Part 23
Those who go to the sea in ships, Who do business in great waters, They see the works of the Lord, And his wonders in the great deep. When he speaks, the tempest rises, And tosses the waves on high. Up to heaven, then down they go, Their courage melts at the danger, They stagger and reel like drunkards, And their skill is all exhausted. Then they cry to the Lord in their trouble, And he saves them from their distresses. He makes the tempest a calm, And the waves of the sea are still. They are glad when the waves go down; To the haven they long for he brings them. Let them praise the Lord for his love, For his wonderful works unto men; In the popular assembly extol him, In the council of elders praise him.
GOD'S PROTECTION OF THOSE WHO TRUST IN HIM
I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise is continually in my mouth, My soul glories in the Lord, Let the afflicted hear and rejoice. O exalt the Lord with me, Let us praise his name together.
I sought the Lord and he answered me, From all my fears he delivered me. He who looks to him, becomes radiant, And his face is not covered with shame. This afflicted man cried and he heard him, And from all his distresses delivered him. The angel of the Lord encamps About those who revere him, and saves them.
Taste and see that the Lord is good; Happy the man who seeks refuge with him. Revere the Lord, O holy ones, For those who revere him lack nothing. Though young lions feel want and suffer hunger, Those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.
Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you true religion: Who of you desires to live, Loves long life that he may enjoy happiness? Then keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking falsehood; Turn from evil and do good, Seek for peace and pursue it.
The Lord is against evil-doers, To cut off their memory from the earth. The Lord watches over the upright, His ear is open to their cry. When they cry to the Lord, he hears, And saves them from all their troubles.
The Lord is near those who are broken-hearted, He delivers those whose spirits are crushed. The misfortunes of the upright are many, But the Lord delivers him from them all. The Lord guards all his bones, Not one of them is broken. Misfortune shall slay the wicked, Those who hate the upright shall be condemned; But the Lord redeems his servants, And none who takes refuge in him shall be condemned.
GOD'S LOVING CARE
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me to the still waters, He restores my soul.
He guides me in straight paths for his name's sake; Though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me, Thy rod and thy staff--they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies, Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runs over; Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
TRUSTING IN GOD'S CARE
Be not disturbed because of the wicked, Nor be envious of those who do wrong; For like grass they shall quickly wither, And fade like the green herbs.
Trust in the Lord and do right, Live in the land and act faithfully. Then the Lord shall be your delight, He will grant you your heart's desire.
Commit your way to the Lord, Trust in him, and he will work with you, He will bring to light your honesty, And make it as clear as the noonday.
A PRAYER OF TRUST
To thee, O God, I lift up my soul, All the day long do I wait for thee. I trust in thee, O God, let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies exult over me, And let none who hope in thee be ashamed; But let wicked traitors be disgraced.
Show me thy ways, O Lord, Teach me thy way to live. Lead me in thy truth and teach me, For thou art the God who saves me, And in thee do I hope continually.
Remember thy tender mercies, O Lord, And thy loving deeds, for they are eternal. Do not recall the sins of my youth, But in thy love remember thou me, Because of thy goodness, O Lord.
Good and upright is the Lord, So he teaches sinners the way, He guides the humble aright, And teaches the meek his way, All his rules are loving and true, To those who follow his law and commands. For thy name's sake, O Lord, Pardon my guilt, for it is great.
Who is the man that reveres the Lord? He will teach him the way to choose. That man shall continue to prosper, And his children inherit the land. He is friendly with those who revere him, And with his covenant he makes them acquainted.
My eyes are ever turned toward the Lord, For he saves my feet from the net. Turn to me and be gracious, For I am alone and afflicted; Relieve the troubles of my heart, And deliver me from my distresses; Look on my affliction and suffering, And pardon all my sins.
Consider my enemies, for they are many, And they hate me with violent hatred; Oh save my life and deliver me, Let me not be ashamed, for I trust thee. Let innocence and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for thee, O Lord.
SAFETY IN GOD'S CARE
You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, Who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, Who say to the Lord, "Thou art my refuge, And my fortress, my God in whom I trust," He will surely deliver you from the snare, When entrapped from the destructive pit. With his pinions he will cover you, And under his wings you may hide.
His faithfulness is a shield and defense, You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, Nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand, But it shall not come near unto you. You need but look with your eyes, To see how the wicked are punished.
Because the Lord is your refuge, And you have made the Most High your abode, There shall no evil befall you, No plague come near your tent; For he will give his angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways; They shall bear you up on their hands, Lest you strike your foot on a stone. You shall tread on the lion and adder, You shall trample on the young lion and dragon.
"Because of his love for me I will deliver him, I will exalt him, for he knows my name. He shall call upon me and I will answer him, In time of trouble I will be with him, I will deliver him and bring him honor, With long life will I satisfy him, And show him my power to save."
GOD OUR REFUGE
God is our refuge and strength, An ever-present help in trouble. So we fear not, though the earth trembles, And mountains tumble into the heart of the sea; Though its waters roar and foam, Though mountains quake at its uproar. The Lord of hosts is with us, The God of Jacob is our refuge.
As the brooks refresh the city of God, So the Most High makes holy his abiding-place; God is in her midst, she cannot be moved, God will help her at the turn of the morn.
Nations were in tumult, kingdoms fell, He uttered his voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us, The God of Jacob is our refuge.
Come, see the mighty works of the Lord, Who makes wars cease to the end of the earth He snaps the bow, and breaks the spear, And burns up the chariots with fire. "Be still, and know that I am God, Exalted over the nations, exalted on earth." The Lord of hosts is with us, The God of Jacob is our refuge.
THE JOY OF WORSHIPPING GOD
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord, Let us shout to the Rock who saves us, Let us come before him with thanksgiving, Let us sing to him joyful songs; For the Lord is indeed a great God, A great King above all gods, In whose hand are the depths of the earth, The heights of the mountains are his, The sea is his, for he made it, And his hands prepared the dry land.
Oh come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker; For he is the Lord our God, And we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth, Serve the Lord with gladness, Come into his presence with singing, Know that the Lord is God, He has made us and we are his, His people, the flock that he tends.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, His courts with songs of rejoicing, Give thanks to him, praise his name, He is good, his kindness eternal, And his faithfulness unto all generations.
WHAT GOD ASKS OF THOSE WHO WORSHIP HIM
O Lord, who may be a guest in thy tent? Who may dwell on thy holy hill?
He who lives blamelessly and does right, And speaks the truth in his heart, Who utters no slander with his tongue, Who does no wrong to his friend, Who makes no charge against his neighbor; In whose sight the vile are despised, But he honors those who revere the Lord. He keeps his oath at all costs, His money he puts not out to usury, And cannot be bribed to injure the innocent.
He who does this can never be moved.
A CALL TO PRAISE GOD
Oh, sing to the Lord a new song; Sing to the Lord, all the earth, Sing to the Lord, praise his name, Proclaim his salvation each day; Tell his glory among the heathen, His wonders among all peoples.
God is great, and worthy of praise, Above all gods should he be revered, For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But it is the Lord who made the heavens. Honor and majesty are in his presence, Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
Give to the Lord, you tribes of the nations, Give to the Lord glory and strength. Give to the Lord the glory that is due him; Bring an offering, and enter his courts. Oh, worship the Lord in holy attire, Tremble before him, all the earth. Say to the nations, "The Lord reigns, And he will rule the peoples justly."
Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice, Let the sea roar and all of its inhabitants, Let the fields exult, and all that is in them, Let the trees of the forest sing with joy Before the Lord, for he has come, For he has come to rule the earth; He will rule the world with justice, He will rule the nations with faithfulness.
THE UNITED SONG OF PRAISE
Praise the Lord from the heavens, Praise him on the heights. Praise him, all his angels, Praise him, all his host!
Praise him, sun and moon, Praise him, all stars of light! Praise him, heavens of heavens, And waters above the heavens!
Let them praise the name of the Lord, For at his command they were made; He fixed them forever and ever, Set a bound they must not pass.
Praise the Lord from the earth, Sea-monsters and all deeps! Fire, hail, snow, and vapor, Storm wind, fulfilling his word!
Mountains and all hills, Fruit-trees and all cedars! Wild beasts and all cattle, Creeping things and winged birds!
Kings of earth and all peoples, All rulers and judges of earth, Young men and maidens too, Old men and children together!
Let them praise the name of the Lord, For his name alone is exalted. Over heaven and earth is his majesty, He has strengthened the might of his people; He is praised by all who are faithful, By the Israelites, who are near him.
Praise God in his holy place, Praise him for his mighty firmament, Praise him for his deeds of power, Praise him for his infinite greatness.
Praise him with the blast of the horn, Praise him with lyre and harp, Praise him with timbrel and dance, Praise him with strings and pipe, Praise him with clanging cymbals, Praise him with clashing cymbals. Let all that breathes praise the Lord!
MAN'S PLACE IN GOD'S WORLD
O Lord, our God, how glorious Is thy name in all the earth!
Thou hast spread thy splendor over the heavens; At the cry of babes and infants Thou hast set up a bulwark, because of thine enemies, To silence the foe and avenger.
When I see thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, The moon and stars which thou hast made; What is man that thou art mindful of him; Or the son of man that thou visitest him?
Yet thou hast made him little less than divine, And hast crowned him with glory and honor, Making him lord of creation, So that all things are subject to him.
The sheep and the oxen, all of them, Yes, and the beasts of the field, The birds of the air and the fish, That dart through the paths of the sea.
O Lord, our God, how glorious Is thy name in all the earth!
THE REWARD OF DOING RIGHT
Happy is the man Who follows not the counsel of the wicked, Nor takes his stand with sinners, Nor sits among the scoffers, But delights in the law of the Lord, And day and night meditates on it. For he is like a tree planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in due season, Whose leaf never withers, And all that he does prospers.
Not so the wicked! They are like the chaff driven by the wind. So the wicked shall not rise up at the judgment, Nor sinners where the righteous are gathered; For the Lord directs the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked leads to ruin.
A PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS
Have mercy upon me, O God, According to thy loving-kindness, According to the multitude of thy tender mercies, Blot out all my transgressions, Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. For well do I know my misdeeds, And my sin is always before me. Against thee, thee only have I sinned, And done what is wrong in thy sight; Therefore thou art right when thou speakest, And just when thou pronouncest thy judgment.
Verily I was born in iniquity, And in sin did my mother conceive me. Yet thou desirest truth in the heart, In my inner soul thou wouldst teach me wisdom. Cleanse me with hyssop that I may be clean, Wash me whiter than snow. Fill me with joy and gladness, That the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, And blot out all mine iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence, Withdraw not thy holy spirit from me. Give me back the glad sense of thy help, And with a willing spirit sustain me.
Then I will teach sinners thy ways, And wrong-doers shall turn unto thee. Save me from bloodshed, O God, That my tongue may sing of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips, That my mouth may declare thy praise!
For thou takest no pleasure in sacrifice, No delight in gifts of burnt-offering. The sacrifices pleasing to thee Are a broken and a contrite spirit.
THE SAYINGS OF THE WISE
THE REWARDS OF LISTENING TO THE ADVICE OF THE WISE
My son, if you heed my words, And store my commands in your mind, Pay close attention to wisdom, And give careful heed to reason. If you will but seek her as silver, And search for her as for hid treasures, You shall then understand true religion, And gain a knowledge of God. For wisdom shall enter your mind, And knowledge shall be pleasant to you, Discretion shall watch over you, And understanding shall guard you, To keep you from doing wrong, From men whose words are evil, Who leave the paths of right To walk in ways that are dark, Who rejoice in doing wrong, And take pleasure in evil deeds.
Happy the man who finds wisdom, And he who gains understanding. In her right hand is long life, In her left are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, And all her paths are peaceful. She gives life to those who seek her, They are happy who hold her fast. You shall then go on your way securely, And your foot shall never stumble. When you sit down, you shall not be afraid, When you lie down, your sleep shall be sweet.
WHAT GOD LIKES AND DISLIKES
The eyes of the Lord are all-seeing, Keeping watch on both wicked and good. A man thinks all that he does is right, But the Lord tests the motive. A man plans the way in his mind, But the Lord directs his steps.
The Lord detests a false balance, But a just balance is his delight. To do what is just and right Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. The conduct of the wicked is hateful to him, But he loves the man eager to do right. The Lord detests the evil-minded, But is well pleased with him who lives uprightly.
The sacrifice of the wicked is hateful to the Lord, But the prayer of the upright is a delight to him! The Lord holds aloof from the wicked, But hears the prayer of the upright. Lying lips are hateful to the Lord, But they who act honestly are his delight.
There are six things that the Lord hates, Yes, seven are detestable to him: Haughty eyes and a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A mind that plans wicked schemes, Feet that make haste to do evil, A false witness who utters lies, And he who sows strife between brothers.
GOD'S CARE FOR THOSE WHO TRY TO DO RIGHT
The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, But he blesses the home of him who does right. Surely he scoffs at the scoffers, But to the modest he ever shows favor.
The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, But he disappoints the desire of the wicked. The Lord is a stronghold to him who lives rightly, But he brings destruction to those who do wrong.
The name of the Lord is a strong tower, To which the righteous runs and is safe. Every word of God is true; He is a shield to those who trust him.
Say not, "I will be revenged for a wrong"; Wait for the Lord, he will save you. For the Lord gives wisdom, From his mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright, He is a shield to those who live clean lives, That he may guard the course of justice, And protect the way of his faithful ones.
Reverence for the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But the foolish despise wisdom and discipline. Reverence comes through wise instruction, And before honor goes modesty.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, Depend not on your own understanding; In all you do make him your friend, And he will direct your paths.
Be not wise in your own eyes. Revere the Lord, and avoid sin. Then you will have health of body And your bones will be refreshed.
Honor the Lord with your wealth, With the best of all you receive, Then your barns will be filled with grain, And your vats overflow with wine.
A greedy man stirs up strife, But he who trusts in the Lord will prosper. Intrust what you do to the Lord, Then your plans will succeed.
THE WAY TO BE WELL AND HAPPY
Many a man tells of his own kindness. But a trustworthy man who can find? A child is known by his acts, Whether his work is pure and right.
Worry in a man's mind makes it sad, But a kind word makes it happy. A man's spirit upholds him in sickness, But who can raise up a broken spirit?
A calm mind is the life of the body, But jealousy rots the bones. A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, But by inward sorrow the spirit is broken. A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING WILLING TO LEARN
The lips of the wise speak knowledge, But the fool does not understand. A fool's way seems right in his sight, But a wise man listens to advice. A fool despises his father's correction, But he who regards reproof acts wisely.
Listen to advice and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your later life. Advice in a man's mind is like deep water, But a man of sense will draw it out. Hold fast instruction, let it not go; Keep it, for it is your life.
My son, reject not the discipline of the Lord, And do not spurn his reproof, For whom he loves he reproves, Even as a father the son of whom he is fond. He who rejects correction despises his own self, But he who listens to reproof gains understanding.
HOW TO HONOR YOUR PARENTS
My son, hear the instruction of your father, And forsake not the teaching of your mother; They shall be a crown of beauty for your head, And a necklace about your neck. Listen to your father who begat you, And despise not your mother when she is old. He who does what he is told is a wise son. But he who makes friends of spendthrifts, Brings disgrace on his father.
He who robs father or mother, Saying, "There is no wrong in it," Is like him who is a destroyer. He who curses his father or mother, His lamp shall go out in the blackest of darkness. A wise son makes a glad father, But a foolish son despises his mother. A foolish son is a grief to his father, And brings bitterness to her who bore him.
Be wise, my son, and make glad my heart, That I may answer the one who reproaches me. Let your father be filled with joy, And let her who bore you rejoice.
THE TROUBLES OF THOSE WHO ARE LAZY
The lazy man says, "A lion is outside! I shall be killed in the streets!" As the door turns on its hinges, So the lazy man turns on his bed. He dips his hand in the dish, But does not bring it to his mouth! The lazy man is wiser in his own mind, Than seven who can answer intelligently. The way of the lazy is hedged in with thorns, But the path of the diligent is a well-built highway.