1 The Proverbs of Solomon son of David, who reigned in Israel; 2 to know wisdom and instruction, and to perceive words of understanding; 3 to receive also *hard sayings, and to understand true justice, and how to direct judgment; 4 that he might give subtlety to the simple, and to the young man *discernment and understanding. 5 For by the hearing of these a wise man will be wiser, and the man of understanding will gain direction; 6 and will understand a parable, and a dark speech; the sayings of the wise also, and riddles.

7 The fear of the Lord is the *beginning of wisdom; and there is good understanding to all that practise it: and piety toward God is the beginning of discernment; but the ungodly will set at nought wisdom and instruction.

5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy mind, and with all thy soul, and all thy strength. 6 And these words, all that I command thee this day, shall be in thy heart and in thy soul. 7 And thou shalt teach them to thy children, and thou shalt speak of them sitting in the house, and walking by the way, and lying down, and rising up.

8 Hear, my son, the instruction of thy father, and reject not the rules of thy mother. 9 For thou shalt receive for thine head a crown of graces, and a chain of gold round thy neck.

20 My son, keep the laws of thy father, and reject not the ordinances of thy mother: 21 but bind them upon thy soul continually, and hang them as a chain about thy neck. 22 Whensoever thou walkest, lead this along and let it be with thee; and when thou sleepest let it keep thee; that it may talk with thee when thou wakest. 23 For the commandment of the law is a lamp and a light; a way of life; reproof also and correction:

5 and do not neglect the speech of my mouth.* 6 And forsake it not, and it shall cleave to thee: love it, and it shall keep thee. 8 *Secure it, and it shall exalt thee: honour it, that it may embrace thee;

13 Take hold of my instruction; let it not go,—but keep it for thyself for thy life.

14 Go not in the ways of the ungodly, neither covet the ways of transgressors.

23 Keep thine heart with the utmost care; for out of these are the issues of life. 24 Remove from thee a froward mouth, and put far away from thee unjust lips. 25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids assent to just things. 26 Make straight paths for thy feet, and order thy ways aright. 27 Turn not aside to the right hand nor to the left, but turn away thy foot from an evil way: [*for God knows the ways on the right hand, but those on the left are crooked:] and he will make thy ways straight, and will guide thy steps in peace.

14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life: but the man void of understanding shall die by a snare.

10 The fear of the Lord is the *beginning of wisdom, and the counsel of saints is understanding: for to know the law is the character of a sound mind.

1 A Psalm for Asaph.

O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; they have polluted thy holy temple; they have made Jerusalem a storehouse of fruits. 2 They have given the dead bodies of thy servants to be food for the birds of the sky, the flesh of thy holy ones for the wild beasts of the earth. 3 They have shed their blood as water, round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them. 4 We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.

10 And all that generation were laid to their fathers: and another generation rose up after them, who knew not the Lord, nor yet the work which he wrought in Israel.