say].


text:
My ·child [son], if you have done this and are under your ·neighbor’s [or friend’s] control, here is how to ·get free [extricate yourself]. ·Don’t be proud [Humble yourself]. Go to your ·neighbor [or friend] and ·beg to be free from your promise [press/urge your neighbor/friend].


text:
but ·free [extricate] yourself like a ·deer [gazelle] running from ·a hunter [his hand], like a bird flying away from a ·trapper [fowler].


text:
but they ·store up [get their] food in the summer and gather their ·supplies [provisions] at harvest.


text:
·You sleep a little; you take a nap [“A little sleep, a little slumber”]. ·You fold your hands and [“A little folding of the arms to…”] lie down to rest.


text:
So ·you will be as poor as if you had been robbed [poverty will come on you like a robber]; ·you will have as little as if you had been held up [deprivation like a shielded warrior].


text:
Some people are ·wicked and no good [worthless and guilty]. They go around ·telling lies [with crooked mouths],


text:
winking with their eyes, ·tapping with [or scraping] their feet, and ·making signs [pointing; gesturing] with their fingers [a reference to secretive plans or even magic].


text:
They ·make evil plans in their hearts [are perverse in their hearts and determined to do evil] and are always starting ·arguments [conflicts].


text:
So ·trouble [disaster] will strike them in an instant; suddenly they will be so ·hurt [broken] no one can ·help [heal] them.


text:
There are six things the Lord hates. There are seven things ·he cannot stand [that are an abomination to his soul]:


text:
·a proud look [haughty eyes], a lying tongue, hands that ·kill [spill the blood of] innocent people,


text:
a witness who lies, and someone who starts ·arguments [conflicts; fights] among·families [brothers; ].


text:
Warning About Adultery My son, ·keep [protect] your father’s commands, and don’t ·forget [abandon; forsake] your mother’s ·teaching [instruction].


text:
·Keep their words in mind [Bind them to your heart] forever ·as though you had them tied [fasten them] around your neck.


text:
They will ·guide [lead] you when you walk. They will ·guard [protect] you when you sleep. They will ·speak to you [or occupy your attention] when you are awake.


text:
These commands are like a lamp; this ·teaching [instruction] is like a light [making things clear]. And ·the correction that comes from them [disciplined correction] ·will help you have [is the path of] life.


text:
They will ·keep [guard] you from ·sinful women [the evil woman] and from the ·pleasing words [flattering tongue] of ·another man’s unfaithful wife [the foreign woman].


text:
Don’t desire her because she is beautiful. Don’t let her capture you by ·the way she looks at you [her eyelashes].


text:
A prostitute will ·treat you like [or cost you] a loaf of bread, ·and [or but] a ·woman who takes part in adultery [married woman] ·may cost you [hunts; stalks] your life.


text:
You cannot ·carry [or scoop] hot coals ·against your chest [or into your lap] without burning your clothes,


text:
The same is true if you ·have sexual relations with [go to] ·another man’s wife [the wife of a neighbor/friend]. ·Anyone who does so will be punished [All who touch her will not go unpunished].


text:
But if he is caught, he must pay back ·seven times what he stole [sevenfold], and ·it may cost him everything he owns [he must give the riches of his house].


text:
He will ·be beaten up and disgraced [find affliction and scorn], and his ·shame [reproach] will never ·go away [be blotted out].


text:
He will accept no payment for the wrong; he will ·take no amount of money [not take a bribe no matter how large].


text:
The Woman of Adultery My son, ·remember what I say [guard my speech], and ·treasure [store/hide in you] my commands.


text:
·Obey [Guard] my commands, and you will live. Guard my ·teachings [instructions] ·as you would your own [like the apple of your] eyes.


text:
·Treat wisdom as a sister [Say to Wisdom, “You are my sister”; ; ], and ·make understanding your closest friend [call Understanding “Friend”].


text:
·Wisdom and understanding [She] will ·keep you away [guard you] from ·adultery [the strange woman], away from the ·unfaithful wife [foreign woman] and her ·pleasing [flattering] words.


text:
and saw some ·foolish [simpleminded; immature; naive], young men. I noticed one of them ·had no wisdom [had no sense; lacked heart].


text:
Then the woman ·approached [or propositioned] him, dressed like a prostitute and ·planning to trick him [with a guarded heart].


text:
She was ·loud [boisterous; noisy] and ·stubborn [defiant] and ·never stayed at [her feet do not rest in her own] home.


text:
·She was always out [A foot] in the streets ·or in [a foot in] the city squares, ·waiting around [lurking] on the corners of the streets.


text:
“I made my fellowship offering [; ; the offerer ate the meat of the offering]. Today I have ·kept [paid back] my ·special promises [vows].


text:
So I have come out to meet you; I have been ·looking for you [seeking your face] and have found you.


text:
Come, let’s ·make [be intoxicated with] love until morning. Let’s ·enjoy each other’s [rejoice in] love.


text:
He took a ·lot of money with him [pouch of money in his hand] and won’t be home ·for weeks [until the new moon].”


text:
By her clever words she ·made him give in [seduces him]; by ·her pleasing words [the flattery of her lips] she ·led him into doing wrong [persuades/compels him].


text:
All at once he followed her, like an ox led to the ·butcher [slaughter], like a ·deer caught in a trap [or fool to the stocks]


text:
·and shot through the liver with an arrow [until an arrow pierces his liver]. Like a bird ·caught in [hurrying to] a trap, he didn’t know ·what he did would kill him [it would cost him his life].


text:
Don’t ·let yourself be tricked by such a woman [turn your heart to her paths]; don’t ·go where she leads you [wander onto her paths].


text:
She has ·ruined many good men [caused many corpses to fall], and many ·have died because of her [are those she has killed].


text:
Her house is on the ·road [path] to ·death [Sheol; the grave or the underworld], ·the road that leads down to the grave [going down to the chambers of death].


text:
Listen to Wisdom ·Wisdom calls to you like someone shouting [Does not Wisdom call out?]; ·understanding raises [Does not Understanding raise…?] her voice.


text:
On the ·hilltops [top of the high places] along the road and at the crossroads, she ·stands calling [takes her stand].


text:
“Listen, ·everyone [men], I’m calling out to you; ·I am shouting [my voice goes out] to all ·people [the sons of humanity].


text:
You who are ·uneducated [simpleminded; immature; naive], ·seek wisdom [understand prudence]. You who are foolish, ·get understanding [take this to heart].


text:
·What I say is true [My mouth utters the truth], ·I refuse to speak evil [my lips despise wickedness].


text:
·Everything I say is honest [All the speeches of my mouth are righteous]; nothing I say is ·crooked [twisted] or ·false [perverse].


text:
People ·with good sense [who understand] know what I say is ·true [straightforward]; and those ·with [who seek] knowledge know my words are ·right [virtuous].


text:
·Choose [Take] my ·teachings [instructions; discipline] instead of silver, and knowledge rather than ·the finest [choice] gold.


text:
Wisdom is more precious than ·rubies [or pearls]. Nothing ·you could want is equal to [is more delightful than] it.


text:
“I am Wisdom, and I ·have good judgment [dwell with prudence]. I also have knowledge and ·good sense [discretion].


text:
·If you respect the Lord, you will also [Those who fear/have awe for the Lord] hate evil. I hate pride and ·bragging [arrogance], ·evil ways [the path of evil] and ·lies [a perverse mouth].


text:
I have advice and ·good sense [resourcefulness; ability], and I have understanding and ·power [strength].


text:
·I help kings to govern [By me kings reign] and ·rulers [princes] ·to make fair laws [issue just decrees].


text:
·Princes use me to lead [By me rulers rule], and ·so do all important people who [nobles] judge fairly [; ; ; ].


text:
What I give is better than gold, even the finest gold, my ·results [yield] better than the purest silver.


text:
I ·do what is right [walk on the way of righteousness] ·and follow [in the midst of] the path of justice.


text:
I ·give wealth to those who love me [cause those who love me to inherit substance], filling their houses with treasures.


text:
“The Lord ·begot [or acquired; possessed] me ·when he began his work [at the beginning of his path], long before he made anything else.


text:
I was ·born [brought forth] ·before there were oceans [when there were no deeps], or springs ·overflowing [heavy] with water,


text:
God had not made the earth or ·fields [open country], not even the first ·dust [mud clods; soil] of the earth.


text:
I was there when God ·put the skies in place [established the heavens], when he ·stretched [decreed] the horizon over the ·oceans [deep],


text:
when he ·made [thickened; strengthened] the clouds above and put the deep underground springs in place.


text:
I was there when he ·ordered [decreed] the sea not to go beyond the borders he had set. I was there when he ·laid [decreed] the earth’s foundation.


text:
I was like a ·child [nursling; or craftsman; architect] by his side. I was ·delighted [playing] every day, ·enjoying [laughing in] his presence all the time,


text:
·enjoying [laughing with the inhabitants of] the whole world, and ·delighted [playing] with all its people [; ; Jesus is associated with personified Wisdom in that both were present with God during creation].


text:
“Now, my ·children [sons], listen to me, because those who ·follow my ways [guard my path] are happy.


text:
Happy are those who listen to me, watching at my door every day, ·waiting at my open doorway [guarding my doorposts].


text:
Those who find me find life, and ·the Lord will be pleased with them [they gain favor from the Lord].


text:
Being Wise or Foolish Wisdom has built her house; she has made its seven ·columns [pillars; a large house].


text:
She has ·prepared her food [slaughtered her slaughter] and prepared [mixed] her wine; she has set her table.


text:
She has sent out her servant girls, and she calls out from the highest place in the city [the location of the Temple, indicating she symbolizes God].


text:
She says to those who are ·uneducated [naive; immature; simpleminded], “·Come in [Turn aside] here, you ·foolish people [who lack sense]!


text:
Stop your ·foolish [naive; immature; simpleminded] ways, and you will live; take the road of understanding.


text:
“If you ·correct [instruct; discipline] ·someone who makes fun of wisdom [a mocker], you will be insulted. If you correct an evil person, you will ·get hurt [be blemished].


text:
Do not correct ·those who make fun of wisdom [mockers], or they will hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you.


text:
·Teach [Give to] the wise, and they will become even wiser; ·teach [inform] ·good people [the righteous], and they will ·learn even more [add to their learning].


text:
“Wisdom begins with ·respect [fear; awe] for the Lord, and understanding begins with knowing the Holy One.


text:
The wise person is rewarded by wisdom, but ·whoever makes fun of wisdom will suffer for it [mockers will bear it alone].”


text:
·Foolishness is like a loud woman [Woman Folly is boisterous/noisy]; she ·does not have wisdom or knowledge [is ignorant and does not even know it].


text:
She sits at the door of her house at the highest place in the city [; her house is built on the highest point of the city, indicating she symbolizes false gods].


text:
She ·calls out to [invites] those who are passing by, who are going along, minding their own business.


text:
She says to those who ·are uneducated [lack sense/heart], “·Come in [Turn aside] here, you ·foolish [naive; immature; simpleminded] people!


text:
But these people don’t know that ·everyone who goes there dies [the dead/departed/shades are there], that her guests ·end up deep in the grave [are in the depths of Sheol].


text:
The Wise Words of Solomon These are the ·wise words [proverbs] of Solomon: Wise ·children [sons] make their father happy, but foolish ·children [sons] make their mother sad.


text:
·Riches gotten by doing wrong [The treasures of the wicked] have no value, but ·right living [righteousness] will save you from death.


text:
The Lord does not let ·good [righteous] people ·go hungry [starve], but he keeps evil people from getting what they want.


text:
A ·lazy person will end up [slack palm makes a person] poor, but a ·hard worker will become [determined hand makes a person] rich.


text:
Those who gather crops ·on time [in the summer] are wise, but those who sleep through the harvest are a disgrace.


text:
·Good [Righteous] people will have rich blessings, but the mouth of the wicked ·will be overwhelmed by [or conceals] violence.


text:
·Good [Righteous] people will be remembered as a blessing, but the name of evil people will soon ·be forgotten [rot].


text:
The wise of heart ·do what they are told [grasps commands], but ·a talkative fool [the lips of a fool] will be ruined.


text:
·The honest person will live [Those who walk in innocence walk] in safety, but ·the dishonest [those who twist their path] will be ·caught [found out].


text:
The ·words [mouth] of a ·good [righteous] person ·give life, like a fountain of water [is a fountain of life], but the ·words [mouth] of the wicked ·contain nothing but [conceals] violence.


text:
·Wise people speak with understanding [Wisdom is found on understanding lips], but ·people without wisdom should be punished [a rod is for the backs of those who lack sense/heart].


text:
The wise ·don’t tell [store up; treasure] everything they know, but the ·foolish talk too much and are ruined [mouth of a fool means imminent ruin].


text:
·Having lots of money protects the rich [The wealth of the rich is their strong city], but having no money ·destroys [is the ruin of] the poor.


text:
Whoever ·accepts correction [guards instruction/discipline] is on the way to life, but whoever ·ignores [abandons] correction ·will lead others away from life [wanders aimlessly].


text:
·If you talk a lot [In an abundance of words], ·you are sure to sin [wickedness does not cease]; if you are wise, you will ·keep quiet [restrain your lips].


text:
The ·words [tongue] of a ·good [righteous] person ·are like pure [is choice] silver, but an evil person’s ·thoughts are [heart is] worth very little.


text:
·Good [Righteous] people’s ·words [lips] ·will help [nourish] many others, but fools will die because they ·don’t have wisdom [lack sense/heart].


text:
A foolish person ·enjoys [makes a sport of] doing wrong, but a person with understanding enjoys doing what is wise.


text:
Evil people will get what they fear most, but ·good [righteous] people will get what they want most.


text:
A ·storm [whirlwind] will blow the evil person away, but a ·good [righteous] person will always ·be safe [have a firm foundation].


text:
A lazy person affects the one ·he works for [who sends him] like vinegar on the teeth or smoke in the eyes [irritating].


text:
Whoever ·respects [fears] the Lord will ·have a long life [increase his days], but the ·life [years] of an evil person will be cut short.


text:
A ·good [righteous] person can look forward to happiness, but ·an evil person can expect nothing [the hope of an evil person will perish].


text:
The path of the Lord ·will protect good people [is a refuge for the innocent] but ruin for those who do evil.


text:
·Good [Righteous] people will ·always be safe [never be shaken], but evil people will not ·remain [dwell] in the land.


text:
·A good person says wise things [The mouth of a righteous person flows with wisdom], but a ·liar’s [perverse person’s] tongue will be ·stopped [cut off].


text:
·Good people [The lips of the wise] know the right thing to say, but [the mouth of] evil people only tell ·lies [perversities].


text:
The Lord ·hates [detests] ·dishonest [fraudulent] scales, but he is pleased with ·honest [accurate] weights [; ; ; ; ].


text:
·Good people [People with integrity] will be guided by ·honesty [innocence]; dishonesty will ·destroy [devastate] those who are not trustworthy.


text:
Riches will not help ·when it’s time to die [on the day of anger], but ·right living [righteousness] will save you from death.


text:
The ·goodness [righteousness] of the innocent makes ·life easier [their path straight], but the wicked will ·be destroyed [fall] by their wickedness.


text:
·Doing right [Righteousness] brings freedom to ·honest people [people with integrity], but those who are not trustworthy will be caught by their own desires.


text:
When the wicked die, hope ·dies with them [perishes]; their hope in riches ·will come to nothing [perishes].


text:
With ·words [their mouth] an ·evil [godless] person can destroy a neighbor, but a ·good [righteous] person will escape by ·being resourceful [their knowledge].


text:
When ·good [righteous] people ·succeed [flourish], the city is happy. When evil people ·die [perish], there are shouts of joy.


text:
·Good [Righteous] people bless and build up their city, but the wicked can ·destroy [demolish] it with their ·words [mouth].


text:
People ·without good sense [who lack sense/heart] ·find fault with [despise; belittle] their neighbors, but those with understanding keep quiet.


text:
Gossips ·can’t keep [go/walk around revealing] secrets, but a trustworthy person ·can [keeps a confidence; covers up a word].


text:
Without ·leadership [guidance] a ·nation [people] falls, but ·lots of good advice [an abundance of counselors] will ·save it [bring victory; ].


text:
·Kind [or Loyal] people ·do themselves a favor [benefit themselves], but cruel people ·bring trouble on themselves [harm their own bodies].


text:
An evil person ·really earns nothing [gets false/deceptive wages], but a ·good [righteous] person will surely be rewarded.


text:
The Lord ·hates [detests] those with ·evil [crooked] hearts but is pleased with those who are innocent on the path.


text:
Evil people will certainly be punished, but ·those who do right [the children of the righteous] will be set free.


text:
Those who do right only wish for good, but the wicked can ·expect to be defeated by God’s [hope only for] anger.


text:
Whoever ·gives to others will get richer [or blesses others will be refreshed]; those who ·help [satisfy] others will themselves be ·helped [satisfied].


text:
Those who trust in riches will ·be ruined [fall], but a good person will ·be healthy [flourish] like a green leaf.


text:
Whoever brings trouble to his family will ·be left with nothing but the [inherit the] wind. A fool will be a servant to the wise of heart.


text:
·A good person gives life to others [The fruit of the righteous is the tree of life]; the wise person ·teaches others how to live [gathers lives/souls].


text:
Anyone who loves ·learning [knowledge] ·accepts [loves] ·correction [instruction; discipline], but a person who hates being corrected is stupid.


text:
The Lord ·is pleased with [favors] a good person, but he will ·punish [condemn] ·anyone who plans evil [schemers].


text:
Doing evil brings no safety at all, but ·a good person has safety and security [the root of the righteous will not be disturbed].


text:
A ·good [noble] wife is like a crown for her husband, but a disgraceful wife is like ·a disease [rot] in his bones.


text:
The plans that ·good [righteous] people make are ·fair [just], but the ·advice [guidance] of the wicked will ·trick [deceive; defraud] you.


text:
The ·wicked talk about killing people [words of the wicked are a murderous ambush/ambush of blood], but the ·words [mouth] of ·good [righteous] people will save them.


text:
Wicked people ·die [are overturned] and they are no more, but a ·good [righteous] person’s ·family [house] ·continues [endures].


text:
The ·wisdom [insight] of the wise wins praise, but there is ·no respect [shame] for the ·stupid [warped; distressed mind/heart].


text:
A person who is ·not important [belittled; of low regard; ordinary] but has a servant is better off than someone who ·acts [or is thought] ·important [honorable] but has no food.


text:
·Good [Righteous] people ·take care [know the desires] of their animals, but even the ·kindest [most compassionate] acts of the wicked are cruel.


text:
Those who work their land will have plenty of food, but the one who chases ·empty dreams [emptiness] ·is not wise [lacks sense/heart].


text:
The wicked ·want [covet; desire] ·what other evil people have stolen [or the catch/prey of the evil], but ·good [the root of righteous] people ·want to give what they have to others [or endures].


text:
Evil people are trapped by their ·evil [offensive] talk, but ·good [righteous] people ·stay out of trouble [escape from distress].


text:
People will be rewarded for ·what they say [the fruit of their mouth], and they will also be rewarded for ·what they do [the work of their hands].


text:
·Fools think they are doing right [The path of fools is virtuous/right in their own eyes], but the wise listen to advice.


text:
Fools quickly show that they are upset, but the ·wise [prudent] ·ignore [conceal; hide] ·insults [contempt].


text:
·Careless [Chattering] words stab like a sword, but ·wise words bring [a wise tongue brings] healing.


text:
·Truth [Truthful lips] will continue forever, but ·lies are [a lying tongue lasts] only for a moment.


text:
The Lord ·hates [detests] ·those who tell lies [false lips] but ·is pleased with [favors] those who ·keep their promises [do what is true].


text:
·Wise [Prudent] people ·keep what they know to themselves [conceal/hide their knowledge], but ·fools can’t keep from showing how foolish they are [the heart of fools proclaim their stupidity].


text:
Hard workers will ·become leaders [be in charge], but those who are lazy will be ·slaves [put to forced labor].


text:
·Good [Righteous] people ·take advice from their friends [or show the way to their friends/neighbors], but ·an evil person is easily led to do wrong [or the path of the evil person makes them wander].


text:
The lazy ·catch no food to cook [do not roast their prey], but a hard worker will have great wealth.


text:
Wise ·children take their parents’ advice [sons listen to their father’s discipline/instruction], but ·whoever makes fun of wisdom [mockers] won’t listen to ·correction [a rebuke].


text:
People will ·be rewarded for what they say [eat well from the fruit of their mouth], but ·those who can’t be trusted [the faithless] ·want only [have an appetite for] violence.


text:
Those who ·are careful about what they say [watch/guard their mouth] protect their lives, but whoever ·speaks without thinking [spreads their lips wide] will be ruined.


text:
The desire of the lazy is strong, but they get nothing, but desire of those who work hard will be satisfied.


text:
·Doing what is right [Righteousness] protects the honest person on the path, but doing evil ·ruins [or misleads] the sinner.


text:
Some people pretend to be rich but really have nothing. Others pretend to be poor but really are wealthy.


text:
The rich may have to pay a ransom for their lives, but the poor will face no ·such danger [threats].


text:
·Good people can look forward to a bright future [The light of the righteous rejoices], but the ·future of the wicked is like a flame going [lamp of the wicked goes] out.


text:
Pride only leads to arguments [or The empty-headed cause arguments out of pride], but those who take advice are wise.


text:
·It is sad not to get what you hoped for [Hope delayed makes the heart sick]. But ·wishes that come true are like eating fruit from [longing fulfilled is] the tree of life.


text:
Those who ·reject what they are taught [despise a word] will pay for it, but those who ·obey what they are told [respect/fear the commandment] will be rewarded.


text:
The teaching of a wise person ·gives life [is a fountain of life] ·and can save people from death [turning people aside from death traps/snares].


text:
People with good ·understanding [insight; sense] will ·be well liked [receive favor], but the ·lives of those who are not trustworthy are [way of the faithless is] hard.


text:
Every ·wise [prudent] person acts ·with good sense [knowledgeably], but fools ·show how foolish they are [display stupidity].


text:
A wicked messenger ·brings nothing but trouble [or will fall into evil], but a ·trustworthy [reliable] ·one [envoy] ·makes everything right [brings healing].


text:
A person who ·refuses [neglects] ·correction [instruction; discipline] will end up poor and disgraced, but the one who ·accepts [guards] correction will be honored.


text:
·It is so good when wishes come true [A realized longing/desire is pleasant], but fools ·hate [detest] ·to stop doing [turning from] evil.


text:
·Spend time [Walk; Go] with the wise and you will become wise, but the friends of fools will ·suffer [or get into trouble].


text:
Trouble ·always comes to [pursues] sinners, but ·good [righteous] people ·enjoy success [get a good reward].


text:
Good people leave their wealth to their grandchildren, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for ·good [righteous] people.


text:
A poor person’s ·field [soil] might produce plenty of food, but ·others often steal it away [it is unjustly swept away].


text:
If you ·do not punish your children [withhold/spare the rod], you ·don’t love them [hate your children/son], but if you love your children, you will ·correct [discipline] them.


text:
·Good [Righteous] people ·have enough to eat [eat till they are full/satisfied], but the ·wicked will go hungry [stomachs of the wicked will be empty].


text:
A wise woman ·strengthens her family [builds her house], but a foolish woman ·destroys hers by what she does [tears hers down with her own hands].


text:
People who ·live good lives [walk in virtue/integrity] ·respect [fear] the Lord, but those who ·live evil lives don’t [go the wrong way on their paths despise him].


text:
·Fools will be punished for their proud words [The talk of fools is a rod for their back; or In the mouth of fools is a sprig of pride], but the ·words [lips] of the wise will protect them.


text:
When there are no oxen, ·no food is in the barn [or the barn is empty]. But with a strong ox, much grain can be grown.


text:
·Those who make fun of wisdom look for it [Mockers seek wisdom] and do not find it, but knowledge comes ·easily [or quickly] to those with understanding.


text:
The wisdom of a ·wise [prudent] person will understand ·what to do [his path], but the folly of a foolish person is ·dishonest [deceptive].


text:
Fools ·don’t care if they sin [mock a penalty/guilt/reparation offering; ], but ·honest people work at being right [those with integrity/virtue are favored].


text:
·No one else can know your sadness [A heart knows its emotional distress], and strangers cannot share your joy.


text:
The wicked person’s house will be ·destroyed [annihilated], but a good person’s tent will ·still be standing [flourish].


text:
·Some people think they are doing right [There is a path that seems straight to a person], but in the end it ·leads [is the path] to death.


text:
·Someone who is laughing may be sad inside [Even in laughter the heart may feel pain], and joy may end in sadness.


text:
·Evil people [Rebellious hearts] will be paid back for their evil ·ways [paths], and good people will be rewarded for their ·good ones [deeds].


text:
·Fools [The naive] will believe anything, but the ·wise [prudent] ·think about what they do [understand their steps].


text:
Wise people ·are careful [fear] and stay ·out of trouble [away from evil], but fools ·are careless [or get mad] and ·quick to act [or feel safe].


text:
Someone with a quick temper ·does foolish things [makes stupid mistakes], but ·someone with understanding remains calm [or schemers are hated].


text:
·Fools [Naive people] ·are rewarded with nothing but more foolishness [inherit stupidity], but the wise ·are rewarded with knowledge [wear knowledge as an ornament].


text:
Evil people will bow down to those who are good; the wicked will bow down at the ·door of those who do right [gates of the righteous].


text:
The poor are ·rejected [hated], even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends [perhaps an ironic reference to fair-weather friends].


text:
It is a sin to ·hate [despise] your neighbor, but being ·kind [gracious] to the needy brings ·happiness [a blessing].


text:
·Those [Do not those…?] who make evil plans ·will be ruined [wander aimlessly], but those who plan to do good will ·be loved and trusted [receive loyalty and faithfulness].


text:
Those who work hard make a profit, but ·those who only talk will be poor [the word of the lips leads only to lack].


text:
A truthful witness saves lives, but a ·false witness is a traitor [deceptive person proclaims lies].


text:
Those who ·respect [fear] the Lord will have ·security [or confidence], and their children will ·be protected [have a refuge].


text:
·Respect for [Fear of] the Lord ·gives life [is a fountain of life] ·and can save people from death [turning people aside from death traps/snares].


text:
·Patient people have great [Patience leads to] understanding, but ·people with quick tempers show their foolishness [impatience leads to stupid mistakes].


text:
Whoever ·mistreats [oppresses] the poor insults their Maker, but whoever ·is kind [shows grace] to the needy honors God.


text:
The wicked are ·ruined [thrown down] by their own evil, but those who ·do right [are righteous] ·are protected [find refuge] even in death.


text:
Wisdom lives in ·those with understanding [an understanding heart/mind], and ·even fools recognize it [or it is not known in the innards of a fool].


text:
·Doing what is right [Righteousness] makes a nation great, but sin will ·bring disgrace to any [diminish a] people.


text:
A king is pleased with a ·wise [insightful] servant, but he will become angry with one who causes him shame.


text:
A ·gentle [soft; tender] answer ·will calm a person’s anger [turns back/away wrath], but an ·unkind [painful; sharp] answer ·will cause more [raises] anger.


text:
·As a tree gives fruit, healing words give life [A healthy/healing tongue is a tree of life], but ·dishonest [deceitful; perverse] words crush the spirit.


text:
Fools ·reject [disdain] their ·parents’ [father’s] ·correction [discipline], but anyone who ·accepts [guards] correction is wise.


text:
Much ·wealth [treasure] is in the houses of ·good [righteous] people, but evil people get nothing but trouble.


text:
Wise people use their ·words [lips] to ·spread [scatter; disperse] knowledge, but there is no knowledge in the ·thoughts [hearts; minds] of fools.


text:
The Lord ·hates [detests] the sacrifice that the wicked offer, but he ·likes [favors] the prayers of ·honest people [people with integrity].


text:
The Lord ·hates [detests] ·what evil people do [the path of the wicked], but he ·loves [favors] those who ·do what is right [pursue righteousness].


text:
The person who ·quits doing what is right [abandons the way] will be punished, and the one who hates to be corrected will die.


text:
·The Lord knows what is happening in the world of the dead [Sheol and Abaddon/Destruction are before the Lord], so he surely knows the ·thoughts of the living [human heart].


text:
·Those who make fun of wisdom [Mockers] don’t like to be corrected; they will not ·ask the wise for advice [go to the wise].


text:
·Happiness makes a person smile [A joyful heart brightens one’s face], but ·sadness [a troubled heart] can break a person’s spirit.


text:
·People with understanding want more [Understanding hearts seek] knowledge, but fools ·just want more [feed on] foolishness.


text:
It is better to ·be poor [have little] and ·respect [fear] the Lord than to ·be wealthy [have great treasure] and ·have much trouble [turmoil].


text:
It is better to eat vegetables with those who love you than ·to eat meat [an ox of the stall] with those who hate you.


text:
People with quick tempers cause ·trouble [conflict], but ·those who control their tempers [patient people] stop ·a quarrel [accusations].


text:
A lazy person’s ·life [path] is like a patch of thorns, but an ·honest [virtuous] person’s ·life [path] is like a smooth highway.


text:
Wise ·children [sons] make their father happy, but foolish ·children [people] disrespect their mother.


text:
A person without ·wisdom [sense/heart] enjoys being foolish, but someone with understanding ·does what is right [walks straight ahead].


text:
People enjoy giving ·good advice [a right reply]. Saying the right word at the right time is so pleasing.


text:
·Wise [Insightful] people’s ·lives [way] ·get better and better [move upward]. They ·avoid whatever would cause their death [turn aside from Sheol/the grave below].


text:
The Lord will ·tear down [uproot] the proud person’s house, but he will ·protect [establish] the widow’s ·property [boundaries].


text:
The Lord ·hates [detests] evil ·thoughts [or plans] but ·is pleased with kind words [pleasing words are pure].


text:
·Greedy people [Those who get unjust gain] bring trouble to their ·families [house], but the person who ·can’t be paid to do wrong [hates gifts/bribes] will live.


text:
·Good people [The heart/mind of the righteous] ·think [reflect; meditate] before they answer, but the wicked simply ·pour [blurt] out evil.


text:
The Lord ·does not listen to [is far from] the wicked, but he hears the prayers of ·those who do right [the righteous].


text:
Good news ·makes you feel better [refreshes the bone]. ·Your happiness will show in your eyes [The light of the eyes give joy to the heart].


text:
·If you listen to correction to improve your life, you [The ear that listens to correction] will ·live [lodge] among the wise.


text:
Those who ·refuse [neglect] ·correction [discipline] hate themselves, but those who ·accept [listen to] correction ·gain understanding [acquire heart/mind].


text:
·Respect [Fear] for the Lord ·will teach you wisdom [is wise instruction/discipline]. ·If you want to be honored, you must be humble [Humility comes before glory].


text:
People may make plans in their ·minds [hearts], but ·only the Lord can make them come true [from the Lord comes a responding tongue].


text:
·You may believe you are doing right [All paths of people are pure in their eyes], but the Lord will ·judge your reasons [measure your motives; weigh the spirits].


text:
·Depend on the Lord in whatever you do [Commit your acts/deeds to the Lord], and your plans will ·succeed [be established].


text:
The Lord makes everything ·go as he pleases [for a purpose]. He has even prepared a day of ·disaster [evil; harm; trouble] for evil people.


text:
·Love [Loyalty] and ·truth [faithfulness] bring ·forgiveness of sin [atonement for guilt]. By ·respecting [fearing] the Lord you will avoid evil.


text:
When ·people live so that they please the Lord [people’s paths draw the Lord’s favor] even their enemies will make peace with them.


text:
It is better to ·be poor [have little] and ·right [righteousness] than ·to be wealthy [much gain] and ·dishonest [injustice].


text:
·People may make plans in their minds [Human hearts plan their path], but the Lord ·decides what they will do [establishes their step].


text:
The words of a king are like a ·message from God [oracle], so ·his decisions should be fair [he should not betray justice with his mouth].


text:
The Lord wants honest balances and scales; ·all the weights are his work [he concerns himself with the weights in the pouch].


text:
Kings ·hate [detest] those who do wrong, because ·governments only continue if they are fair [in righteousness the throne is established].


text:
Kings ·like [favor] ·honest people [righteous lips]; they ·value [love] ·someone who speaks the truth [those who speak with integrity].


text:
An angry king ·can put someone to [is a messenger of] death, so a wise person will ·try to make him happy [appease/calm him].


text:
·A smiling king can give people [In the light of the face of the king there is] life; his ·kindness [favor] is like a ·spring shower [cloud that brings late rain].


text:
·Good people stay [The highway of those with integrity turns] away from evil. By ·watching what they do [protecting their path], they ·protect [guard] their lives.


text:
Pride ·leads to destruction [comes before a disaster]; ·a proud attitude brings ruin [pride comes before a fall].


text:
It is better to be humble and ·be with those who suffer [with the needy] than ·to share stolen property [dividing plunder/spoil] with the proud.


text:
Whoever ·listens to what is taught [has insight] will ·succeed [prosper], and whoever trusts the Lord will be ·happy [blessed].


text:
The wise of heart ·are known for their [will be called] understanding. Their ·pleasant [sweet] words ·make them better teachers [enhance their teaching].


text:
·Understanding is like a fountain which gives life to those who use it [One who possesses insight is a fountain of life], but ·foolishness brings punishment to fools [or the instruction of foolish people is folly].


text:
Wise people’s ·minds [hearts] ·tell them what to say [provide insight to their mouth], and that ·helps them be better teachers [enhances their teaching].


text:
Pleasant words are like ·a honeycomb [liquid honey], ·making people happy and healthy [sweet to the taste and healing to the bones].


text:
·Some people think they are doing right [There is a path that is straight before a person/seems right to a man], but in the end it ·leads [is the path] to death.


text:
The workers’ hunger ·helps [works for] them, ·because their desire to eat makes them work [and their mouths press/urge them on].


text:
·Useless [Worthless] people ·make evil plans [dig up evil], and their ·words [lips] are like a burning fire.


text:
·Cruel [Violent] people ·trick [entice] their neighbors and ·lead them to do wrong [make them walk on a path that is not good].


text:
Someone who winks their eye is planning ·evil [perverse things], and the one who ·grins [purses/narrows their lips] is ·planning something wrong [concealing evil].


text:
Gray hair is like a crown of honor; it is ·earned by living a good life [found on the path of righteousness].


text:
Patience is better than strength [or A patient person is better than a warrior]. Controlling your temper is better than capturing a city.


text:
People throw lots ·to make a decision [into the lap], but the ·answer [decision] comes from the Lord.


text:
It is better to eat a dry crust of bread in ·peace [quiet] than to have a feast where there is ·quarreling [strife; contention].


text:
A ·wise [insightful] servant will rule over the master’s disgraceful child and will even ·inherit a share of what the master leaves his children [divide an inheritance with the brothers/relatives].


text:
Evil people listen to ·evil words [guilty lips]. Liars pay attention to ·cruel words [a destructive tongue].


text:
Whoever ·mistreats [ridicules; mocks] the poor insults their Maker; whoever enjoys someone’s trouble will ·be punished [not go unpunished].


text:
·Old people are proud of their grandchildren [Grandchildren are the crown of the elderly], and ·children are proud of [the glory/splendor of children are] their parents.


text:
·Fools should not be proud [or It is not right for fools to be good speakers], and ·rulers [honorable people] should not ·be liars [have lying lips].


text:
·Some people think they can pay others to do anything they ask [A bribe is a magic stone in the eyes of those who give it]. ·They think it will work every time [It grants success to all who use it].


text:
·Whoever forgives someone’s sin makes a friend [One who seeks love conceals an offense], but ·gossiping about the sin [repeating a thing] breaks up friendships.


text:
A wise person will learn more from a ·warning [rebuke] than a fool will learn from a hundred lashings.


text:
Disobedient ·people look only for trouble [seek only rebellion], so a cruel messenger will be sent against them.


text:
Starting a quarrel is like ·a leak in a dam [letting out water], so ·stop it [hold back an accusation] before a fight breaks out.


text:
The Lord hates both of these things: ·freeing the guilty and punishing the innocent [judging the righteous wicked and the wicked righteous].


text:
·It is not wise to promise to pay what your neighbor owes [A person lacks sense/heart who shakes hands in agreement, who secures a loan for a friend/neighbor].


text:
Whoever loves to argue loves to sin. Whoever ·brags a lot is asking for trouble [builds a high doorway is seeking a collapse].


text:
A person with an ·evil [crooked] heart will find no success, and the person ·whose words are evil [who twists matters with their tongue] will get into trouble.


text:
A happy heart ·is like good medicine [brings healing], but a broken spirit ·drains your strength [dries up bone].


text:
When the wicked ·accept money to do wrong [take a secret bribe/bribe from the chest/bosom] ·there can be no [it stretches] justice.


text:
The person with understanding is always ·looking for [focused on] wisdom, but the mind of a fool wanders ·everywhere [to the ends of the earth].


text:
The wise ·say very little [restrain/hold back their talk], and those with understanding stay ·calm [coolheaded].


text:
Even fools seem to be wise if they keep quiet; if they ·don’t speak [keep their lips shut], they appear to understand.


text:
·Unfriendly [Antisocial; Lonely] people ·are selfish [seek their own longings/desires] and ·hate [break out against] all good sense.


text:
Fools do not ·want to understand anything [delight in understanding]. They only want to ·tell others what they think [reveal/disclose their heart].


text:
Do something evil, and people won’t like you. Do something shameful, and they will ·make fun of [insult] you.


text:
·Spoken words [The words of a person’s mouth] can be like deep water, ·but [or and] the fountain of wisdom is like a flowing stream.


text:
The ·words [lips] of fools ·start quarrels [or make accusations]. ·They make people want to beat them [Their mouth invites a beating].


text:
The words of a gossip are like tasty bits of food. ·People like to gobble them up [They go down to one’s inmost parts].


text:
A person who doesn’t work hard is ·just like someone who destroys things [a brother to a destroyer].


text:
The name of the Lord is like a strong tower; ·those who do right [the righteous] can run to him for ·safety [refuge].


text:
The ·will to live [human spirit] can get you through sickness, but ·no one can live with [who can bear…?] a broken spirit.


text:
The ·mind [heart] of a person with understanding gets knowledge; the ·wise person listens to learn more [ear of the wise seeks knowledge].


text:
The person who ·tells one side of [first tells] a story seems right, until ·someone else [his friend/neighbor] comes and asks questions.


text:
Throwing lots can settle arguments and ·keep the two sides from fighting [is decisive against powerful people].


text:
A brother who has been ·insulted [offended] is harder to win back than a walled city, and arguments separate people like the barred gates of a palace.


text:
·People will be rewarded for what they say [From the fruit of the mouth of a person is their stomach satisfied]; ·they will be rewarded by how they speak [the yield/gain of their lips satisfies].


text:
·What you say can mean [In the power of the tongue are] life or death. Those who ·speak with care [love it] will ·be rewarded [eat its fruit].


text:
When a man finds a wife, he finds something good. It shows that the Lord ·is pleased with [favors] him.


text:
It is better to be poor and ·honest [walking in innocence] than to be foolish and ·tell lies [have crooked lips].


text:
·Enthusiasm [Desire; Zeal; Passion] without knowledge is not good. ·If you act too quickly, you might make a mistake [Rushing feet make mistakes].


text:
People’s own foolishness ·ruins their lives [frustrates their path], but in their ·minds [hearts] they ·blame [rage at] the Lord.


text:
Many people ·want to please [seek the face of] a leader, and everyone is friends with those who give gifts.


text:
Poor people’s relatives ·avoid [hate] them; ·even [how much more do] their friends stay far away. They run after them, begging, but they are gone.


text:
Those who ·get wisdom [acquire heart] ·do themselves a favor [love themselves], and those who ·love learning [guard understanding] will succeed.


text:
The ·wise [insightful] ·are patient [hold in their anger]; they will be ·honored [praised; glorified] if they ignore ·insults [offenses].


text:
An angry king is like a ·roaring [growling] lion, but his ·kindness [favor] is like the dew on the grass.


text:
A foolish ·child [son] ·brings [is a] disaster to a father, and a ·quarreling [contentious] wife is like ·dripping water [constant dripping].


text:
Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a ·wise [insightful] wife is a gift from the Lord.


text:
Those who ·obey [guard] the commands ·protect [guard] themselves, but those who ·are careless [despise their way] will die.


text:
Being ·kind [gracious; generous] to the poor is like lending to the Lord; he will ·reward you for what you have done [fully repay you].


text:
·Correct [Discipline] your children while there is still hope; do not ·let them destroy themselves [or be intent to kill them].


text:
People with quick tempers will have to pay for it. If you ·help them out once [rescue them], you will have to do it again.


text:
People can make all kinds of plans, but only the Lord’s ·plan [purpose; advice] will ·happen [succeed].


text:
Those who ·respect [fear] the Lord will live and be satisfied, ·unbothered by trouble [sleep well and not experience harm].


text:
·Whip those who make fun of wisdom [Hit/Strike a mocker], and perhaps ·foolish [naive; immature; simpleminded] people will gain some ·wisdom [prudence]. Correct those with understanding, and they will gain knowledge.


text:
A child who ·robs [devastates] his father and ·sends [drives] away his mother brings shame and disgrace on himself.


text:
Don’t stop listening to correction, my child, or you will ·forget what you have already learned [wander from knowledgeable speeches/words].


text:
An ·evil [worthless] witness ·makes fun of fairness [mocks justice], and ·wicked people love what is evil [the mouth of the wicked conveys guilt].


text:
·People who make fun of wisdom will be punished [Punishments were made for mockers], and ·the backs of foolish people will be beaten [blows for the backs of fools].


text:
Wine and ·beer [strong drink; an alcoholic beverage made from grain] make people ·loud [mockers] and ·uncontrolled [carousers; brawlers]; it is not wise to ·get drunk on [be led astray by] them.


text:
Foolish people are always fighting, but ·avoiding quarrels [backing away from an accusation] will bring you ·honor [glory; praise].


text:
Lazy farmers don’t plow ·when they should [in the winter]; they ·expect [look for] a harvest, but there is none.


text:
People’s ·thoughts [advice; purpose] can be like a deep ·well [waters], but someone with understanding can ·find the wisdom there [draw it out].


text:
The ·good [righteous] people who ·live honest lives [walk about in innocence] will be a blessing to their children.


text:
When a king sits on his throne to judge, he ·knows evil when he sees it [or scatters evil with his eyes].


text:
The Lord hates both these things: ·dishonest weights and dishonest measures [stone and stone, ephah and ephah].


text:
Even children are known by their behavior; their actions show if they are ·innocent [pure] and ·good [upright].


text:
·If you love to sleep, you [Do not love to sleep, or you] will be poor. ·If you stay awake [Keep your eyes open, and], you will have plenty of food.


text:
Buyers say, “·This is bad. It’s no good [Bad, bad].” Then they go away and brag about what they bought.


text:
There is gold and plenty of ·rubies [or pearls], but ·only a few people speak with knowledge [the most precious jewels are knowledgeable lips].


text:
Take the coat of someone who promises to pay a stranger’s debts, and keep it until he pays what the ·stranger [foreigner] owes.


text:
·Stolen [Fraudulent; False] food may taste sweet at first, but later it will feel like a mouth full of gravel.


text:
Get advice if you want your plans to ·work [be firm]. If you go to war, get ·the advice of others [guidance].


text:
Gossips ·can’t keep [reveal] secrets, so avoid people who ·talk too much [are foolish with their lips].


text:
Don’t say, “I’ll pay you back for the wrong you did.” Wait for the Lord, and he will ·make things right [save you; ].


text:
The Lord ·hates [detests] ·dishonest weights [stone and stone], and ·dishonest [fraudulent] scales ·do not please him [are not good].


text:
The Lord decides ·what a person will do [the steps of a person]; ·no one understands what his life is all about [how can people understand their path?].


text:
It’s ·dangerous [a trap] to ·promise something to God too quickly [speak rashly about holy things]. ·After you’ve thought about it, it may be too late [And to think about it after you made a vow; ; ; ; ].


text:
A wise king ·sorts out [winnows; scatters] the evil people, and he ·punishes them as they deserve [rolls a threshing sledge over them].


text:
The lamp of the Lord looks deep inside people and searches through ·their thoughts [all their inner parts].


text:
Loyalty and ·truth [faithfulness] ·keep a king in power [protect a king]; he ·continues to rule [supports his throne] if he is loyal.


text:
·Hard punishment [Blows and bruises] ·will get rid of [cleanses away] evil, and ·whippings [beatings] ·can change an evil heart [the inner parts].


text:
·The Lord can control a king’s mind as he controls a river [The heart of a king is a canal/stream in the hand of the Lord]; he can ·direct [turn; incline] it as he pleases.


text:
·You may believe you are doing right [Every person’s path seems right/straight in their own eyes], but the Lord ·judges your reasons [weighs your heart].


text:
Doing what is ·right [righteous] and ·fair [just] is more ·important [preferable] to the Lord than sacrifices [; ; ; ].


text:
Proud ·looks [eyes], ·proud thoughts [arrogant heart], ·and evil actions [the lamp/or tillage of the wicked] are sin [].


text:
·Wealth [Those who work for treasures] that comes from ·telling lies [a lying tongue] ·vanishes like a mist [pursues vapor/meaninglessness/emptiness] and ·leads to [seeks] death.


text:
The violence of the wicked will ·destroy them [sweep them away], because they refuse to ·do what is right [act with justice].


text:
It is better to live in a corner on the roof [living space in biblical times] than inside the house with a ·quarreling [contentious] wife.


text:
Evil people ·only want [desire] to harm others. Their neighbors get no ·mercy [favor; grace] from them.


text:
If you punish ·those who make fun of wisdom [mockers], a ·foolish [immature; naive; simpleminded] person may gain some wisdom. But if you teach the wise, they will get knowledge.


text:
The righteous [either God or righteous people] watch the house of the wicked and ·bring ruin on every evil person [turn the wicked toward trouble].


text:
Whoever ·ignores [closes their ears to] the poor when they cry for help will also ·cry for help [call out] and not be answered.


text:
A secret gift will calm an angry person; a ·present [or bribe] given in secrecy will quiet great anger [; ; ; ; ; ].


text:
·Whoever does not use good sense [People who wander from the path of insight] will ·end up [rest] among the ·dead [departed; shades].


text:
Wicked people ·will suffer instead of [are a ransom for] ·good [righteous] people, and ·those who cannot be trusted [the unfaithful] will suffer instead of those ·who do right [with integrity/virtue].


text:
It is better to live ·alone in the desert [in a desolate land] than with a ·quarreling [contentious] and ·complaining [angry] wife.


text:
Wise people’s houses are full of ·the best foods [or precious treasure] and olive oil, but fools ·waste [consume; swallow] everything they have.


text:
Whoever ·tries to live right and be loyal [pursues righteousness and loyalty] finds life, ·success [righteousness], and honor.


text:
A wise person ·can defeat [went up against] a city full of warriors and tear down the defenses they trust in [].


text:
Those who ·are careful about what they say [guard their mouth and tongue] ·keep themselves out of [guard themselves from] trouble.


text:
Lazy people’s ·desire for sleep [longings] will kill them, because ·they refuse to work [their hands refuse to do anything; ].


text:
The Lord ·hates [detests] sacrifices brought by evil people, particularly when they offer them for ·the wrong [scheming] reasons.


text:
Wicked people ·are stubborn [put on a bold/impudent face], but ·good people think carefully about what they do [the virtuous establish their path].


text:
·Being respected [A good name/reputation] is more important than having great riches. ·To be well thought of [High esteem] is better than silver or gold [].


text:
The ·wise [prudent] see ·danger [evil; trouble] ahead and avoid it, but fools ·keep going [go straight to it] and ·get into trouble [or are punished].


text:
·Respecting [Fearing] the Lord [] and ·not being proud [humility] will bring you wealth, honor, and life.


text:
Evil people’s lives are like paths covered with thorns and ·traps [nets]. People who guard themselves ·don’t have such problems [stay far from them].


text:
Train children ·to live the right way [in their/or his path; referring either to children or to God], and when they are old, they will not ·stray [depart] from it.


text:
Those who ·plan [sow] ·evil [injustice] will ·receive [reap; harvest] ·trouble [evil; ]. ·Their cruel anger [The rod of their fury] will come to an end.


text:
·Get rid of [Banish; Drive out] the ·one who makes fun of wisdom [mocker]. Then ·fighting [conflict], ·quarrels [judgments], and ·insults [shame] will stop.


text:
The eyes of the Lord guard knowledge, but he ·destroys [frustrates] ·false words [the words of the untrustworthy/faithless].


text:
The lazy person says, “There’s a lion outside! I might get killed out in the ·street [middle of the public square]!”


text:
The ·words [mouth] of ·an unfaithful wife [the strange woman] are like a deep ·trap [pit]. Those who make the Lord angry will ·get caught by them [fall in it].


text:
·Every child is full of foolishness [Stupidity/Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child], but ·punishment can get rid of it [the rod of discipline drives it far from them].


text:
Whoever gets rich by ·mistreating [oppressing] the poor, and gives presents to the wealthy, will become poor.


text:
Other Wise Sayings ·Listen carefully to [Incline/Bend your ear and hear] ·what wise people say [the words of the wise]; ·pay attention to [set your heart on] what I am teaching you.


text:
It will be ·good [pleasant] to ·keep these things in mind [guard them in your innermost being] so that you ·are ready to repeat them [have them ready on your lips].


text:
I am teaching you true and reliable words so that you can give true answers to anyone who ·asks [sends you].


text:
Do not ·abuse [steal from] poor people because they are poor, and do not ·take away the rights of [oppress] the needy in ·court [the gate].


text:
The Lord will ·defend them in court [accuse their accusers] and will ·take the life of those who take away their rights [press/squeeze the life out of those who press/squeeze them; ; ; ].


text:
Don’t make friends with ·quick-tempered people [people controlled by anger] or ·spend time [associate] with those who have bad tempers.


text:
If you do, you will ·be like them [learn their ways]. Then you will ·be in real danger [get yourself trapped].


text:
If you cannot pay the loan, ·your own bed may [why should your own bed…?] be taken right out from under you.


text:
Don’t move an ·old stone that marks a border [an ancient boundary marker; ; ; ; ; borders were marked by carved stones], because those stones were set up by your ancestors.


text:
Do you see people ·skilled [or diligent] in their work? They will work for kings, not for ·ordinary [obscure] people.


text:
·Wealth can vanish in the wink of an eye [Your eye can fly to it and it will be gone]. It can seem to grow wings and fly away like an eagle.


text:
Don’t eat the food of ·selfish [stingy; evil eye] people; don’t ·be greedy [long] for their ·fine foods [delicacies].


text:
·Selfish people are always worrying about how much the food costs [They calculate in their minds; or They are like a hair in the throat]. They tell you, “Eat and drink,” but ·they don’t really mean it [their heart is not with you].


text:
You will ·throw up [vomit] the ·little [crust] you have eaten, and you will have wasted your ·kind [pleasant] words.


text:
Don’t speak in the ears of fools []; they will only ·ignore [despise] your ·wise [insightful] words.


text:
Don’t move an ·old stone that marks a border [ancient boundary marker; ], and don’t ·take [invade] fields that belong to orphans.


text:
God, their ·defender [redeemer], is strong; he will ·take their side [bring charges; make accusations] against you.


text:
·Remember what you are taught [Bring your heart to discipline/instruction], ·and listen carefully [your ear] to words of knowledge.


text:
Don’t ·fail to punish [withhold instruction/discipline from] children. If you ·spank them [strike them with a rod], they won’t die.


text:
If you ·spank them [strike them with a rod], you will save ·them from death [their lives from Sheol/the grave].


text:
Those who ·drink [get drunk] and ·eat too much [stuff themselves] ·become poor [lose possessions]. They ·sleep too much [or are in a stupor] and end up wearing rags.


text:
Listen to your father, who ·gave you life [begot you], and do not ·forget [despise] your mother when she is old.


text:
·Learn [Buy; Acquire] the truth and never ·reject [sell] it. ·Get [Buy; Acquire] wisdom, ·self-control [instruction; discipline], and understanding.


text:
The father of a ·good [righteous] child is very happy; parents who have wise children are glad because of them.


text:
My son, ·pay attention [give your heart] to me, and ·watch closely what I do [let your eyes watch/or delight in my path].


text:
A prostitute is as dangerous as a deep pit, and an ·unfaithful wife [foreign woman] is like a narrow well.


text:
Who ·has trouble [cries “Woe!”]? Who ·has pain [cries “Alas!”]? Who ·fights [has conflicts]? Who complains? Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has ·bloodshot [glazed] eyes?


text:
It is people who ·drink too much [linger over] wine, who ·try out all different kinds of strong drinks [go in search of the mixing vessel].


text:
Your eyes will see strange sights, and your ·mind will be confused [heart will speak perverse things].


text:
You will ·feel dizzy as if you’re in a storm on [be like one who lies down in the heart of] the ocean, as if you’re on top of a ship’s ·sails [mast].


text:
You will think, “They hit me, but ·I’m not hurt [I feel no pain]. They beat me up, but I don’t ·remember [know] it. I wish I could wake up. Then I would ·get another drink [look for it].”


text:
Their ·minds [hearts] are ·always planning [focused/fixated on] violence, and ·they always [their lips] talk about making trouble [; ].


text:
·It takes wisdom to have a good family [By wisdom a house is built], and ·it takes understanding to make it strong [by understanding it is established].


text:
·It takes knowledge to fill a home [By knowledge rooms are filled] with rare and beautiful treasures [].


text:
Wise people ·have great power [or are mightier than strong people], and those with knowledge ·have [or than those with] great strength.


text:
So you need ·advice [guidance] when you go to war. If you have lots of ·good advice [counselors], you will win.


text:
Foolish people cannot understand wisdom. They ·have nothing to say [do not open their mouth] in ·a discussion [the gate; where the elders make decisions].


text:
·Making foolish plans [Scheming] is sinful, and ·making fun of wisdom is hateful [or people despise mockers].


text:
If you ·give up [show yourself weak] ·when trouble comes [on the day of distress/trouble], it shows that ·you are weak [your strength is small].


text:
·Save [Rescue; Deliver] those who are being led to their death; ·rescue [don’t restrain yourself from] those who ·are about [tottering off] to be killed.


text:
If you say, “We don’t know anything about this,” God, who ·knows what’s in your mind [evaluates motives; weighs hearts], ·will notice [doesn’t he know?]. He ·is watching you [protects/guards your life], and he will know. He will reward each person for what he has done.


text:
My ·child [son], eat honey because it is good. Honey from the honeycomb ·tastes sweet [is sweet on your palate].


text:
In the same way, wisdom is pleasing to ·you [your soul]. If you find it, you have ·hope for the [a] future, and your ·wishes [hope] will ·come true [not be cut off].


text:
Don’t be wicked and ·attack [ambush; lie in wait at] a ·good [righteous] family’s house; don’t ·rob [or destroy] the place where they live.


text:
Even though ·good [righteous] people may ·be bothered by trouble [fall] seven times, they ·are never defeated [get back up], but the wicked ·are overwhelmed by [stumble into] trouble.


text:
Don’t ·be happy [rejoice] when your enemy ·is defeated [falls]; don’t let your heart be glad when he ·is overwhelmed [stumbles].


text:
The Lord will notice and ·be displeased [it will be bad in his eyes]. He may ·not be angry with them anymore [turn his anger from them; ; ; ].


text:
An evil person has ·nothing to hope for [no future]; the lamp of the wicked will be ·put out [extinguished].


text:
My ·child [son], ·respect [fear] the Lord and the king. Don’t join those people who ·refuse to obey them [rebel].


text:
·The Lord and the king [They] will quickly destroy such people. ·Those two can cause great disaster! [Who knows the disaster that both can bring?]


text:
More Words of Wisdom These are also ·sayings of [according to] the wise []: It is not good to ·take sides when you are the judge [show partiality/favoritism in judgment].


text:
·Don’t tell [Those who say to] the wicked ·that they [“You…”] are ·innocent [righteous]; people will curse you, and nations will ·hate [despise] you.


text:
But things will go well if you ·punish [correct; rebuke] the guilty, and you will receive rich blessings.


text:
First, ·finish your outside work [execute/establish your affairs in public] and prepare your fields. After that, you can build your house.


text:
Don’t ·testify [witness] against your neighbor for no good reason. Don’t ·say things that are false [deceive with your lips].


text:
Don’t say, “·I’ll get even [As they did to me so I will do to them]; I’ll ·do to him what he did to me [repay them according to their actions].”


text:
I ·passed by [happened upon] a lazy person’s field and by the vineyard of someone ·with no sense [who lacks heart/sense].


text:
Thorns had grown up everywhere. The ground was covered with weeds, and the stone walls had fallen down.


text:
·You sleep a little; you take a nap [“A little sleep, a little slumber”]. ·You fold your hands and [“A little folding of the arms to…”] lie down to rest [].


text:
So ·you will be as poor as if you had been robbed [poverty will come on you like a robber]; ·you will have as little as if you had been held up [deprivation (will come on you) like a shielded warrior].


text:
More Wise Sayings of Solomon These are more ·wise sayings [proverbs] of Solomon [; ], copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah [ruled 727–698 bc; ; ; ].


text:
·God is honored for what he keeps secret [It is the glory of God to hide a matter/things; ]. ·Kings are honored for what they can discover [It is the glory of kings to examine them].


text:
No one can ·measure [examine] the height of the skies or the depth of the earth. So also no one can ·understand [examine] the ·mind [heart] of a king.


text:
·Remove [Separate] the ·scum [dross] from the silver, so ·the silver can be used by the silversmith [a vessel will come out for refining].


text:
·Remove [Separate] wicked people from the king’s presence; then his ·government [throne] will be ·honest and last a long time [established in righteousness].


text:
Don’t ·brag [honor yourself] to the king and ·act as if you are great [don’t stand in the place of important people].


text:
It is better for him to ·give you a higher position [say to you, “Come up here”] than to bring you down in front of the prince []. Because of something you have seen,


text:
do not quickly take someone to court. What will you do later when your neighbor ·proves you wrong [humiliates/shames you]?


text:
·If you have an argument with [Make your accusations against] your neighbor, ·don’t tell other people what was said [keep it a secret from others].


text:
Whoever hears it might shame you, and ·you might not ever be respected again [the slander against you will never stop].


text:
A wise ·warning [correction] to ·someone who will listen [a listening ear] is as valuable as gold earrings or fine gold jewelry.


text:
Trustworthy messengers refresh those who send them, like the coolness of snow ·in the summertime [at harvest time].


text:
With patience you can convince a ruler, and a ·gentle [tender] word ·can get through to the hard-headed [breaks bone].


text:
If you find honey, ·don’t eat too much [eat the right amount], or it will make you full and you will throw up.


text:
·Don’t go to your neighbor’s house too often [Rarely let your feet step into your neighbor’s house]; ·too much of you will make him [they will have their fill of you and] hate you.


text:
When you ·lie [falsely testify] about your neighbors [], it hurts them as much as a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.


text:
Trusting unfaithful people ·when you are in [on a day of] trouble is like eating with a broken tooth or walking with a crippled foot.


text:
Singing songs to ·someone who is sad [a troubled heart] is like taking away his coat on a cold day or pouring vinegar on soda [sodium bicarbonate; mixing the two would cause an adverse reaction; the Greek Old Testament reads “scab” or “wound” instead of “soda”].


text:
It is better to live in a corner on the roof [] than inside the house with a ·quarreling [contentious] wife.


text:
A good person who ·gives in to [staggers before] evil is like a ·muddy [foul] spring or a ·dirty [ruined] well.


text:
It is not good to eat too much honey, nor does it bring you honor to ·brag about yourself [seek honor].


text:
Those who ·do not control themselves [are unrestrained in spirit] are like a city whose walls are broken down.


text:
Curses ·will not harm someone who is innocent [that are undeserved never stick]; they are like ·darting [flitting] birds or flying swallows.


text:
Whips are for horses, and ·harnesses [bridles] are for donkeys, ·so paddles are good for fools [and rods for the backs of fools].


text:
Answer fools when they speak foolishly, or they will ·think they are really wise [be wise in their own eyes; a wise person must read the situation to know whether to answer or not].


text:
A ·wise saying spoken by [proverb in the mouth of] a fool ·is as useless as [dangles like] the legs of a crippled person.


text:
A ·wise saying spoken by [proverb in the mouth of] a fool is like a ·thorn stuck in the hand of a drunk [thornbush in the hand of a fool].


text:
Hiring a foolish person or anyone just passing by is like an archer shooting ·at just anything [randomly].


text:
A fool who repeats his ·foolishness [foolish mistakes] is like a dog that goes back to ·what it has thrown up [its vomit; ].


text:
There is more hope for a foolish person than for those who ·think they are wise [are wise in their own eyes].


text:
Lazy people may ·put [bury] their hands in the dish, but they are ·too tired [or not able] to lift the food to their mouths.


text:
The lazy person ·thinks he is wiser [is wiser in his own eyes] than seven people who give sensible answers.


text:
Interfering in ·someone else’s quarrel as you pass by [or a fight not your own] is like grabbing a dog by the ears [as it passes by; the idea of passing by can go with either line].


text:
Without wood, a fire ·will go out [is extinguished], and without gossip, ·quarreling will stop [conflict calms down].


text:
Just as charcoal and wood keep a fire going, a quarrelsome person ·keeps an argument going [kindles accusations].


text:
The words of a gossip are like ·tasty bits of food [choice morsels]; ·people like to gobble them up [they go down to the inmost parts].


text:
·Kind words [Smooth lips] from a wicked ·mind [heart] are like ·a shiny [silver] coating on a clay pot.


text:
Those who hate you may try to ·fool [trick] you with their ·words [lips], but ·in their minds [inside] they ·are planning evil [set deception].


text:
People’s ·words [voice] may be ·kind [gracious], but don’t believe them, because ·their minds are full of evil thoughts [seven abominations are in their heart; seven is the number of completion].


text:
·Lies [Trickery; Guile] can ·hide [cover] hate, but the evil will be ·plain to everyone [revealed in the assembly].


text:
Whoever digs a pit for others will fall into it. Whoever tries to roll a boulder down on others will ·be crushed by it [have it turn back on them].


text:
·Liars [Lying tongues] hate the people they ·hurt [crush], and ·false praise [a flattering tongue] can ruin others.


text:
Don’t praise yourself. Let ·someone else [another; a stranger] do it. Let the praise come from a ·stranger [outsider] and not from your own mouth [; ; ].


text:
Stone is heavy, and sand is weighty, but ·a complaining fool [or the irritation/frustration caused by a fool] is ·heavier [worse] than either.


text:
Anger is cruel and destroys like a flood, but no one can ·put up with [stand in the face of] jealousy!


text:
The ·slap [bruises] of a friend can be trusted to help you, but the kisses of an enemy are ·nothing but lies [or dangerous; ].


text:
When you are ·full [sated], not even honey tastes good, but when you are hungry, even something bitter tastes sweet.


text:
Don’t ·forget [abandon] your friend or your parent’s friend. Don’t always go to your ·family for help [brother] when trouble comes. A neighbor close by is better than a ·family [brother] far away.


text:
Take the coat of someone who promises to pay a stranger’s loan, and keep it until he pays what the ·stranger [foreigner] owes.


text:
·Stopping [Controlling; Restraining] her is like ·stopping [controlling; restraining] the wind or trying to grab oil in your hand.


text:
Whoever ·tends [protects] a fig tree gets to eat its fruit, and whoever ·takes care of [guards] his master will receive honor.


text:
As water reflects your face, so ·your mind shows what kind of person you are [the heart reflects a person].


text:
·People will never stop dying and being destroyed [Sheol/The grave and Abaddon/Destruction are never satisfied; ], and ·they will never stop wanting more than they have [the eyes of people will never be satisfied].


text:
A ·hot furnace tests silver and gold [crucible for silver and a furnace for gold], and people ·are tested by the praise they receive [in the presence of those who praise them].


text:
Be sure you know how your sheep are doing, and ·pay attention to the condition of [set your heart on] your cattle.


text:
There will be plenty of goat’s milk to feed you and your ·family [house] and to make your ·servant [or young] girls healthy.


text:
Evil people ·run [flee] ·even though [or when] no one ·is chasing [pursues] them [, ], but ·good [righteous] people are as ·brave [confident] as a lion.


text:
When a country ·is lawless [or rebels; or transgresses], it has ·one ruler after another [or many rulers/leaders]; but when it is led by a ·leader [person] with understanding, it ·continues strong [or has lasting order].


text:
·Rulers [or Poor people] who ·mistreat [oppress] the poor are like a hard rain that ·destroys the crops [washes away the food].


text:
Those who ·disobey what they have been taught [forsake/abandon instruction/law] praise the wicked, but those who ·obey what they have been taught [guard instruction/law] ·are against [battle] them.


text:
Evil people do not understand justice, but those who ·follow [seek] the Lord understand ·it completely [or everything].


text:
It is better to be poor and ·innocent [walk blamelessly] than to be rich and ·wicked [be on crooked paths].


text:
Children who ·obey what they have been taught [protect instruction/law] are wise, but friends of ·troublemakers [or gluttons] disgrace their parents [].


text:
Some people get rich by ·overcharging others [interest and surcharge; ; ], but their wealth will be given to those who are ·kind [gracious] to the poor.


text:
If you ·refuse to obey [turn your ear away from] ·what you have been taught [hearing instruction], your prayers will ·not be heard [be detested/an abomination].


text:
Those who lead ·good [virtuous] people to ·do wrong [go on an evil path] will ·be ruined by their own evil [fall into their own pit], but the ·innocent [blameless] will ·be rewarded with [inherit] good things.


text:
Rich people may ·think they are wise [be wise in their own eyes], but the poor with understanding will ·prove them wrong [see through them].


text:
When ·good [righteous] people ·triumph [or rejoice], there is great happiness, but when the wicked ·get control [rise up], everybody hides.


text:
If you hide your sins, you will not succeed. If you confess and ·reject [abandon] them, you will receive ·mercy [compassion].


text:
Those who ·are always respectful [or always fear the Lord; always fear] will be ·happy [blessed], but those ·who are stubborn [whose hearts are hard] will get into trouble.


text:
A wicked ruler over poor people is like a ·roaring [growling] lion or a ·charging [prowling] bear [dangerous or frightening].


text:
A ·ruler [prince] without ·wisdom [understanding] will be cruel, but the one who ·refuses to take [hates] ·dishonest money [unjust gain/profit] will ·rule [or live] a long time.


text:
Don’t help those who are ·guilty of [oppressed/burdened by] murder; let them ·run [flee] ·until they die [to the pit/grave; ].


text:
·Innocent people [Those who walk in innocence/blamelessness] will be ·kept safe [saved], but those who ·are dishonest [twist paths] will ·suddenly be ruined [fall in one; perhaps a pit or the grave].


text:
Those who work their land will have plenty of food, but the ones who ·chase empty dreams instead [pursue emptiness] will end up poor.


text:
A ·truthful [reliable] person will have many blessings, but those ·eager to get rich [or with get-rich-quick schemes] will be punished.


text:
It is not good ·for a judge to take sides [to show favoritism/partiality; to recognize faces], but some will ·sin [transgress; do wrong] for only a piece of bread.


text:
·Selfish [Stingy] people are in a hurry to get rich and do not ·realize [know] they soon will be poor.


text:
Those who correct others will later ·be liked [find favor] more than those who ·give false praise [have a flattering tongue].


text:
Whoever robs father or mother and says, “It’s not ·wrong [a crime],” is ·just like someone who destroys things [or friends with thugs; ].


text:
A greedy person ·causes trouble [stirs up conflict], but the one who trusts the Lord will ·succeed [escape].


text:
Those who trust in ·themselves [their own hearts] are foolish, but those who ·live wisely [walk in wisdom] will be ·kept safe [or refreshed].


text:
Whoever gives to the poor will ·have everything he needs [lack nothing], but the one who ·ignores [turns a blind eye to] the poor will receive many curses.


text:
When the wicked ·get control [rise up], everybody hides, but when they ·die [are destroyed], ·good [righteous] people ·do well [or multiply; increase].


text:
Whoever is ·stubborn [stiff-necked] after being corrected many times will suddenly be ·hurt [broken] beyond ·cure [healing].


text:
When ·good [righteous] people ·do well [or multiply; increase], ·everyone is [the people are] happy, but when evil people ·rule [dominate], ·everyone groans [the people groan/moan].


text:
Those who love wisdom make their ·parents [father] happy, but friends of prostitutes ·waste their money [destroy riches].


text:
If a king is ·fair [just], he makes his country ·strong [stable], but if he ·takes gifts dishonestly [heavily taxes/extorts it], he tears his country down [].


text:
Those who give false praise to their ·neighbors [or friends] are setting a ·trap for them [trap/net for their feet].


text:
Evil people are trapped by their own ·sin [offenses], but ·good [righteous] people can sing and be happy.


text:
·Good [Righteous] people ·care [know] about ·justice for [the rights of] the poor, but the wicked ·are not concerned [do not understand].


text:
·People who make fun of wisdom [Mockers] ·cause trouble in [inflame] a city, but wise people ·calm anger down [turn back anger].


text:
When a wise person ·takes a foolish person to court [or debates/disputes a fool], the fool only shouts or laughs, and there is no ·peace [rest].


text:
Murderers hate an ·honest [innocent; blameless] person and ·try to kill [seek the life of] ·those who do right [the virtuous].


text:
Foolish people ·lose their tempers [or let nothing go unexpressed; let all their spirit out], but wise people ·control theirs [quiet things down afterward].


text:
The poor person and the ·cruel person [oppressor] are alike in that the Lord gave light to the eyes of both of them.


text:
If a king judges poor people ·fairly [in truth; reliably], his ·government [throne] will ·continue [be established] forever.


text:
Correction and ·punishment [the rod] make children wise, but those ·left alone [unsupervised] will disgrace their mother.


text:
When there are many wicked people, there is much ·sin [offense], but ·those who do right [the righteous] will see ·them destroyed [their downfall].


text:
·Correct [Instruct; Discipline] your children, and ·you will be proud [they will give you peace of mind]; they will give you ·satisfaction [delight].


text:
Where there is no ·word from God [vision; prophecy], ·people are uncontrolled [the people perish], but those who ·obey what they have been taught [guard the law] are ·happy [blessed].


text:
Words alone cannot ·correct [instruct] a servant, because even if they understand, they won’t respond.


text:
Do you see people who speak too ·quickly [hastily]? There is more hope for a foolish person than for them.


text:
If you ·spoil [pamper] your servants when they are young, they will bring you ·grief [trouble] later on.


text:
An angry person ·causes trouble [stirs up conflict]; a person with ·a quick temper [wrath] sins a lot.


text:
Pride will ·ruin people [cause people to fall], but ·those who are humble will be honored [a lowly spirit holds honor/glory tight].


text:
·Partners of [Those who divide plunder with] thieves ·are their own worst enemies [hate their lives/themselves]. If they ·have to testify in court [hear a curse], they ·are afraid to [do not] say anything.


text:
·Being afraid of [Anxiety about] people ·can get you into trouble [is a trap], but if you trust the Lord, you will be ·safe [protected; ; ].


text:
·Good [Righteous] people ·hate [detest] ·those who are dishonest [the unjust], and the wicked ·hate [detest] ·those who are honest [the straight path].


text:
Wise Words from Agur These are the words of Agur son of Jakeh [an otherwise unknown wise man]. ·This is his message to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal [or The utterance of the man, “I am weary, O God; I am weary, O God, and I am exhausted; unclear whether these are proper names or verbs]:


text:
“I am ·the most stupid person there is [a dullard/brute more than a human; ], and I have no understanding.


text:
I have not learned to be wise, and I don’t know much about ·God, the Holy One [or the holy ones; a reference to angels].


text:
Who has gone up to heaven and come back down []? Who can hold the wind ·in his hand [or by the handful; ; ; ; ; ]? Who can gather up the waters in his coat []? Who has set in place the ends of the earth []? What is his name or his son’s name? Tell me, if you know!


text:
“Every word of God ·is true [passes the test; is refined; ; ]. ·He guards those [They are a shield to those] who come to him for ·safety [refuge].


text:
Keep me from lying and ·being dishonest [fraud]. And don’t make me either rich or poor; just give me enough food for each day [; ].


text:
If I ·have too much [am sated/satisfied], I might ·reject [deny] you and say, ‘·I don’t know the Lord [Who is the Lord?]’ If I am poor, I might steal and ·disgrace [profane] the name of my God.


text:
“Do not ·say bad things about [slander] servants to their masters, or they will curse you, and you will suffer for it [].


text:
Some people think they are pure, but they ·are not really free from evil [have not cleaned off their own excrement; ].


text:
Some people have such ·a proud look [haughty eyes]! They ·look down on others [raise their eyebrows; ].


text:
Some people have teeth like swords; their jaws ·seem full of knives [are a butcher’s knife; their words hurt people]. They want to ·remove [consume] the poor from the earth and the needy from the ·land [or humanity].


text:
“·Greed [The leech] has two daughters named ‘Give’ and ‘Give.’ There are three things that are never satisfied, really four that never say, ‘I’ve had enough!’:


text:
the ·cemetery [grave; Sheol], the ·childless mother [barren womb], the land that never gets enough rain, and fire that never says, ‘I’ve had enough!’


text:
“·If you make fun of your [An eye that ridicules one’s] father and ·refuse to obey your [despises the teaching of one’s] mother, the ·birds [ravens] of the ·valley [wadi] will peck out your eyes, and the ·vultures [or young eagles] will eat them.


text:
the way an eagle flies in the sky, the way a snake slides over a rock, the way a ship sails on the sea, and the way a man and a woman ·fall in [or make] love.


text:
“This is the way of a woman who takes part in adultery: She acts as if she had eaten and washed her face; she says, ‘I haven’t done anything wrong.’


text:
a ·hated [unloved] woman who gets married, and a maid who ·replaces [displaces; succeeds] her mistress [].


text:
“There are three things that ·strut proudly [are excellent in gait], really four that ·walk as if they were important [are excellent as they walk]:


text:
a lion, ·the proudest animal [or a warrior among beasts], which ·is strong and runs from nothing [backs down from nothing],


text:
“If you have been foolish and proud, or if you have planned evil, ·shut [put your hand to] your mouth [].


text:
Just as ·stirring [pressing] milk makes ·butter [curds], and ·twisting [pressing] noses makes ·them bleed [blood], so ·stirring up [pressing] anger ·causes trouble [leads to accusations].”


text:
Wise Words of King Lemuel These are the words of King Lemuel [an otherwise unknown wise man], the message his mother taught him:


text:
“·My son, I gave birth to you. You are the son I prayed for [What, my son? What, son of my womb? What, son of my vow?].


text:
Don’t waste your strength on women or your ·time [ways] on those who ·ruin [wipe out; destroy] kings.


text:
“Kings should not drink wine, Lemuel, and rulers should not ·desire [crave] ·beer [strong drink; alcoholic beverage made from grain; ; , ].


text:
If they drink, they might forget the ·law [decrees] and ·keep the needy from getting their rights [violate the rights of the needy].


text:
Give ·beer [strong drink; ] to people who are ·dying [perishing] and wine to those ·who are sad [who have bitter hearts].


text:
Let them drink and forget their ·need [poverty] and remember their ·misery [or hard work] no more [; , ; ; ; ].


text:
“·Speak up [Open your mouth] for those who cannot speak for themselves; defend the rights of ·all those who have nothing [vulnerable/fragile people].


text:
·Speak up [Open your mouth] and judge ·fairly [with righteousness], and defend the rights of the poor and needy.”


text:
The Good Wife ·It is hard to [Who can…?] find a ·good [noble; virtuous] wife [], because she is worth more than ·rubies [or pearls].


text:
Her husband ·trusts her completely [entrusts his heart to her]. With her, he ·has everything he needs [lacks no plunder; a military image].


text:
She ·does [brings] him good and not ·harm [trouble; evil] ·for as long as she lives [all the days of her life].


text:
She gets up while it is still ·dark [night] and ·prepares food for [gives prey to] her family and ·feeds [a portion to] her servant girls.


text:
She ·inspects [surveys] a field and ·buys it [takes it over]. With ·money she earned [the fruits of her hands], she plants a vineyard.


text:
She knows that ·what she makes is good [or her trading is successful]. Her lamp ·burns late into the [she does not extinguish at] night.


text:
She ·makes thread with her hands [sends her hands to the distaff] and ·weaves her own cloth [her palms hold the spindle tightly].


text:
She ·does not worry about [is not afraid for] her family when it snows, because they all have fine clothes to keep them warm.


text:
She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothes are made of linen [from Egypt] and ·other expensive material [purple].


text:
Her husband is known at the city ·meetings [gates; the place where city leaders meet], where he ·makes decisions as one of [sits with] the ·leaders [elders] of the land.


text:
She makes ·linen clothes [garments] and sells them and ·provides [supplies] ·belts [sashes] to the merchants.


text:
·She is strong and is respected by the people [Strength and dignity/honor are her clothing]. She ·looks forward to the future with joy [laughs at the future; she is not anxious].


text:
She ·speaks wise words [opens her mouth with wisdom] and ·teaches others to be kind [loving instruction is on her tongue].


text:
She ·watches over her family [is a lookout point for the doings of her household] and ·never wastes her time [does not eat the bread/food of laziness].


text:
saying, “·There are many fine women [Many daughters act nobly], but you ·are better than [surpass] all of them.”


text:
Charm ·can fool you [is deceptive], and beauty ·can trick you [is meaningless; or fleeting], but a woman who ·respects [fears] the Lord [] should be praised.


text:
Give her the ·reward she has earned [fruit of her hands]; she should be praised in ·public [the gates; ] for what she has done.


text:
These are the words of the ·Teacher [or Preacher; Assembler; of a group], a son of David, king in Jerusalem [an allusion to Solomon].


text:
The ·Teacher [or Preacher; Assembler; ] says, “·Useless [Meaningless; or Absurd; or Enigmatic; or Transient; Vanity; Vapor; Bubble; and so throughout this book]! Useless! Completely useless! Everything is useless.”


text:
What do people really ·gain [profit] from all the ·hard work [toil] they do ·here on earth [under the sun]?


text:
Things Never Change ·People live [A generation goes], and ·people die [a generation comes], but the earth ·continues [endures; remains] forever.


text:
·The wind [It] blows to the south; it ·blows [goes around] to the north. ·It blows from one direction and then another [The wind goes round and round]. ·Then it turns around and repeats the same pattern, going nowhere [The wind keeps blowing in circles].


text:
All the rivers flow to the sea, but the sea never becomes full. The rivers return to the place from which they flow.


text:
Everything is ·boring [wearisome], ·so boring that you don’t even want to talk about it [beyond words]. ·Words come again and again to our ears, but we never hear enough [The ear is never satisfied with hearing], nor ·can we ever really see all we want to see [the eye with seeing].


text:
·All things continue the way they have been since the beginning [Whatever is will be again]. What has happened will happen again; there is nothing new ·here on earth [under the sun; ].


text:
·Someone might say [Here is a common expression], “Look, this is new,” but ·really it has always been here [it was already here long ago]. It ·was here before we were [existed before our time].


text:
·People don’t remember what happened long ago [There is no remembrance of the past], ·and in the future people will not remember what happens now [nor will there be any remembrance of what will be in the future]. ·Even later, other people will not remember what was done before them [There is no remembrance of them among those who will exist in the future].


text:
Does Wisdom Bring Happiness? I, the ·Teacher [or Preacher; Assembler; ], ·was [or have been] king over Israel in Jerusalem [].


text:
I ·decided [devoted myself] to use my wisdom to ·learn [explore] about everything that happens ·on earth [under heaven; ]. I learned that God has given ·us terrible things to face [or the human race an evil/unhappy task to keep us occupied].


text:
I ·looked at [observed] everything done ·on earth [under the sun; ] and saw that it is all useless [], like chasing the wind.


text:
If something is ·crooked [bent], you can’t make it straight. If something is missing, you can’t ·say it is there [count it; something is wrong with the world and it cannot be fixed].


text:
I ·said to myself [spoke with/to my heart], “I have ·become very wise and am now wiser than [surpassed in wisdom] anyone who ruled Jerusalem before me. I ·know what wisdom and knowledge really are [have observed much wisdom and knowledge].”


text:
So I ·decided to find out about [gave my heart to understand] wisdom and knowledge and also ·about foolish thinking [madness and folly], but this turned out to be like chasing the wind.


text:
With much wisdom comes much ·disappointment [frustration]; the person who gains more knowledge also gains more ·sorrow [pain].


text:
Does “Having Fun” Bring Happiness? I said ·to myself [in my heart], “·I will try having fun [Come now, I will test you with pleasure]. I will ·enjoy myself [experience the good life; see good].” ·But I found that [Behold] this is also useless [].


text:
I thought, “It is ·foolish [mad; crazy; insane] to laugh, and ·having fun [pleasure] ·doesn’t accomplish anything [what can it do…?].”


text:
I ·decided [explored with my heart] to cheer ·myself up [my body/flesh] with wine and embrace folly while my mind was ·still thinking wisely [guided by wisdom]. I wanted to see what was good for people to do ·on earth [under heaven; ] during their few days of life.


text:
Does Hard Work Bring Happiness? Then I did great things: I built houses and planted vineyards for myself [; ; ].


text:
I ·bought [acquired] male and female slaves, and slaves were also born in my house. I had large herds and flocks, more than anyone in Jerusalem had ever had before.


text:
I also gathered silver and gold for myself, treasures ·from [or of] kings and ·other areas [provinces; ; ]. I had male and female singers and ·all the women a man could ever want [many concubines—the pleasure of men].


text:
I ·became very famous, even greater than [surpassed] anyone who had lived in Jerusalem before me. My wisdom ·helped me in all this [stayed with me].


text:
Anything ·I saw and wanted [my eyes requested], I ·got for [did not refuse] myself; I did not ·miss [deny my heart] any pleasure I desired. ·I [My heart] was pleased with everything I did, and this pleasure was the reward for all my ·hard work [toil].


text:
But then I ·looked at [turned my attention to] what I had done, and I thought about all the ·hard work [toil]. Suddenly I realized it was useless [], like chasing the wind. There is ·nothing to gain [no profit/advantage] from anything we do ·here on earth [under the sun; ].


text:
Maybe Wisdom Is the Answer Then I ·began to think again about being wise, and also about being foolish and doing crazy things [turned my attention to observe wisdom and mad folly]. After all, what more can anyone who comes after the king do? He can’t do more than what the king has already done [If the king couldn’t find meaning in life, then no one could].


text:
I saw that ·being wise is certainly better than being foolish [there was more profit in wisdom than folly], just as light is ·better [more profitable] than darkness.


text:
Wise people ·see where they are going [have eyes in their head], but fools walk around in the dark. Yet I know that both wise and foolish ·people end the same way [have the same fate; death].


text:
I ·thought to myself [said in my heart], “·What happens to a fool will happen to me [The fate of the fool is my fate], too, so ·what is the reward for being [why have I become so] wise?” I said to myself, “·Being wise [This] is also useless [].”


text:
No one will remember the wise or the fool for long. ·In the future, [The days will come only too soon when] both will be forgotten. How will the wise person die? Like the fool?


text:
Is There Real Happiness in Life? So I hated life. ·It made me sad to think that everything [For evil is the work that is done] ·here on earth [under the sun; ] is useless [], like chasing the wind.


text:
I hated all the things I had ·worked [toiled] for ·here on earth [under the sun; ], because I must leave them to someone who will live after me.


text:
Someone else will control everything for which I ·worked so hard [toiled so wisely] ·here on earth [under the sun; ], and ·I don’t know [who knows…?] if he will be wise or foolish. This is also useless [].


text:
So I ·became sad [despaired; caused my heart to despair] about all the ·hard work [toil] I had done ·here on earth [under the sun; ].


text:
People can work hard using all their wisdom, knowledge, and ·skill [success], but they will ·die, and other people will get the things for which they worked [leave their reward to others]. They did not do the work, but they will get everything. This is ·also unfair [a great evil] and useless [].


text:
What do people get for all their ·work [toil] and ·struggling [anxiety] ·here on earth [under the sun; ]?


text:
All of their ·lives [days] their work is full of pain and ·sorrow [frustration], and even at night their ·minds [hearts] don’t ·rest [lie down]. This is also useless [].


text:
·The best that people can do is [There is nothing better for people than to] eat, drink, and enjoy their ·work [toil]. I saw that even this comes from God,


text:
If people please God, God will give them wisdom, knowledge, and ·joy [pleasure]. But ·sinners [or people who offend; offend God] will get only the work of gathering wealth that they will have to give to the ones who please God. So all their work is useless [], like chasing the wind [, ; ; ; ; the little pleasures are distractions from the meaningless world].


text:
There Is a Time for Everything There is a ·time [season] for everything, and ·everything [every activity] ·on earth [under heaven] has its ·special season [time].


text:
There is a time to be born and a time to die. There is a time to plant and a time to ·pull up plants [uproot what has been planted].


text:
There is a time to kill and a time to heal. There is a time to ·destroy [tear down] and a time to build.


text:
There is a time to throw away stones and a time to gather them. There is a time to ·hug [embrace] and a time ·not to hug [to refrain from embracing].


text:
There is a time to ·look for something [seek] and a time to ·stop looking for it [give up as lost; or lose]. There is a time to keep things and a time to throw things away.


text:
There is a time to tear apart and a time to sew together. There is a time to be silent and a time to speak.


text:
God Controls His World ·Do [What do] people really ·gain anything [profit] from their ·work [toil; ]?


text:
God has ·given them a desire to know the future [placed eternity/an awareness of time/or ignorance in their hearts]. He ·does everything just right and on time [makes everything appropriate/beautiful in its time], but people can never ·completely understand what he is doing [discover/find the work that God does from beginning to end; humans cannot discern the “right time”].


text:
So I ·realize [know] that ·the best thing [there is nothing better] for them is to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live.


text:
God wants all people to eat and drink and be happy in their ·work [toil], which are gifts from God [; ; ; ; ; the little pleasures are distractions from the meaningless world].


text:
I know that everything God does will continue forever. People cannot add anything to what God has done, and they cannot take anything away from it. God does it this way to make people ·respect [or be afraid of; ; ; , ] him.


text:
What happens now has happened in the past, and what will happen in the future has happened before. God makes the same things happen again and again.


text:
Unfairness on Earth I also saw this ·here on earth [under the sun; ]: ·Where there should have been justice [The place of judgment], there was evil; ·where there should have been right [the place of righteousness; the courtroom], there was evil.


text:
I said ·to myself [in my heart], ·God has planned [There is] a time for every ·thing [activity] and every action, so he will judge both ·good people and bad [the righteous and the evil/wicked].


text:
I ·decided [said in my heart concerning the human race] that God ·leaves it the way it is to test people and [tests them] to show them they are just like animals.


text:
The ·same thing happens to animals and to people [fate of people and the fate of animals are the same/one fate]; they both have the same breath, so they both die. People ·are no better off than [have no advantage over] the animals, because everything is useless [].


text:
·Both end up the same way [All go to the same place]; both came from dust and both will go back to dust.


text:
Who ·can be sure [knows] that the human spirit goes up above and that the spirit of an animal goes down into the ground?


text:
So I saw that ·the best thing people can do is [there is nothing better for people than] to ·enjoy [rejoice in] their work, because that is ·all they have [their reward; ; ; ; ; ; the little pleasures are distractions from the meaningless world]. ·No one can help another person [Who can bring them to…?] see what will happen in the future.


text:
Is It Better to Be Dead? Again I saw all the people who were ·mistreated [oppressed] ·here on earth [under the sun; ]. I saw ·their tears [the tears of the oppressed] and that they had no one to comfort them. ·Cruel people had [Oppressors have] all the power, and there was no one to comfort those they hurt.


text:
I ·decided that the dead are better off than the living [praised the dead who were already dead more than the living who are still alive].


text:
But those who have never ·been born [existed; been] are better off still; they have not seen the evil that is done ·here on earth [under the sun; ].


text:
Why Work So Hard? I ·realized [saw; observed] the reason people ·work hard [toil] and try to succeed: They are jealous of ·each other [their neighbors]. This, too, is useless [], like chasing the wind.


text:
·Some say it is foolish to fold your hands and do nothing [Fools fold their hands], ·because you will starve to death [and consume their own flesh; ; ; ].


text:
·Maybe so, but I say it is better to be content with what little you have [Better one handful with rest]. ·Otherwise, you will always be struggling for more […than two handfuls with hard work/toil; ; ; ], and that is like chasing the wind.


text:
·I saw a man who had no family [There was one, but not a second], no son or brother. ·He always worked hard [There was no end to all his hard work/toil] but ·was never satisfied with what he had [his eye was never satisfied with his work]. He ·never asked [or asked] himself, “For whom am I ·working so hard [toiling]? Why ·don’t I let myself enjoy life [do I deprive myself of good]?” This also is ·very sad [or an evil task/occupation] and useless [].


text:
Friends and Family Give Strength Two people are better than one, because they get ·more done by working together [a good return for their hard work/toil].


text:
If one falls down, the other can help ·him [his colleague] up. But it is ·bad [a pity] for the person who is alone and falls, because no one is there to help.


text:
·An enemy [Someone] might ·defeat [overpower] one person, but two people together can ·defend themselves [stand up against them]; ·a rope that is woven of three strings is hard to break [a three-stranded cord does not quickly snap; having a friend is good, having more friends is better].


text:
Fame and Power Are Useless A poor but wise ·boy [youth] is better than a foolish but old king who doesn’t listen to advice [; ; ; ].


text:
The ·boy [youth] became king. He had been born poor in the kingdom and had even gone to prison before becoming king.


text:
I ·watched [saw; observed] all the people who ·lived on earth [walked under the sun; ] follow ·him and make him their king [or the next youth who replaced the first youth/him].


text:
·Many followed him at first [There was no end to all the people, to all those whom he led], but later, they did not like him, either. ·So fame and power are [This is] useless [], like chasing the wind.


text:
Be Careful About Making Promises ·Be careful [Watch your step/feet] when you go to worship at the ·Temple [house of God]. It is better to listen than to offer ·foolish sacrifices [or the sacrifice of fools] without even knowing you are doing wrong.


text:
·Think before you speak [Do not be quick with your mouth], and ·be careful about what you say [do not let your heart rush to utter a word] to God. God is in heaven, and you are on the earth, so ·say only a few words to God [let your words be few].


text:
If you make a ·promise [vow] to God, don’t ·be slow to keep [delay to fulfill] it. ·God is not happy [For there is no pleasure] with fools, so ·give God what you promised [fulfill what you have vowed].


text:
It is better not to ·promise anything than to promise something and not do it [make a vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it; ; ; ].


text:
Don’t let your ·words [mouth] cause ·you [your flesh] to sin, and don’t say to the ·priest at the Temple [messenger], “·I didn’t mean what I promised [It was a mistake].” ·If you do, God will [Why should God…?] become angry with your words and will destroy ·everything you have worked for [the work of your hands].


text:
Many useless [] ·promises [or words] are like so many dreams; they mean nothing. You should ·respect [or be afraid of; ; ; , ] God.


text:
Officers Cheat Each Other In some places you will see poor people ·mistreated [oppressed]. Don’t be surprised when they are ·not treated fairly [deprived/robbed of justice] or ·given their rights [righteousness]. One ·officer [official; higher-up] ·is cheated by [or watches out for] a higher ·officer [official] ·who in turn is cheated by even higher officers [and there are officials/higher-ups over them].


text:
The ·wealth of the country [profit of the land] is ·divided up among them [taken by] all. Even the king ·makes sure he gets his share of the profits [benefits from the field].


text:
Wealth Cannot Buy Happiness Whoever loves money will never have enough money; Whoever loves ·wealth [riches] will not be satisfied with ·it [gain]. This is also useless [].


text:
The more ·wealth [prosperity] people have, the more friends they have to ·help spend [consume] it. So what do people really ·gain [profit]? They ·gain [profit] nothing except to ·look at their riches [admire it].


text:
·Those who work hard sleep in peace [Sweet is the sleep of the laborer]; it is not important if they eat little or much. But ·rich people worry about their wealth and cannot [the abundance of the wealthy does not let them] sleep.


text:
·I have seen real misery here [There is a sickening evil I have seen] ·on earth [under the sun; ]: ·Money [Wealth] ·saved is a curse to [is hoarded to the harm of] its owners.


text:
They lose ·it all [that wealth] in a ·bad deal [evil/bad situation] and have nothing to give to their children.


text:
People come ·into this world [from the womb of their mother] ·with nothing [naked], and when they ·die [return] they leave with nothing. In spite of all their hard ·work [toil], they leave just as they came.


text:
This, too, is ·real misery [a sickening evil]: They leave just as they came. So what do they ·gain [profit] from chasing the wind?


text:
·All they get are days full of sadness and sorrow [They eat all their days in darkness], and they end up sick, defeated, and ·angry [frustrated].


text:
Enjoy Your Life’s Work I have ·seen [observed] what is ·best [good] for people ·here on earth [under the sun; ]. ·They [It is fitting/appropriate that they] should eat and drink and enjoy their ·work [toil], because ·the life God has given them on earth is short [that is their reward during the few days God has given to this person under the sun; ].


text:
God gives some people the ability to enjoy the wealth and ·property [possessions] he gives them, as well as the ability to accept their ·state in life [reward] and ·enjoy [take pleasure in] their work.


text:
They do not ·worry about how short life is [remember much about the days of their life], because God keeps them busy with ·what they love to do [the pleasure of their heart; ; , ; ; ; the little pleasures are distractions from the meaningless world].


text:
I have ·seen [observed] something else ·wrong [evil] ·here on earth [under the sun; ] that ·causes serious problems for [is frequent among] people.


text:
God gives great wealth, ·riches [possessions], and honor to some people; they ·have everything [lack nothing] they want. But God does not let them ·enjoy such things [eat of it]; a stranger ·enjoys them instead [eats of it]. This is useless [] and ·very wrong [a sickening evil].


text:
A man might have a hundred children and live ·a long time [many years], but what good is it if he ·can’t enjoy the good God gives him [is not satisfied with the good things he has] or have a proper burial? I say a ·baby born dead [stillborn] is better off than he is.


text:
A ·baby born dead [stillborn] is useless []. ·It returns to darkness without even a name [Its name is shrouded/obscured in darkness].


text:
That baby never saw the sun and never knew ·anything [or the sun], but it finds more rest than that man.


text:
Even if he lives ·two thousand years [a thousand years two times over], he doesn’t ·enjoy the good God gives him [experience good times]. ·Everyone is going [Do not all go…?] to the same place [the grave].


text:
·People work just to feed themselves [All toil of humans is for their mouths], but ·they never seem to get enough to eat [their appetite is never filled; ].


text:
In this way ·a wise person is no better off than [what advantage/profit is there for a wise person over…?] a fool. ·Then, too, it does a poor person little good to know how to get along in life [What do the poor have by knowing how to act in front of the living?].


text:
·It is better to see what you have than to want more [The sight of the eyes is better than wandering desire]. ·Wanting more [This also] is useless []— like chasing the wind.


text:
Who Can Understand God’s Plan? Whatever happens was ·planned long ago [already called by name]. Everyone knows what people are like. No one can argue with ·God, who [one who] is stronger than anyone.


text:
·The more you say, the more useless it is [There are many words that increase meaninglessness; ]. What good does it do?


text:
People have only a few useless [] days of life on the earth; their ·short life [few days] passes like a shadow [; ; ; ]. Who knows what is ·best [good] for them while they live? Who can tell them what ·the future will bring [will happen after them]?


text:
Some Benefits of Serious Thinking It is better to have ·respect [a good reputation/name] than ·good [fine] ·perfume [oil]. The day of death is better than the day of birth.


text:
It is better to go to a ·funeral [house of mourning] than to a ·party [drinking house]. ·We all must die [It is everyone’s end], and everyone living should ·think about this [take it to heart].


text:
·Sorrow [or Anger] is better than laughter, and ·sadness has a good influence on you [in a troubled face the heart is made well].


text:
·A wise person thinks about death [The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning], but ·a fool thinks only about having a good time [the heart of fools is in a house of pleasure].


text:
It is better to ·be criticized by a [hear the rebuke of a] wise person than to ·be praised by a fool [hear the song of fools].


text:
The laughter of fools is like the crackling of thorns ·in a cooking fire [under the pot]. Both are useless [].


text:
Even wise people are fools if they let ·money change their thinking [a bribe distort their understanding].


text:
It is better to ·finish [end] something than to ·start [begin] it. It is better to be patient than to be proud.


text:
Don’t ·become angry quickly [be quick to anger in your spirit], because ·getting angry is foolish [anger resides in the bosom of fools].


text:
Don’t ·ask [say], “Why ·was life better in the ‘good old days’ [were the former days better than these]?” It is not ·wise [from wisdom] to ask ·such questions [this].


text:
Wisdom is better when it comes with ·money [an inheritance]. ·They both help those who are alive [It is an advantage to those who see the sun].


text:
·Wisdom is like money: they both help [The protection/shade of wisdom is in/or like the protection/shade of money]. But wisdom is better, because it can ·save [give life to] whoever has it.


text:
Look at ·what God has done [the work/deeds of God]: ·No one [Who can…?] straighten what he has bent [].


text:
When life is good, enjoy it. But when life is hard, remember: God gives good times and hard times, and no one knows what tomorrow will bring.


text:
It Is Impossible to Be Truly Good In my useless [] ·life [days] I have seen both of these: I have seen ·good [righteous] people die ·in spite of their goodness [in their righteousness] and ·evil [wicked] people live a long time in spite of their evil.


text:
Don’t be ·too [overly] ·right [righteous; good], and don’t ·be too [or pretend to be] wise. Why ·destroy [ruin] yourself?


text:
It is good to grab the one and not ·let go of [relax your hand from] the other; those who ·respect [or are afraid of; ; ; , ] God will hold them both.


text:
Surely there is not a ·good [righteous] person on earth who always does good and never sins [; ; ; ].


text:
Don’t ·listen [give your heart] to everything people say, or you might hear your servant insulting you.


text:
I ·used wisdom to test [tested with/or by wisdom] all these things. I said, “I ·want to [or will] be wise,” but it was ·too hard for [far from] me.


text:
·I cannot understand why things are as they are [That which is, is far off]. It is ·too hard for anyone to understand [deep, deep, who can find it?].


text:
·I studied and tried very hard to find wisdom, to find some meaning for everything [I and my heart turned to understand and to explore and to seek wisdom and the sum of things]. I learned that it is foolish to be evil, and it is crazy to act like a fool.


text:
I found that ·some women [or women] are ·worse [more bitter] than death and are ·as dangerous as traps [a trap/snare]. Their ·love is like [heart is] a net, and their ·arms hold men like [hands are] chains. A man who pleases God will ·be saved from [escape] them, but ·a sinner [or someone who offends him] will be caught by them.


text:
The ·Teacher [or Preacher; Assembler; ] says, “This is what I ·learned [found]: ·I added all these things together to find some meaning for everything [One to one to find the sum/scheme of things].


text:
While I was searching and not finding, I found one man among a thousand. But I did not find a woman among all these [that is a good woman].


text:
One thing I have ·learned [found]: God made people ·good [virtuous; upright], but they have ·found all kinds of ways to be bad [sought out many devices].”


text:
Obey the King ·No one [Who…?] is like the wise person who ·can understand what things mean [knows the interpretation of a matter?]. Wisdom ·brings happiness [brightens one’s face]; it ·makes sad faces happy [changes his stern/hard expression].


text:
·Don’t be too quick to leave the king [or You should leave his presence]. Don’t ·support something that is wrong [persist in an evil matter], because the king does whatever he ·pleases [wants].


text:
What the king says is ·law [supreme]; no one ·tells him what to do [says to him, “What are you doing?].


text:
Whoever obeys the king’s command ·will be safe [experiences no harm/evil]. A wise ·person does [heart knows] the right thing at the right time.


text:
No one ·can control the wind [has power over the wind to restrain the wind] or ·stop his own [power over the day of] death. No soldier is ·released [discharged] ·in times of war [during the battle], and evil does not ·set free [rescue] ·those who do evil [its owner].


text:
Justice, Rewards, and Punishment I saw all of this as I ·considered [gave my heart to] all that is done here ·on earth [under the sun; ]. Sometimes people harm those they control.


text:
I saw ·the funerals of evil people [the wicked buried and departed] who used to go in and out of the holy place [the Temple]. They were ·honored [praised] in the same towns where they had done evil. This is useless [], too [it is not fair that the wicked thrive in life and are praised after they die].


text:
When ·evil people are not punished [the sentence for an evil deed is not carried out] right away, ·it makes others want to do evil, too [the human heart is filled with evildoing].


text:
Though a sinner might do a hundred evil things and ·might live a long time [their days are lengthened], I know it will be better for those who ·honor God [fear God because they fear him].


text:
I also know it will not go well for evil people, because they do not ·honor [fear] God. Like a shadow, ·they will not last [their days will not be lengthened].


text:
Sometimes something useless [] happens on earth. ·Bad things happen to good people [There are righteous people who are treated as if they did wicked deeds], and ·good things happen to bad people [wicked people who are treated as if they did righteous deeds]. I say that this is also useless [].


text:
So I ·decided it was more important to enjoy life [commended/praised pleasure]. ·The best that people can do [There is nothing better] ·here on earth [under the sun; ] ·is [or than] to eat, drink, and ·enjoy life [have pleasure], because these joys will help them do the ·hard work [toil] God gives them ·here on earth [under the sun; ; , ; ; ; the little pleasures are distractions from the meaningless world].


text:
We Cannot Understand All God Does I ·tried to understand [gave my heart to know] all that happens on earth. ·I saw how busy people are, working day and night and hardly ever sleeping [No one sleeps day or night].


text:
I also saw all that God has done. Nobody can ·understand [comprehend; find] what God does ·here on earth [under the sun; ]. No matter how hard people try to ·understand [find] it, they cannot. Even if wise people say they understand, they cannot; no one can really ·understand [find] it.


text:
Is Death Fair? I ·thought about [gave my heart to] all this and ·tried to understand it [examined all this]. ·I saw that God controls good people and wise people and what they do [The righteous and the wise and their works are all in the hand of God], but no one knows if ·they will experience love or hate [love or hate awaits them].


text:
·Good [Righteous] and ·bad [wicked] people ·end up the same [have the same fate]— those who are good and those who are evil, those who are clean [in a ritual sense] and those who are unclean, those who sacrifice and those who do not. The same things happen to a good person as happen to a sinner, to a person who ·makes promises to God [swears; makes an oath] and to one who ·does not [is afraid to swear/make an oath].


text:
This is ·something wrong [the evil] that happens ·here on earth [under the sun; ]: ·What happens to one happens to [There is one fate for] all. So people’s ·minds [hearts] are full of ·evil and foolish thoughts [madness] while they live. After that, they join the dead.


text:
But anyone ·still alive [joined to the living] has hope; even a live dog [considered contemptible] is better off than a dead lion [a noble animal]!


text:
The living know they will die, but the dead know nothing. Dead people have no more reward, and ·people forget them [the memory of them is forgotten].


text:
·After people are dead, they can no longer love or hate or envy [Their love, their hate, and their jealousy have already perished]. They will ·never again share [have no portion] in what happens ·here on earth [under the sun; ].


text:
Enjoy Life While You Can So go eat your food ·and enjoy it [with gladness]; drink your wine ·and be happy [with a glad heart], because ·that is what God wants you to do [God has already approved your deeds].


text:
Put on ·nice [white; festive] clothes and ·make yourself look good [do not spare oil on your head; ; ; ; ].


text:
Enjoy life with the wife you love. Enjoy all the useless [] days of this useless [] life God has given you ·here on earth [under the sun; ], because it is ·all you have [your lot/reward/portion in life]. So enjoy the ·work [toil] you do ·here on earth [under the sun; ].


text:
Whatever ·work you [your hand finds to] do, do ·your best [with all your strength], because you are going to ·the grave [Sheol], where there is no ·working [or action], no ·planning [or thought], no knowledge, and no wisdom [; , ; ; ; such activities and pleasures are distractions from the meaninglessness of life].


text:
Time and Chance I also ·saw [turned and observed] something else ·here on earth [under the sun; ]: The fastest runner does not always win the race, the strongest soldier does not always win the battle, the wisest does not always have food, the smartest does not always become wealthy, and the ·talented [intelligent] one does not always receive ·praise [favor]. Time and chance happen to everyone.


text:
No one knows ·what will happen next [his time]. Like a fish caught in a cruel net, or a bird caught in a trap, people are trapped ·by evil [or in an evil time] when it suddenly falls on them.


text:
Wisdom Does Not Always Win I also saw something wise ·here on earth [under the sun; ] that impressed me.


text:
There was a small town with only a few people in it. A great king ·fought against [invaded] it and ·put his armies all around it [built great siegeworks against it].


text:
Now there was a poor but wise man in the town who used his wisdom to ·save [rescue] his town. But later on, ·everyone forgot about him [no one remembered that poor wise man].


text:
I ·still think [said that] wisdom is better than strength. But ·those people forgot about the poor man’s wisdom [the wisdom of the poor wise man was despised], and they stopped listening to what he said.


text:
Dead flies can make even ·perfume [a perfumer’s oil] stink. In the same way, a little foolishness ·can spoil [outweighs] wisdom and ·honor [glory].


text:
The heart of the wise ·leads [goes] to ·right [the right], but the heart of a fool ·leads [goes] to ·wrong [the left].


text:
Even in the way fools walk along the road, they ·show they are not wise [lack sense]; they show everyone how ·stupid [foolish] they are [; ].


text:
Don’t leave your job just because your ·boss [ruler; leader] is angry with you. ·Remaining calm [Gentleness] ·solves [appeases] great ·problems [offenses].


text:
There is something else ·wrong [evil] that happens ·here on earth [under the sun; ]. It is the kind of ·mistake [error] rulers make:


text:
Fools are ·given [placed in] important positions while ·gifted [wealthy] people ·are given [sit in] lower ones;


text:
Anyone who digs a pit might fall into it [; ]; anyone who ·knocks down [breeches] a wall might be bitten by a snake;


text:
anyone who ·moves [quarries] boulders might be ·hurt [injured] by them; and anyone who ·cuts logs [splits trees] might be ·harmed [endangered] by them.


text:
·A dull ax means harder work [If the ax is blunt and the edge is not sharp, then he must increase his efforts]. ·Being wise will make it easier [The advantage of wisdom is success].


text:
If a snake bites the ·tamer [charmer] before it is ·tamed [charmed], what good is the ·tamer [charmer]?


text:
The words of the wise bring them ·praise [or favor], but the words of a fool will ·destroy [swallow] them.


text:
A fool ·talks too much [multiplies words]. No one knows ·the future [what will happen], and ·no one [who…?] can tell what will happen after ·death [him].


text:
The Value of Work ·How terrible it is for a [Woe to you, O] country whose king is ·a child [or immature] and whose leaders ·eat all [or feast in the] morning [; ].


text:
·How lucky a [Blessed are you, O] country whose king ·comes from a good family [is a noble], whose leaders eat ·only at mealtime [at the appropriate time] and for strength, not to get drunk.


text:
If someone is lazy, the roof will begin to ·fall [sag]. If he ·doesn’t fix it [lowers his hands], the house will leak [; ].


text:
A ·party [feast] makes you ·feel good [laugh], wine makes you feel ·happy [merry], and money ·buys anything [answers everything].


text:
Don’t ·make fun of [or curse] the king even in your thoughts, and don’t ·make fun of [curse] rich people, even in your bedroom. A little bird might carry your words; a ·bird might fly and [winged creature might] tell what you said.


text:
Boldly Face the Future ·Invest what you have [Send/Cast/Throw your bread upon the waters], because after ·a while you will get a return [many days you may find it].


text:
·Invest what you have in several different businesses [Give a portion to seven, even eight], because you don’t know what ·disasters [evil] might ·happen [occur in the land].


text:
If clouds are full of rain, they will shower on the earth. A tree can fall to the north or south, but it will stay where it falls.


text:
Those who ·wait for perfect weather [watch the wind] will never ·plant seeds [sow]; those who look at every cloud will never harvest crops.


text:
You don’t know ·where the wind will blow [the way of the wind], and you don’t know how ·a baby grows inside its mother [the bones/or body are/is formed in its mother’s womb]. In the same way, you don’t know ·what God is doing [the work of God], or ·how he created everything [or who does everything].


text:
Plant early in the morning, and ·work until [do not let your hand rest at] evening, because you don’t know if this or that will succeed. They might both do well.


text:
Serve God While You Are Young ·Sunshine [Light] is sweet; it is good ·to see the light of day [for the eyes to see the sun].


text:
People ought to enjoy every day of their lives, ·no matter how long they live [if they live many years]. But they should also remember this: ·You will be dead a long time [There will be many dark days]. Everything that happens then is useless [].


text:
Young people, enjoy yourselves while you are young; ·be happy [let your heart be merry] while you are young. ·Do whatever your heart desires [Follow the ways of your heart], ·whatever you want to do [follow the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes]. But ·remember [know] that God will ·judge you for everything you do.


text:
·Don’t worry [Put away anger from your heart], and ·forget the troubles of [turn away evil from] your body, because youth and ·childhood [vitality] are useless [].


text:
The Problems of Old Age Remember your ·Creator [or health] ·while you are young [in the days of your youth], before the days of ·trouble [evil] come and the years when you say, “I find no ·pleasure [delight] in them.”


text:
When you get old, the light from the sun, moon, and stars will grow dark, and the rain clouds ·will never seem to go away [return after the rain].


text:
At that time ·your arms [the guards of the house] will shake and ·your legs [the landowners] will ·become weak [bend]. ·Your teeth will fall out so you cannot chew [The grinders cease because they are few; women who grind grain], and ·your eyes will not see clearly [those who look through the windows grow dim; another group of women].


text:
·Your ears will be deaf to the noise [The doors are shut] in the streets, and ·you will barely hear the millstone grinding grain [the sound of grinding decreases]. ·You’ll wake up when a bird starts singing [One rises at the sound of a bird], ·but you will barely hear singing [and the daughters of song are brought low].


text:
·You [They] will fear high places and ·will be afraid to go for a walk [the terrors of the street]. ·Your hair will become white like the flowers on an almond tree [The almond tree blossoms]. ·You will limp along like a grasshopper when you walk [The grasshopper drags itself along]. Your ·appetite [or sexual desire] will be gone. Then ·you will [people] go to ·your [their] everlasting home [the grave], and ·people will go to your funeral [mourners walk around in the street].


text:
Soon ·your life will snap like a silver chain [the silver thread will be snapped] ·or break like a golden bowl [and the golden bowl will be crushed]. ·You will be like a broken pitcher at a spring [The jar will be broken by the well], ·or a broken wheel at a well [and the wheel crushed by the cistern; metaphors of death].


text:
·You will turn back into the dust of the earth again [The dust will return to the earth as it was], ·but your [and the] spirit will return to God who gave it [; ; ].


text:
Everything is useless []! The ·Teacher [or Preacher; Assembler; ] says that everything is useless [].


text:
Conclusion: Honor God The ·Teacher [or Preacher; Assembler; ] was ·wise [a wise man/sage] and taught the people ·what he knew [knowledge]. He ·very carefully thought about [heard], ·studied [investigated], and set in order many ·wise teachings [proverbs].


text:
The ·Teacher [or Preacher; Assembler; ] ·looked for just the right words [sought to find words of delight] and to write what is ·dependable [honest] and true.


text:
Words from wise people are like ·sharp sticks used to guide animals [goads]. They are like nails that have been driven in firmly. Altogether they are wise teachings that come from ·one Shepherd [or a shepherd].


text:
So be ·careful [warned], my son. ·People are always writing [There is no end to the making of many] books, and too much study ·will make you tired [wearies the body].


text:
Now, the end of the matter; everything has been heard: ·Honor [Fear] God [] and obey his commands, because this is ·all people must do [the whole duty of humanity].


text:
God will ·judge everything [bring every deed into judgment], even ·what is done in secret [every hidden thing], the good and the evil.


text:
The Woman Speaks to the Man She Loves Kiss me with the kisses of your mouth, because your love is better than wine [makes one light-headed].


text:
The ·smell [scent] of your ·perfume [cologne; oil] is ·pleasant [wonderful], and your ·name [reputation] is pleasant like ·expensive [or poured out] ·perfume [cologne; oil]. That’s why the young women love you.


text:
·Take me with [Draw me after] you; let’s run together. The king takes me into his ·rooms [bedroom; inner chamber]. Friends Speak to the Man We will rejoice and be happy with you; we praise your love more than wine []. With good reason, the young women love you.


text:
The Woman Speaks I’m dark ·but [or and] ·lovely [beautiful; she was out in the sun because her brothers forced her to work the fields; ], ·women [daughters] of Jerusalem [her friends whom she is instructing about love], dark like the tents of Kedar [desert nomads; ; ], like the curtains of ·Solomon [or Salma; south Arabian desert nomads].


text:
Don’t look at how ·dark [swarthy] I am, ·at how dark the sun has made me [because the sun scorched me]. My ·brothers [mother’s sons] were angry with me and made me ·tend [or guard] the vineyards, so I haven’t ·tended [or guarded] my own ·vineyard [referring to her body]!


text:
Tell me, you whom I love, where do you ·feed your sheep [graze]? Where do you let them ·rest [lie down] at noon? Why should I look for you near your friend’s sheep, like a woman who wears a veil [like a prostitute going tent to tent; ]?


text:
The Man Speaks to the Woman You are the most beautiful of women. Surely you know to follow the tracks of the sheep and feed your young goats near the shepherds’ tents.


text:
My darling, you are like a mare among the ·king’s [Pharaoh’s] stallions [driving them crazy with desire].


text:
Your cheeks are beautiful ·with ornaments [between earrings], and your neck with ·jewels [a necklace].


text:
My lover is like a ·bag [sachet] of myrrh that ·lies all night [lodges] between my breasts [intimately].


text:
My lover is like a ·bunch [cluster] of ·flowers [henna blossoms; pleasant smelling and used to dye hair red] from the vineyards at En Gedi [a romantic location with a waterfall near the Dead Sea].


text:
The Man Speaks My darling, you are beautiful! Oh, you are beautiful, and your eyes are like doves [perhaps fluttering or a reference to softness and beauty].


text:
The Woman Answers the Man You are so handsome, my lover, and so ·pleasant [or lovely]! Our bed is ·the grass [green].


text:
Cedar trees form ·our roof [the boards of our house]; our ·ceiling [rafters] is made of juniper wood [they find intimacy outdoors].


text:
The Woman Speaks Again I am a ·rose [or flower] in the Plain of Sharon [a fertile plain along the Mediterranean coast], a lily in the valleys [she claims to be ordinary].


text:
The Man Speaks Again Among the ·young women [girls], my darling is like a lily among thorns [she is extraordinarily beautiful]!


text:
The Woman Answers Among the ·young men [boys], my lover is like an apple tree ·in the woods [among the trees of the forest; he is extraordinary; the apple tree is fruitful and pleasant smelling]! I ·enjoy sitting in [desire] his ·shadow [shade]; his fruit is sweet to my ·taste [palate].


text:
He brought me to the ·banquet room [house of wine], and his banner over me is love [his love for her is well known].


text:
Strengthen me with ·raisins [raisin cakes], and refresh me with apples [considered aphrodisiacs], because I am ·weak [faint] with love.


text:
The Woman Speaks to the Friends ·Women [Daughters] of Jerusalem [], ·promise me [I adjure you] by the gazelles and the deer of the field [in Hebrew sounds like “by the (Lord) of Hosts” or “by God Almighty”] not to awaken or ·excite [arouse] love until it ·is ready [so desires; likely a warning to the women to wait for love until the right person comes along; ; ].


text:
The Woman Speaks Again I hear ·my lover’s voice [the sound of my lover]. Here he comes ·jumping [leaping] across the mountains, ·skipping [bounding] over the hills [he moves with agile grace and speed].


text:
My lover is like a gazelle or a young ·deer [stag]. Look, he stands behind our wall ·peeking [staring] through the windows, looking through the ·blinds [lattice].


text:
Blossoms appear through all the land. The time has come to sing; the cooing of doves is heard in our land.


text:
There are young figs ·on [ripening on] the fig trees, and the blossoms on the vines ·smell sweet [spread their fragrance]. ·Get [Rise] up, my darling; let’s go away, my beautiful one.”


text:
The Man Speaks My beloved is like a dove hiding in the ·cracks [crevices] of the rock, in the ·secret [hiding] places of the cliff. ·Show me [Let me see] your ·face [form], and let me hear your voice. Your voice is ·sweet [agreeable], and your ·face [form] is ·lovely [pleasant].


text:
·Catch [Grab] the foxes for us— the little foxes that ruin the vineyards while they are in blossom [threats to the relationship].


text:
until the day dawns and the shadows ·disappear [flee]. Turn, my lover. Be like a gazelle or a young ·deer [stag] on the ·mountain valleys [or the mountains of Bether].


text:
The Woman Dreams ·At night [or During many nights] on my bed, I ·looked [searched] for the one ·I love [my soul loves]; I ·looked [searched] for him, but I could not find him.


text:
I ·got [rose] up and went around the city, in the streets and ·squares [public areas], ·looking [searching] for the one ·I love [my soul loves]. I ·looked [searched] for him, but I could not find him.


text:
The ·watchmen [guards; ancient equivalent to the police] found me as they patrolled the city, so I asked, “Have you seen the one ·I love [my soul loves]?”


text:
·As soon as [or A little while after] I had left them, I found the one ·I love [my soul loves]. I ·held [seized; grabbed] him and would not let him go until I brought him to my mother’s house, to the room where ·I was born [she conceived me; ].


text:
·Who [or What] is this coming out of the ·desert [wilderness] like a ·cloud [pillar] of smoke? ·Who is this that smells like […perfumed with] myrrh, ·incense [frankincense], and ·other spices [from all the scented powders of the trader]?


text:
Look, it’s Solomon’s ·couch [palanquin; litter; a bed carried by servants] with sixty soldiers around it, the ·finest soldiers [heroes; mighty men] of Israel.


text:
These soldiers all carry swords and have been trained in war. Every man wears a sword at his ·side [thigh] and is ready for the dangers of the night.


text:
He made its posts of silver and its ·braces [canopy] of gold. The seat was covered with purple [the color of royalty] cloth that the ·women [daughters] of Jerusalem [] ·wove [inlaid its interior] with love.


text:
·Women [Daughters] of ·Jerusalem [Zion; ], go out and see King Solomon. He is wearing the crown his mother put on his head on his wedding day, when his heart was happy!


text:
The Man Speaks to the Woman How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, you are beautiful! Your eyes behind your veil [imparting a sense of mystery] are like doves []. Your hair is like a flock of goats streaming down Mount Gilead [a beautiful site in central Transjordan near the Jabbok river; the image indicates lush, flowing hair].


text:
Your teeth are like ·newly [a flock of] sheared sheep just coming from ·their bath [a washing; white]. Each one has a twin, and none of them is missing [a compliment in an age before dentistry].


text:
Your lips are like ·red silk [a scarlet] thread, and your mouth is ·lovely [or desirable]. Your ·cheeks [or temple] behind your veil are like slices of a pomegranate [reddish orange].


text:
Your neck is like David’s tower [dignified; strong], built ·with rows of stones [in courses]. A thousand shields hang on its walls [a necklace that enhances her beauty]; each shield belongs to a ·strong soldier [hero].


text:
Until the day dawns and the shadows ·disappear [flee], I will go to that mountain of myrrh and to that hill of ·incense [frankincense; referring to the woman].


text:
My darling, everything about you is beautiful, and ·there is nothing at all wrong with you [you have no blemish].


text:
Come with me from Lebanon, my bride. Come with me from Lebanon, from the top of Mount Amana, from the tops of Mount Senir and Mount Hermon. Come from the lions’ dens and from the leopards’ hills [apart from him she is in a dangerous place].


text:
My sister [an ancient term of endearment], my bride, you ·have thrilled my heart [drive me crazy]; you ·have thrilled my heart [drive me crazy] with ·a [one] glance of your eyes, with one ·sparkle [jewel] from your necklace.


text:
·Your love is so sweet [How beautiful is your love], my sister [], my bride. Your love is better than wine [makes one lightheaded], and ·your perfume [the scent of your oils] smells better than any spice.


text:
My bride, your lips drip honey; honey and milk are under your tongue [sensuous liquids that he will explore]. Your clothes smell like the cedars of Lebanon [the best cedars].


text:
My sister [], my bride, you are like a garden locked up [she has not been entered by a man], like a ·walled-in [sealed] spring, a ·closed-up [locked] fountain.


text:
Your ·limbs [shoots; a botanical term either referring to the woman’s legs or her genital organs] are like an orchard of pomegranates with all the best fruit, filled with ·flowers [henna; ] and nard,


text:
nard and saffron [spicy floral scent], calamus [woody odor], and cinnamon, with trees of incense, myrrh [aromatic gum from tree bark], and aloes [a fragrant wood]— all the best spices.


text:
You are like a garden fountain— a well of ·fresh [living] water ·flowing [streaming] down from the mountains of Lebanon.


text:
The Woman Speaks Awake, north wind. Come, south wind. Blow on my garden, and let its ·sweet smells [spices] flow out. Let my lover enter the garden and eat its best fruits [she desires physical intimacy].


text:
The Man Speaks I have entered my garden, my sister [], my bride. I have gathered my myrrh with my spice. I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey. I have drunk my wine and my milk [he enjoys physical intimacy with her]. The Friends Speak Eat, friends, and drink; yes, ·drink deeply [be intoxicated], lovers.


text:
The Woman Dreams I sleep, but my ·heart [mind] ·is awake [was alert]. ·I hear [The sound of] my lover knocking. “Open to me, my sister [; he desires physical intimacy], my darling, my dove, my ·perfect [flawless] one. My head is ·wet with [full of] dew, and my hair with the ·dampness [drizzle] of the night.”


text:
I have taken off my ·garment [clothes] ·and don’t want to put it on [should I get dressed…?] again. I have washed my feet ·and don’t want to get [should I get…?] them dirty again.


text:
I got up to open the door for my lover. Myrrh was dripping from my hands and liquid myrrh [] was flowing from my fingers, onto the handles of the lock.


text:
I opened the door for my lover, but my lover had left and was gone. When he spoke, ·he took my breath away [my spirit went out]. I ·looked for [sought] him, but I could not find him; I called for him, but he did not answer.


text:
The ·watchmen [guards; an ancient equivalent to police; ] found me ·as they patrolled [those who make their rounds in] the city. They hit me and ·hurt [bruised] me; the guards ·on the wall took away my veil [lifted my garments from me].


text:
·Promise me [I adjure you], ·women [daughters] of Jerusalem [], if you find my lover, ·tell him [what should you say to him? That] I am weak with love.


text:
The Friends Answer the Woman How is your lover better than other lovers, most beautiful of women? How is your lover better than other lovers? Why do you want us to promise this?


text:
The Woman Answers the Friends My lover is ·healthy [radiant] and ·tan [ruddy], ·the best of [distinguished among] ten thousand men.


text:
His eyes are like doves [] by ·springs [streams] of water. They seem to be bathed in ·cream [milk; referring to the white of the eye] ·and are set like jewels [or sitting by pools].


text:
His cheeks are like beds of spices [his beard is perfumed]; ·they smell like mounds of perfume [growing aromatics]. His lips are like lilies flowing with myrrh [].


text:
His ·hands [or arms] are like gold ·hinges [or bars], ·filled with jewels [set with Tarshish stones; a location in Spain; perhaps a black jet stone or golden topaz]. His ·body [or member] is like ·shiny ivory [or an ivory tusk] ·covered with sapphires [ornamented with lapis].


text:
His legs are like large marble ·posts [pillars], standing on ·bases [pedestals] of fine gold. ·He is like a cedar of [His appearance is like] Lebanon, ·like the finest of the trees [choice like the cedars].


text:
His mouth is sweet [to kiss], and ·I desire him very much [he is totally desirable]. Yes, ·daughters [women] of Jerusalem [], this is my lover and my ·friend [darling].


text:
The Friends Speak to the Woman Where has your lover gone, most beautiful of women? Which way did your lover turn? We will ·look [search] for him with you.


text:
The Woman Answers the Friends My lover has gone down to his garden, to the beds of spices, to ·feed [graze] in the gardens and to ·gather [pluck] lilies.


text:
The Man Speaks to the Woman My darling, you are as beautiful as the city of Tirzah [onetime capital of the northern kingdom of Israel; the name means “pleasant”; ; ], as lovely as the city of Jerusalem [the capital of the southern kingdom of Judah; ], ·like an army flying flags [awesome like an army under banners].


text:
Turn your eyes from me, because they ·excite me too much [unsettle me]. Your hair is like a flock of goats streaming down Mount Gilead [].


text:
Your teeth are like a flock of sheep just coming from ·their bath [a washing; white]; each one has a twin, and none of them is missing [].


text:
There may be sixty queens and eighty ·slave women [concubines; secondary wives] and so many girls you cannot count them,


text:
but there is only one like my dove, my ·perfect [flawless] one. She is her mother’s only daughter, the ·brightest [favored] of the one who gave her birth. The ·young women [daughters] saw her and called her ·happy [blessed]; the queens and the ·slave women [concubines, ] also praised her.


text:
The Young Women Praise the Woman Who is that young woman that ·shines out [looks down] like the dawn? She is as ·pretty [beautiful] as the moon, as bright as the sun, ·as wonderful as an army flying flags [awesome like an army under banners; ].


text:
The Man Speaks I went down into the ·orchard [grove] of nut trees to see the ·blossoms [new growth] of the valley, to look for buds on the vines, to see if the pomegranate trees had bloomed.


text:
Before I realized it, my desire ·for you made me feel like a prince in a chariot [or placed me in the chariots of Amminadab; perhaps a well-known lover like Romeo].


text:
The Friends Call to the Woman ·Come back [or Turn around], ·come back [or turn around], woman of Shulam [feminine form of Solomon, both based on the Hebrew root meaning “peace”; their union brings contentment]. ·Come back [or Turn around], ·come back [or turn around], so we may look at you! The Woman Answers the Friends Why do you want to look at the woman of Shulam as you would at the dance of two armies [as at a mesmerizing sight]?


text:
The Man Speaks to the Woman Your feet are beautiful in sandals, you ·daughter of a prince [noble daughter]. Your round ·thighs [or hips] are like ·jewels [rings] ·shaped by an artist [the work of the hands of a craftsman].


text:
Your navel is like a round drinking cup ·always filled with [that does not lack] wine. Your ·stomach [belly] is like a ·pile [heap] of wheat ·surrounded [bordered] with lilies.


text:
Your neck is like an ivory tower [grand, strong, dignified]. Your eyes are like the pools in Heshbon [a beautiful area located near the Dead Sea] near the gate of Bath Rabbim. Your nose is like the mountain of Lebanon ·that looks down on [keeping watch toward] Damascus.


text:
Your head is like Mount Carmel [a prominent, rounded, and attractive mountain], and your hair is like purple cloth [a royal color]; the king is ·captured [ensnared] in its folds.


text:
I said, “I will climb up the palm tree and ·take hold of [grasp] its fruit.” Let your breasts be like ·bunches of grapes [clusters of the vine], the smell of your breath like apples,


text:
and your mouth like the best wine. The Woman Speaks to the Man Let this wine go down sweetly for my lover; may it flow gently past the lips and teeth.


text:
Come, my lover, let’s go out ·into the country [to the field; a private place for intimacy] and spend the night in the ·fields [villages].


text:
Let’s go early to the vineyards and see if the buds are on the vines. Let’s see if the blossoms have already opened and if the pomegranates have bloomed. There I will give you my love.


text:
The mandrakes [an aphrodisiac; ] give their sweet smell, and all the best ·fruits [gifts] are at our ·gates [entrance]. I have ·saved them [treasured them up] for you, my lover, the old and the new [everything near and dear].


text:
I wish you were like my brother who ·fed [sucked] at my mother’s breasts [so she could be affectionate toward him in public]. If I found you outside, I would kiss you, and no one would ·look down on [shame] me.


text:
I would lead you and bring you to my mother’s house; she is the one who taught me. I would give you a drink of spiced wine from my pomegranates.


text:
The Woman Speaks to the Friends My lover’s left hand is under my head, and his right arm ·holds me tight [embraces me; ].


text:
·Women [Daughters] of Jerusalem [], ·promise [I adjure you] not to awaken or ·excite [arouse] love until it ·is ready [so desires; likely a warning to the women to wait for love until the right person comes along; ; ].


text:
The Friends Speak Who is this coming out of the ·desert [wilderness; ], leaning on her lover? The Man Speaks to the Woman I ·woke [aroused] you under the apple tree where ·you were born [your mother conceived you]; there ·your mother gave birth to you [the one who gave you birth conceived you].


text:
·Put [Set] me like a seal [leaving an impression on clay, showing ownership] on your heart [inside], like a seal on your arm [outside]. Love is as strong as death; ·jealousy [or passion] is as ·strong [tenacious] as the grave. ·Love bursts into flames [Its flame is an intense fire] ·and burns like a hot fire [or a godlike flame].


text:
Even much water cannot put out the flame of love; floods cannot ·drown [flood] love. If a man offered ·everything [all the wealth] in his house for love, ·people would totally reject it [or he would be completely despised].


text:
The Woman’s Brothers Speak We have a ·little [small] sister, and ·her breasts are not yet grown [she has no breasts]. What should we do for our sister on the day she ·becomes engaged [is spoken for; brothers were in charge of marriage negotiations]?


text:
If she is a wall [chaste], we will put silver towers on her [support and honor her]. If she is a door [promiscuous], we will ·protect [enclose] her with cedar boards [put a stop to her sexual activity].


text:
The Woman Speaks I am a wall [chaste], and my breasts are like towers [she is mature]. So I ·was to him [or will be in his eyes], as one who brings ·happiness [peace; contentment].


text:
Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon. He ·rented [entrusted] the vineyards ·for others to tend [or to guards], and everyone who rented had to pay ·twenty-five pounds [a thousand pieces] of silver for the fruit.


text:
But my own vineyard is mine ·to give [alone]. Solomon, the ·twenty-five pounds [thousand pieces] of silver are for you, and ·five pounds [two hundred] are for those who ·tend [guard] the fruit.


text:
The Man Speaks to the Woman You who live in the gardens, my friends are listening for your voice; let me hear it.


text:
The Woman Speaks to the Man ·Hurry [Sneak away], my lover, be like a gazelle or a young deer on the mountains where spices grow.


text:
This is the vision Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem ·while [in the days when] Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were kings of Judah [792–686 bc].


text:
God’s Case Against His Children Listen, heavens, and pay attention, earth [witnesses of the covenant; ], because the Lord is speaking: “I raised ·my children [or sons; the nation Israel] and ·helped them grow [brought them] up, but they have ·turned [rebelled] against me.


text:
An ox knows its ·master [owner], and a donkey knows ·where its owner feeds it [the feeding trough/crib of its owner/master], but the people of Israel do not know me; my people do not understand.”


text:
·How terrible [Woe; Alas]! ·Israel is a nation of sin [Sinful nation!], a people ·loaded [weighed] down with guilt, ·a group of children [offspring; brood; seed] ·doing evil [or born from evildoers], ·children [or sons] who ·are full of evil [act corruptly; are depraved]. They have ·left [abandoned; forsaken] the Lord; they ·hate [despise; or have rejected/spurned] the Holy One of Israel [Isaiah’s favorite title for God], and have ·turned away [become alienated/estranged] from him.


text:
Why ·should you continue to be [or do you insist on being] ·punished [battered; struck down]? Why do you continue to ·turn against him [rebel]? Your whole head is ·hurt [bruised; wounded], and your whole heart is ·sick [faint; weak].


text:
There is no ·healthy spot [soundness] from the ·bottom [sole] of your foot to the top of your head; you are covered with ·wounds [bruises], ·hurts [sores; welts], and ·open sores [raw/infected wounds] that are not ·cleaned [pressed out] and ·covered [bandaged], ·and no medicine takes away the pain [not soothed/softened with oil].


text:
Your land is ·ruined [desolate]; your cities have been burned with fire. ·While you watch [Right in front of you], ·your enemies [foreigners; strangers] ·are stealing everything from [destroy; devour] your ·land [fields; crops]; it is ruined like a country ·destroyed [overthrown] by ·enemies [foreigners; strangers].


text:
Jerusalem [Daughter Zion; the location of the Temple] is left alone like an ·empty shelter [or watchman’s hut] in a vineyard, like a ·hut [shelter] left in a field of ·melons [or cucumbers], like a city ·surrounded by enemies [besieged].


text:
If the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] had not ·allowed a few of our people to live [left us a few survivors], we would have been like the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah [completely destroyed; ].


text:
·Hear [Listen to] the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom [Jerusalem is compared sarcastically to evil Sodom and Gomorrah]! listen to the ·teaching [instruction] of our God, You people of Gomorrah!


text:
The Lord says, “·I do not want all these sacrifices [What are your many sacrifices to me?]. I ·have had enough of [am stuffed full with] your burnt sacrifices [] of male sheep and fat from ·fine [fattened] ·animals [beasts; cattle]. I ·am not pleased by [take no pleasure in] the blood of bulls, lambs, and goats.


text:
You ·come to meet with [appear before; worship] me, but who asked you to do all this ·running in and out of [trampling/parading through] my ·Temple’s rooms [courts; courtyards]?


text:
Don’t continue bringing me ·worthless [meaningless; futile] sacrifices! ·I hate the incense you burn [Incense is detestable/an abomination to me]. I can’t stand your New Moons, Sabbaths, and ·other feast days [convocations; sacred assemblies]; I can’t ·stand [endure] ·the evil you do in your holy meetings [sin and assembly].


text:
I hate your New Moon ·feasts [festivals; ] and your ·other yearly [annual; appointed] feasts. They have become a ·heavy weight on [burden to] me, and I ·am tired of carrying it [or can no longer tolerate them].


text:
When you ·raise your arms to me [spread out your hands] in prayer, I will ·refuse to look at [look the other way; hide my eyes from] you. Even if you say many prayers, I will not listen to you, because your hands are ·full of [covered with] blood.


text:
Wash yourselves and make yourselves clean. ·Stop doing the evil things I see you do [Take away your evil deeds from my eyes]. Stop doing wrong.


text:
Learn to do ·good [right]. Seek justice. ·Punish those who hurt others [Rebuke the oppressor; or Encourage the oppressed]. ·Help [Defend; Bring justice to] the ·orphans [fatherless]. ·Stand up for the rights of [Contend/Strive for] widows.”


text:
The Lord says, “Come, let us ·talk about these things [reason together; or settle this matter; or consider your options]. Though your sins are like scarlet [stained with blood; , ], they can be as white as snow. Though your sins are ·deep red [red as crimson/purple], they can be white like wool.


text:
If you become willing and ·obey [listen to] me, you will eat ·good crops from [the good of] the land.


text:
But if you ·refuse to obey [resist] and ·if you turn against me [rebel], you will be ·destroyed [devoured] by your enemies’ swords [the options are to eat the crops or be eaten by the swords].” The Lord himself ·said these things [has spoken].


text:
Jerusalem Is Not Loyal to God [See how; or How…!] The ·city of Jerusalem once followed the Lord [faithful city], ·but she is no longer loyal to him […has become a prostitute/whore; a metaphor for spiritual treachery]. She used to be filled with ·fairness [justice]; ·people there lived the way God wanted [Righteousness/Justice lived/lodged there; personification]. But now, murderers live there.


text:
·Jerusalem, you have become like the scum left when silver is purified [Your silver has become dross/scum]; you are like ·wine [beer; alcohol; drink] ·mixed [diluted; weakened] with water.


text:
Your ·rulers [princes] are rebels and ·friends [companions; associates] of thieves. They all ·accept money for doing wrong [love bribes], and they ·are paid to cheat people [pursue rewards/gifts]. They don’t ·seek justice for [defend the cause of] the ·orphans [fatherless] or ·listen to the widows’ needs [or defend the widows’ rights; the widows’ disputes do not come before them].


text:
So the Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts], the Mighty One of Israel, says: “[Woe; Alas; Aha,] I will ·take revenge on [vent my wrath against; or get relief from; console myself by destroying] my ·foes [enemies; adversaries]. I will pay back my ·enemies [foes].


text:
I will turn [my hand] against you and ·clean away all your wrongs as if with soap [or purify you as metal is refined; purge your dross as with lye/potash/soap]; I will ·take all the worthless things out of you [remove all your impurities/slag].


text:
I will ·bring back [restore] judges as you had ·long ago [formerly; at the first]; your ·counselors [advisors] will be like those you had in the beginning. Then you will be called the City ·That Is Right with God [of Righteousness/Justice], the ·Loyal [Faithful; Trustworthy] City.”


text:
By ·doing what is fair [justice], ·Jerusalem [Zion; the location of the Temple] will be ·free again [redeemed; restored]. By ·doing what is right [righteousness], her ·people who come back to the Lord [penitent/repentant ones; or returnees] will have freedom.


text:
But ·those who turn against him [rebels] and sinners will be destroyed; those who ·have left [abandon; forsake] the Lord will ·die [perish; come to an end; cease].


text:
“You will be ashamed, because ·you have worshiped gods under the oak trees [of the oaks you have desired; pagan worship sites]. You will be ·disgraced [embarrassed], because ·you have worshiped idols in your gardens [of the gardens you have chosen; ].


text:
Powerful people will ·be [or become] like ·small, dry pieces of wood [tinder; kindling], and their works will be like sparks. They will burn together, and no one will be able to put out that fire.”


text:
The Message About Jerusalem Isaiah son of Amoz saw this ·message [vision; word] about Judah and Jerusalem:


text:
[It shall be] In the ·last [final; latter] days the mountain ·on which the Lord’s Temple stands [of the house of the Lord; Mount Zion] will ·become [be established as; endure as] the ·most important [chief; or highest] of all mountains. It will be ·raised [exalted] above the hills, and ·people from all nations [all nations] will come streaming to it.


text:
Many ·nations [peoples] will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the ·Temple [house] of the God of Jacob. ·Then [or So that] he will teach us his ·ways [standards; path], and we will ·obey his teachings [walk in his paths].” ·His teachings [The Law; Instruction; Torah] will go out from Jerusalem; the ·message [word] of the Lord will go out from Jerusalem.


text:
He will ·settle arguments among [judge/mediate between] the ·nations [peoples] and will ·make decisions [settle disputes] for many ·peoples [nations]. Then they will ·make [beat; hammer] their swords into ·plows [plowshares; the metal tip of the plow] and their spears into ·hooks for trimming trees [pruning hooks]. Nations will no longer ·fight [raise the sword against] other nations, nor will they train for war anymore [].


text:
Come, ·family [descendants; house] of Jacob, and let us ·follow the way [walk in the light] of the Lord.


text:
A Terrible Day Is Coming Lord, you have ·left [abandoned; rejected] your people, the ·family [descendants; house] of Jacob, because they have become filled ·with wrong ideas from people in the East [or with superstitions from the East; from the East]. They ·try to tell the future [consult soothsayers; practice divination] like the Philistines [; ], and ·they have completely accepted those foreign ideas [or they clasp hands/make alliances with foreigners; or the children of foreigners are everywhere].


text:
Their land has been filled with silver and gold; there ·are a great many [is no end/limit to their] treasures there. Their land has been filled with horses; there ·are many [is no end/limit to their] chariots there [Israel was to rely on God, not on horses and chariots; ].


text:
Their land is full of idols. The people worship ·these idols they made with [the work of] their own hands and shaped with their own fingers [].


text:
People will ·be humbled [be brought low; or bow down to worship] and will bow low ·with shame [or in worship]. God, do not ·forgive [spare; lift] them.


text:
Go into the ·caves of the cliffs [rocks]; ·dig holes and hide in the ground [hide in the dust/ground] from the ·anger [terror; terrible presence] of the Lord and from ·his great power [the majesty/glory/splendor of his majesty]!


text:
·Proud people [The eyes of the proud] will be ·made humble [brought down], and ·they [human arrogance/loftiness] will ·bow low with shame [be humbled]. ·At that time [In that day] only the Lord will still be ·praised [exalted].


text:
The Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] has a ·certain day planned [day] when he will ·punish [bring judgment on; turn against] all the proud and all those who ·brag [are lifted up], and they will ·no longer be important [be humbled/humiliated/brought low].


text:
·He will bring down […against] all the ·tall [exalted and mighty/lifted up] cedar trees from Lebanon and all the great oak trees of Bashan,


text:
all the ·trading ships [ships of Tarshish; large trading vessels capable of going to distant ports; Tarshish may have been in Spain (Tartessus) or an island in the eastern Mediterranean; ; ] and the beautiful ·ships [vessels].


text:
·Proud people [Human pride] will be made humble, and ·they [arrogant people] will ·bow low with shame [be brought low]. ·At that time [In that day] only the Lord will be ·praised [exalted],


text:
People will run to caves in the ·rocky cliffs [rocks] and ·will dig holes and hide [to holes] in the ground from the ·anger [terror; terrible presence] of the Lord and ·his great power [the majesty/glory/splendor of his majesty; ], when he ·stands [rises] to shake the earth.


text:
·At that time [In that day] people will throw away their gold and silver idols, which they made for themselves to worship; they will throw them away to the bats and moles.


text:
Then the people will hide in ·caves [caverns/crevices in rocks] and ·cracks [clefts] in the rocks from the ·anger [terror; terrible presence] of the Lord and ·his great power [the majesty/glory/splendor of his majesty; ], when he stands to ·shake [tremble; or terrify] the earth.


text:
Stop trusting in people to save you [Cease from man/people], ·because people are only human [whose breath is in his nostrils]; ·they aren’t able to help you [what good are they; or why do you esteem them?].


text:
God Will Punish Judah and Jerusalem ·Understand this [Look/Behold now]: The Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] ·will [or is about to] take away ·everything [every support and supply] Judah and Jerusalem need— all [supplies of] the food and water,


text:
the ·heroes [mighty ones] and ·great soldiers [men of war], the judges and prophets, ·people who do magic [diviners; fortune-tellers] and elders,


text:
the ·military leaders [captain/ruler of fifty] and ·government leaders [people of influence/high standing], the ·counselors [advisers], the skilled ·craftsmen [or magicians], and ·those who try to tell the future [skillful enchanters/astrologers].


text:
The Lord says, “I will cause ·young boys [youths] to be your ·leaders [rulers; princes], and ·foolish children [or capricious youths] will rule over you [, ].


text:
People will ·be against [oppress] each other; everyone will be against his neighbor. Young people will ·not respect [arrogantly defy] older people, and ·common people [the despised/dishonorable] will not respect ·important people [the honorable].”


text:
At that time a man will grab one of his brothers ·from his own family [in his father’s house] and say, “You have a ·coat [cloak; a sign of a little wealth], so you will be our leader. These ruins will be under your ·control [charge; rule; hand].”


text:
·But [In that day] that brother will ·stand up [or cry out] and say, “I ·cannot help you [am no binder (of wounds)], because I do not have food or ·clothes [cloak] in my house. You will not make me ·your leader [leader of the people/nation].”


text:
This will happen because Jerusalem has stumbled, and Judah has fallen. The things they say and do are against the Lord; they ·turn against [rebel against; defy] ·him [his glory/glorious presence].


text:
The look on their faces ·shows they are guilty [testifies against them]; like the people of Sodom [], they ·are proud of [flaunt; parade; declare] their sin. They don’t ·care who sees [conceal; hide] it. ·How terrible it will be for them [Woe to their soul], because they have brought ·much trouble [disaster; evil] on themselves.


text:
Tell ·those who do what is right [the righteous] that things will go well for them, because they will ·receive a reward for what they do [eat the fruit of their actions].


text:
·But how terrible it will be for [Woe to] the wicked! ·They will be punished for all the wrong they have done [Because the reward/recompense of his hands will be done to him].


text:
Children ·treat my people cruelly [oppress my people], and ·women [or creditors; usurers] rule over them. My people, your guides lead you ·in the wrong way [astray] and ·turn you away [mislead you; or confuse you] from ·what is right [the right road; your paths].


text:
The Lord ·presents his case [or comes forward to pronounce judgment] against the elders and other ·leaders [rulers; princes] of his people: “You have ·burned [ruined; ravaged] the vineyard. ·Your houses are full of [In your houses are] what you ·took [stole; plundered] from the poor.


text:
What gives you the right to crush my people and grind the faces of the ·poor into the dirt [poor]?” The Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] says this.


text:
A Warning to Women of Jerusalem The Lord says, “The ·women of Jerusalem [daughters of Zion] are ·proud [haughty; arrogant]. They walk around with ·their heads held high [an outstretched neck], and they flirt with their eyes. ·They take quick, short steps […prancing/mincing along], ·making noise with their ankle bracelets [jingling with their feet].”


text:
So the Lord will put ·sores [scabs; skin lesions] on the heads of those ·women in Jerusalem [daughters of Zion], and he will ·make them lose their hair [lay bare/make bald their forehead].


text:
·At that time [In that day] the Lord will take away ·everything that makes them proud [their beauty/glory]: their beautiful ankle bracelets, their headbands, their ·necklaces shaped like the moon [crescents],


text:
their ·scarves [headdresses], ·ankle chains [or armlets], the ·cloth belts worn around their waists [sashes], their ·bottles of perfume [sachets], and ·charms [amulets],


text:
their mirrors, linen ·dresses [garments; undergarments], ·turbans [or tiaras], and ·long shawls [or flowing veils].


text:
Instead of ·wearing sweet-smelling perfume [spice; fragrance], ·they will stink [there will be stench/decay]. Instead of ·fine cloth belts [a sash], ·they will wear the ropes of captives [a rope]. Instead of ·having their hair fixed in fancy ways [an elegant coiffure], ·they will be bald [baldness]. Instead of ·fine clothes [an expensive robe], ·they will wear clothes of sadness [burlap; sackcloth]. ·Instead of being beautiful, they will wear the brand of a captive [Branding instead of beauty].


text:
At that time your men will ·be killed with swords [fall by the sword], and your ·heroes [mighty/strong ones] will die in war.


text:
·There will be crying and sadness near the city gates [Her gates will lament and mourn]. ·Jerusalem will be like a woman who has lost everything and sits on the ground [Deserted/Destitute, she will sit on the ground].


text:
·At that time [In that day] seven women will grab one man [war will have decimated the male population] and say, “We will eat our own bread and ·make [wear] our own clothes [things a husband would normally provide], but ·please marry us [let us be called by your name]! Please, take away our ·shame [disgrace; from having no husband or children].”


text:
The Branch of the Lord ·At that time [In that day] the Lord’s branch [either the produce of the land or a title for the Messiah (; )] will be very beautiful and ·great [glorious]. ·What grows on the land [The fruit of the land] will be the pride and ·joy [glory] of the ·people still living in the land [survivors in Israel].


text:
Those who ·are still living in Jerusalem [remain in Zion and those who are left in Jerusalem] will be called holy; ·their names [all who] are recorded among the living in Jerusalem.


text:
The Lord will wash away the ·filth [vomit; excrement] from the women of Jerusalem. He will ·wash [cleanse] the bloodstains out of Jerusalem ·with the spirit of fairness and the spirit of fire [or with a wind/spirit of judgment and burning fire; or by the Spirit of judgment and burning fire].


text:
Then the Lord will ·cover [create over] Mount Zion and ·the people who meet there [all her assemblies] with a cloud of smoke during the day and with a bright, flaming fire at night [; ]. There will be a ·covering of glory over every person [or canopy over all the glory].


text:
This covering will ·protect the people [be a shelter for shade] from the heat ·of the sun [by day] and ·will provide a safe place to hide [a refuge and shelter] from the storm and rain.


text:
Israel, the Lord’s Vineyard Now I will sing for my ·friend [or beloved] a song about his vineyard [Israel is the vineyard and God is its owner]. My ·friend [or beloved] had a vineyard on a ·hill with very rich soil [fertile hillside].


text:
He ·dug [or fenced it] and cleared the field of stones and planted the best grapevines there. He built a ·tower [watchtower; for protection] in the middle of it and ·cut [carved] out a winepress as well [symbolizing God’s protection of Israel]. He ·hoped [expected; looked to see if] good grapes would grow there, but ·only bad ones grew [it produced only wild/sour grapes].


text:
[The vineyard owner now speaks:] “You ·people living in [residents/citizens of] Jerusalem, and you people of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard [the scene changes from a love song to a courtroom indictment].


text:
What more could I have done for my vineyard than I have already done? Although I ·expected [waited/looked for] good grapes to grow, why ·were there [did it produce] only ·bad [sour; wild] ones?


text:
Now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will remove the hedge, and it will ·be burned [be purged/destroyed; or become a pasture]. I will break down the stone wall, and it will be ·walked [trampled; referring to the Assyrian conquest in 722 bc].


text:
I will ·ruin my field [make it a wasteland; leave it untended]. It will not be ·trimmed [pruned] or hoed, and ·weeds [briers] and thorns will grow there. I will command the clouds not to rain on it.”


text:
[For; Because] The vineyard belonging to the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] is the ·nation [house] of Israel; and the people of Judah are the ·garden [vines; plants] that he ·loves [delights in]. He looked for justice, but ·there was [look; behold] only ·killing [bloodshed; or oppression; injustice; the Hebrew words for “justice” and “killing” sound alike]. He hoped for ·right living [righteousness], but ·there were [look; behold] only ·cries of pain [cries of distress; or an outrcy; the Hebrew words for “righteousness” and “cries of pain” sound alike].


text:
·How terrible it will be for [Woe to] you who add more houses to your houses and more fields to your fields [accumulating wealth at the expense of others, in violation of God’s command that tribal allotments be permanent; ] until ·there is no room left for other people [no space is left]. Then you are left alone in the land.


text:
The Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] said this ·to me [in my ears]: “·The fine [The great; or Many] houses will ·be destroyed [become desolate]; the large and beautiful houses will be left empty [of inhabitants].


text:
At that time a ·ten-acre [ten-yoke; unknown measurement, though clearly a large area] vineyard will make only ·six gallons [one bath] of wine, and ·ten bushels [a homer] of seed will grow only one bushel [an ephah; one tenth of a homer] of grain.”


text:
·How terrible it will be for people [Woe to those] who rise early in the morning to ·look for [run after; pursue] ·strong drink [or beer; alcoholic beverage made from grain], who ·stay awake late at night [linger into twilight], becoming ·drunk [inflamed] with wine.


text:
At their ·parties [banquets; feasts] they have lyres, harps, tambourines, flutes, and wine. They ·don’t see [or have no regard for] what the Lord has done or ·notice [see; comprehend] the work of his hands.


text:
So my people will ·be captured and taken away [be deported; go into exile/captivity], because they ·don’t really know me [or lack understanding]. ·All the great people [Their nobles/men of honor] will die of hunger, and the ·common people [multitudes; masses] ·will die of [or will be parched with] thirst.


text:
So ·the place of the dead [or the grave; Sheol] ·wants more and more people [opens wide/enlarges its throat], and it opens wide its mouth. ·Jerusalem’s [Her] ·important people [nobility] and ·common people [multitude; masses] will go down into it, with their ·happy and noisy ones [noisy revellers; drunken mob].


text:
·People [Humanity] will be humbled, ·everyone [each person; mankind] will be brought down; ·those who are [the eyes of the] ·proud [haughty] will be humbled.


text:
The Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] will ·receive glory [be exalted] by ·judging fairly [his justice]; the holy God will show himself holy by ·doing what is right [righteousnes].


text:
Then the ·sheep [or lambs] will ·go anywhere they want [feed as if in their pasture], and ·lambs [or strangers; foreigners] will feed ·on the land that rich people once owned [among the ruins of the rich].


text:
·How terrible it will be for [Woe to] those people! They pull ·their guilt and sins behind them as people pull wagons with ropes [wickedness with the ropes of emptiness and sin with cart ropes].


text:
They say, “Let God hurry; let him do his work ·soon [quickly] so we may see it. Let the plan of the Holy One of Israel [] ·happen soon [approach and draw near] so that we will know what it is.”


text:
·How terrible it will be for people [Woe to those] who call ·good things bad and bad things good [evil good and good evil], who ·think darkness is [or make darkness] light and ·light is [or make light] darkness, who ·think sour is [or turn sour/bitter to] sweet and sweet ·is sour [or to sour/bitter].


text:
·How terrible it will be for people [Woe to those] who ·think they are wise [are wise in their own eyes; ; ; ; , ] and ·believe they are clever [clever/understanding in front of themselves].


text:
·How terrible it will be for people [Woe to those] who are ·famous for [heroes/champions at] drinking wine and are ·champions [valiant men] at mixing ·drinks [beer; ].


text:
They take ·money [a bribe] to ·set the guilty free [acquit the wicked] and ·don’t allow good people to be judged fairly [deny justice/righteousness to the innocent/righteous].


text:
[Therefore] They will be destroyed just as ·fire [tongues of fire] ·burns [devours] straw and dry grass ·is consumed by [sinks in the] flames. They will be destroyed like a plant whose roots rot and whose flower dies and blows away like dust. They have ·refused to obey [rejected; spurned] the ·teachings [law; Torah] of the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] and have ·hated [despised] the message from the Holy One of Israel [].


text:
So the ·Lord has become very angry with [Lord’s anger burns against] his people, and he ·has raised [extends; stretches out] his hand to ·punish [strike] them. Even the mountains ·are frightened [shake; tremble]. ·Dead bodies [Corpses] lie in the streets like garbage. ·But the Lord is still angry [In all this, his anger is not turned away]; his hand is still ·raised [extended; stretched out] to strike down the people.


text:
He raises a ·banner [standard; signal flag] for the nations far away. He whistles to call those people from the ends of the earth. ·Look [Behold]! ·The enemy comes ·quickly [swiftly; with great speed]!


text:
Not one of them becomes tired or ·falls down [stumbles]. Not one of them ·gets sleepy [slumbers] and falls asleep. ·Their weapons are close at hand [No belt is loosened], and their sandal straps are not broken.


text:
Their arrows are sharp, and all of their bows are ready to shoot. The horses’ hoofs ·are hard as rocks [or make sparks like flint], and their chariot wheels move like a ·whirlwind [wind storm].


text:
Their ·shout is like the roar of [roar is like] a lion; it ·is loud [roars] like a young lion. They growl as they grab their ·captives [prey]. They carry it off and no one can ·save [rescue] it.


text:
On that day they will roar [over it] like the ·waves [roaring] of the sea. And ·when [if] people look at the land, they will see only darkness and ·pain [distress]; all light will become dark ·in this thick cloud [or because of clouds].


text:
Isaiah Becomes a Prophet In the year that King Uzziah died [740 bc], I saw the Lord sitting on a ·very high [high and exalted] throne. ·His long [The train/trailing part of his] robe filled the Temple.


text:
·Heavenly creatures of fire [Seraphim; the word means “burning ones” and points to purity, power, or judgment] ·stood above [or attended] him []. Each creature had six wings: It used two wings to cover its face [as a shield from God’s awesome glory], two wings to cover its ·feet [or body; indicating humility; “feet” can be a euphemism for genitals], and two wings for flying.


text:
Each creature was calling to the others: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts]. His glory fills the whole earth.”


text:
·Their calling [The sound/noise from each one’s voice] caused the ·frame around the door [doorposts; threshold foundations] to shake, as the Temple filled with smoke.


text:
I said, “·Oh, no [Woe to me]! I ·will be destroyed [am ruined/doomed]. I am ·not pure [a man with unclean lips; that is, spiritually unworthy], and I live among people ·who are not pure [with unclean lips], but I have seen the King, the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts].”


text:
One of the ·heavenly creatures [Seraphim; ] flew to me with a hot coal [in his hand] he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs.


text:
·The creature [He/It] touched my mouth with the hot coal and said, “·Look [Behold], your ·guilt [iniquity] is taken away, because this hot coal has touched your lips. Your sin is ·taken away [forgiven; covered; atoned for].”


text:
Then I heard the Lord’s voice, saying, “Whom ·can [will] I send [to speak for God to Israel]? Who will go for us [referring to God and his heavenly court, or possibly to the Trinity]?” So I said, “Here I am. Send me!”


text:
Then the Lord said, “Go and tell this to the people: ‘You will ·listen and listen [keep on hearing; or listen intently], but you will not ·understand [comprehend]. You will ·look and look [keep on seeing; or look intently], but you will not ·learn [perceive; comprehend].’


text:
Make the ·minds [heart; the center of mind, will, and emotions in Hebrew thought] of these people ·dumb [dull; calloused; hardened]. ·Shut [Plug; Make heavy] their ears. ·Cover [Blind] their eyes. Otherwise, they might ·really understand what they see with their eyes [see with their eyes] and hear with their ears. They might really understand in their ·minds [hearts] and ·come back to me [turn; repent] and be healed [; ; ; ; God seals Israel’s rejection of him and uses it to accomplish his purpose].”


text:
Then I asked, “Lord, ·how long should I do this [or how long will this rejection last; how long]?” He answered, “Until the cities ·are destroyed [lie in ruins; are laid waste] and ·the people are gone [uninhabited], until there are no people left in the houses, until the land is ·destroyed [ruined; laid waste] and ·left empty [desolate].


text:
·The Lord will send [or …until the Lord has sent] the people far away [into exile], and the [midst of the] land will be ·left empty [utterly/completely abandoned].


text:
Even if only one-tenth of the people are left in the land, it will be ·destroyed [or burned] again. These people will be like ·an oak tree [a terebinth or an oak] whose stump is left when the tree is chopped down. ·The people who remain will be like a stump that will sprout again [The holy seed is its stump].”


text:
Trouble with Aram ·When [In the days of] Ahaz, son of Jotham and grandson of Uzziah, was king of Judah [735–715 bc], Rezin king of Aram [740–733 bc; Aram is the Hebrew name for Syria] and Pekah son of Remaliah, the king of Israel [752–732 bc], went up to Jerusalem to fight against it [in about 735–734 bc]. But they were not able to ·defeat [or mount an attack against] the city [; ].


text:
·Ahaz king of Judah received a message [It was reported to the house of David; the reigning dynasty] saying, “The armies of ·Aram [Syria] and ·Israel [Ephraim; influential northern tribe of Israel, used here to refer to the whole northern kingdom] have joined together [in an alliance against the Assyrian empire].” When Ahaz heard this, ·he [his heart] and the ·people [heart of his people] were ·frightened [shaken]. They shook with fear like trees of the forest blown by the wind.


text:
Then the Lord told Isaiah, “You and your son Shear-Jashub [the name means “a remnant will return”] should go and meet Ahaz at the ·place where the water flows into [end of the aqueduct/conduit of] the upper pool, on the road ·to the field where people do their laundry [or that goes to Launderer’s Field/the fuller’s field].


text:
Tell Ahaz, ‘Be careful. Be ·calm [quiet] and don’t ·worry [fear]. Don’t be afraid of the ·fierce [burning] anger of Rezin and Aram and the son of Remaliah [Pekah; ], because they are like two ·barely burning sticks that are ready to go out [smoldering stubs of firewood; their power would soon be extinguished; Damascus and Israel suffered defeat by the Assyrians in 732 bc; Israel went into exile in 722 bc].


text:
[Because] Aram has ·plotted [planned evil] with ·Israel [Ephraim; ] and the son of Remaliah against you, saying,


text:
“Let’s ·fight against [invade; attack] Judah and ·tear it apart [or terrorize it]. We will ·divide the land [or conquer it; or breach its walls; break it open] for ourselves and make the son of Tabeel the new king of Judah [replacing the legitimate king from David’s dynasty with a usurper].”


text:
because ·Aram is led by the city of Damascus [the head of Aram/Syria is Damascus; its capital], and ·Damascus is led by its weak king, [the head of Damascus is] Rezin. Within sixty-five years ·Israel [Ephraim; ] will no longer be a nation [probably 670 bc, when Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, brought foreign settlers into Israel; their intermarriage with the remaining Israelites produced the Samaritans].


text:
·Israel is led by the city of Samaria [The head of Ephraim is Samaria; its capital], and ·Samaria is led by its weak king, [the head of Samaria is] the son of Remaliah [these human kings were no match for God]. If ·your faith is not strong [you do not stand firm in faith], you will not ·have strength enough to last [endure/stand firm at all; the words translated “your faith is strong” and “have strength enough to last” are related in Hebrew].’”


text:
“Ask for a sign from the Lord your God [to confirm the truth of this prophecy; ]. It may be a sign from as deep as ·the place of the dead [or the grave; Sheol] or ·as high as the heavens [to the heights above].”


text:
But Ahaz said, “I will not ·ask for a sign [ask] or test the Lord [; probably a statement of false piety].”


text:
Then Isaiah said, “·Ahaz, descendant of David, listen carefully [Hear now, house of David]! Isn’t it bad enough that you ·wear out the patience of [weary] people? Do you also have to ·wear out the patience of [weary] my God?


text:
The Lord himself will give you a sign: The ·virgin [or young woman] will ·be pregnant [conceive] and will have a son, and she will name him Immanuel [“God is with us”].


text:
He will be eating milk curds and honey [probably because the crops have been destroyed in the invasion] ·when he learns [by the time he learns; or so that he will learn] to reject what is evil and to choose what is good [probably ages twelve or thirteen, when he would be accountable to the law; the destruction of Israel would occur in twelve or thirteen years: 722 bc].


text:
·But [or For] before the child ·learns [knows] to choose good and reject evil, the lands of the two kings you fear [Israel and Aram/Syria] will be ·empty [desolate; laid waste].


text:
The Lord will bring ·troubled times to [upon] you, your people, and to ·the people of your father’s family [your father’s house; David’s dynasty]. ·They will be worse than […days unlike] anything that has happened since Israel separated from Judah [the civil war dividing Israel into north (Israel) and south (Judah) after David’s son Solomon died, two centuries earlier]. ·The Lord will bring the king of Assyria to fight against you […—the king of Assyria].


text:
“·At that time [In that day] the Lord will whistle for ·the Egyptians, and they will come like flies from Egypt’s faraway streams [the fly that is at the farthest streams of Egypt]. ·He will call for the Assyrians, and they will come like bees [… and for bees from the land of Assyria; Israel and Judah were caught in a tug-of-war between these two great powers].


text:
·These enemies will camp [They will rest/settle] in the deep ravines and in the ·cliffs [crevices/clefts of the rocks], by the thornbushes and ·watering holes [or pastures].


text:
[In that day] The Lord will ·hire Assyria and use it like a razor to punish Judah [shave with a razor hired beyond the River (Euphrates)—the king of Assyria]. ·It will be as if the Lord is shaving the hair from Judah’s head and body and beard […—the head, the hair of the feet and cutting away the beard; “hair of the feet” is likely a euphemism for pubic hair; such shaving was an act of humiliation].


text:
“·At that time [In that day] a person will be ·able to keep alive only [fortunate to have left] ·one young cow [a heifer] and two sheep.


text:
·There will be only enough milk for that person to eat milk curds [or Because of the abundance of milk, he will have curds to eat]. All who remain in the land will ·go back to eating just [or have enough to eat from] milk curds and honey.


text:
[In that day] In every ·vineyard [place] where there were a thousand grapevines worth ·twenty-five pounds [a thousand pieces] of silver, there will be only ·weeds [briers] and thorns.


text:
People will ·come there only to hunt [come] with bow and arrow, since the land will be covered with nothing but ·weeds [briers] and thorns [with no crops, the land will be useful only for hunting].


text:
People once ·worked and grew food on [hoed with a hoe] these hills, but at that time people will not go there, ·because the land will be filled with [for fear of] ·weeds [briers] and thorns. ·Only sheep and cattle will go to those places [It will become a pasture for cattle/oxen and a trampling place for sheep].”


text:
Assyria Will Come Soon The Lord told me, “Take a large ·scroll [or tablet] and write on it with ·an ordinary pen [or ordinary letters/script; the stylus of a man]: ‘Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz [“quick to the plunder; swift to the spoil”].’


text:
·I will call [or So I called; or Call…!] some men to be reliable witnesses: Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah.”


text:
Then I ·went to [euphemism for sexual relations] the prophetess, and she became ·pregnant [conceived] and had a son. The Lord told me, “Name the boy Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz [],


text:
because the king of Assyria will ·take away [carry off] the wealth of Damascus and the ·possessions [spoil; plunder] of Samaria before the boy learns to say ‘my father’ or ‘my mother’ [about age two; the first stage of the destruction, which culminated in 722 bc; see ].”


text:
“[Because] These people refuse to accept the ·slow-moving [gently flowing] waters of the pool of Shiloah [probably the stream flowing from the Gihon Spring to the Pool of Siloam (); God’s gentle influence is contrasted with the “flood” of the Assyrian invasion; ] and ·are terrified of [or rejoice over] Rezin and the son of Remaliah [Pekah; , ].


text:
So ·I, the Lord, [look/behold, the Lord] will bring against them a powerful flood of water from the ·Euphrates River [River]— the king of Assyria and all his ·power [glory]. ·The Assyrians will be like water rising [It will rise] over ·the banks of the river [its channels], flowing over ·the land [its banks].


text:
That water will ·flow [sweep] into Judah and pass through it, rising to ·Judah’s throat [the neck]. ·This army [It] will spread its wings like a bird until it covers ·your whole country [the breadth of our land], ·Immanuel [or God is with us].”


text:
·Be broken [or You will be broken], all you nations, and [you will] be ·smashed to pieces [shattered]. Listen, all you faraway ·countries [lands]. ·Prepare for battle [Gird yourselves] and [you will] be ·smashed to pieces [shattered]! ·Prepare for battle [Gird yourselves] and [you will] be ·smashed to pieces [shattered]!


text:
·Make your plans for the fight [Devise your strategy], but ·they will be defeated [it will be thwarted]. ·Give orders to your armies [Speak a command/word], but ·they will be useless [it will not stand], because ·God is with us [Immanuel].


text:
Warnings to Isaiah [For] The Lord spoke to me with his ·great power [strong hand] and warned me not to ·follow the lead [walk in the way] of ·the rest of the [this] people. He said,


text:
“·People are saying that others make plans against them, but you should not believe them [Don’t call ‘conspiracy’ everything this people calls ‘conspiracy’]. Don’t be afraid of what they fear; do not dread those things.


text:
But remember that the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] is holy. He is ·the one you should [your] fear; he is ·the one you should [your] dread.


