⁴ The Lord is in his holy temple;^(I)
    the Lord is on his heavenly throne.^(J)
He observes everyone on earth;^(K)
    his eyes examine^(L) them.
⁵ The Lord examines the righteous,^(M)
    but the wicked, those who love violence,
    he hates with a passion.^(N)
6 On the wicked he will rain
    fiery coals and burning sulfur;^(O)
    a scorching wind^(P) will be their lot.

⁷ For the Lord is righteous,^(Q)
    he loves justice;^(R)
    the upright^(S) will see his face.^(T)

³ May the Lord silence all flattering lips^(X)
    and every boastful tongue—^(Y)
4 those who say,
    “By our tongues we will prevail;^(Z)
    our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”

⁵ “Because the poor are plundered^(AA) and the needy groan,^(AB)
    I will now arise,^(AC)” says the Lord.
    “I will protect them^(AD) from those who malign them.”
⁶ And the words of the Lord are flawless,^(AE)
    like silver purified^(AF) in a crucible,^(AG)
    like gold^[c] refined seven times.

⁷ You, Lord, will keep the needy safe^(AH)
    and will protect us forever from the wicked,^(AI)
8 who freely strut^(AJ) about
    when what is vile is honored by the human race.

³ Look on me^(AP) and answer,^(AQ) Lord my God.
    Give light to my eyes,^(AR) or I will sleep in death,^(AS)
4 and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,^(AT)”
    and my foes will rejoice when I fall.^(AU)

⁵ But I trust in your unfailing love;^(AV)
    my heart rejoices in your salvation.^(AW)
6 I will sing^(AX) the Lord’s praise,
    for he has been good to me.

² The Lord looks down from heaven^(BA)
    on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,^(BB)
    any who seek God.^(BC)
3 All have turned away,^(BD) all have become corrupt;^(BE)
    there is no one who does good,^(BF)
    not even one.^(BG)

⁴ Do all these evildoers know nothing?^(BH)

They devour my people^(BI) as though eating bread;
    they never call on the Lord.^(BJ)
5 But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,
    for God is present in the company of the righteous.
⁶ You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor,
    but the Lord is their refuge.^(BK)

⁷ Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!^(BL)
    When the Lord restores^(BM) his people,
    let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

² The one whose walk is blameless,^(BQ)
    who does what is righteous,
    who speaks the truth^(BR) from their heart;
³ whose tongue utters no slander,^(BS)
    who does no wrong to a neighbor,
    and casts no slur on others;
⁴ who despises a vile person
    but honors^(BT) those who fear the Lord;
who keeps an oath^(BU) even when it hurts,
    and does not change their mind;
⁵ who lends money to the poor without interest;^(BV)
    who does not accept a bribe^(BW) against the innocent.

Whoever does these things
    will never be shaken.^(BX)

³ Let love and faithfulness^(E) never leave you;
    bind them around your neck,
    write them on the tablet of your heart.^(F)
4 Then you will win favor and a good name
    in the sight of God and man.^(G)

⁵ Trust in the Lord^(H) with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths^(I) straight.^[a](J)

⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes;^(K)
    fear the Lord^(L) and shun evil.^(M)
8 This will bring health to your body^(N)
    and nourishment to your bones.^(O)

⁹ Honor the Lord with your wealth,
    with the firstfruits^(P) of all your crops;
¹⁰ then your barns will be filled^(Q) to overflowing,
    and your vats will brim over with new wine.^(R)

¹¹ My son,^(S) do not despise the Lord’s discipline,^(T)
    and do not resent his rebuke,
¹² because the Lord disciplines those he loves,^(U)
    as a father the son he delights in.^[b](V)

¹³ Blessed are those who find wisdom,
    those who gain understanding,
¹⁴ for she is more profitable than silver
    and yields better returns than gold.^(W)
15 She is more precious than rubies;^(X)
    nothing you desire can compare with her.^(Y)
16 Long life is in her right hand;^(Z)
    in her left hand are riches and honor.^(AA)
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
    and all her paths are peace.^(AB)
18 She is a tree of life^(AC) to those who take hold of her;
    those who hold her fast will be blessed.^(AD)

¹⁹ By wisdom^(AE) the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,^(AF)
    by understanding he set the heavens^(AG) in place;
²⁰ by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
    and the clouds let drop the dew.

²¹ My son,^(AH) do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,^(AI)
    preserve sound judgment and discretion;
²² they will be life for you,^(AJ)
    an ornament to grace your neck.^(AK)
23 Then you will go on your way in safety,^(AL)
    and your foot will not stumble.^(AM)
24 When you lie down,^(AN) you will not be afraid;^(AO)
    when you lie down, your sleep^(AP) will be sweet.
²⁵ Have no fear of sudden disaster
    or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
²⁶ for the Lord will be at your side^(AQ)
    and will keep your foot^(AR) from being snared.^(AS)

²⁷ Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
    when it is in your power to act.
²⁸ Do not say to your neighbor,
    “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—
    when you already have it with you.^(AT)
29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
    who lives trustfully near you.^(AU)
30 Do not accuse anyone for no reason—
    when they have done you no harm.

³¹ Do not envy^(AV) the violent
    or choose any of their ways.

³² For the Lord detests the perverse^(AW)
    but takes the upright into his confidence.^(AX)
33 The Lord’s curse^(AY) is on the house of the wicked,^(AZ)
    but he blesses the home of the righteous.^(BA)
34 He mocks^(BB) proud mockers^(BC)
    but shows favor to the humble^(BD) and oppressed.
³⁵ The wise inherit honor,
    but fools get only shame.