Study Desk

Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty heavens.

Then you will understand the [reverent] fear of the LORD [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] And discover the knowledge of God.

Who leaves the companion (husband) of her youth, And forgets the covenant of her God.

For the upright [those who are in right standing with God] will live in the land And those [of integrity] who are blameless [in God's sight] will remain in it;

So find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.

And strangers will be filled with your strength And your hard-earned wealth will go to the house of a foreigner [who does not know God];

Therefore [the crushing weight of] his disaster will come suddenly upon him; Instantly he will be broken, and there will be no healing or remedy [because he has no heart for God].

My son, be guided by your father's [God-given] commandment (instruction) And do not reject the teaching of your mother;

"All the words of my mouth are in righteousness (upright, in right standing with God); There is nothing contrary to truth or perverted (crooked) in them.

"Riches and honor are with me, Enduring wealth and righteousness (right standing with God).

For by me (wisdom from God) your days will be multiplied, And years of life shall be increased.

The LORD will not allow the righteous to hunger [God will meet all his needs], But He will reject and cast away the craving of the wicked.

Blessings are on the head of the righteous [the upright, those in right standing with God], But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

The wages of the righteous [the upright, those in right standing with God] is [a worthwhile, meaningful] life, The income of the wicked, punishment.

The lips of the righteous feed and guide many, But fools [who reject God and His wisdom] die for lack of understanding.

The blessing of the LORD brings [true] riches, And He adds no sorrow to it [for it comes as a blessing from God].

What the wicked fears will come upon him, But the desire of the righteous [for the blessings of God] will be granted.

The hope of the righteous [those of honorable character and integrity] is joy, But the expectation of the wicked [those who oppose God and ignore His wisdom] comes to nothing.

When pride comes [boiling up with an arrogant attitude of self-importance], then come dishonor and shame, But with the humble [the teachable who have been chiseled by trial and who have learned to walk humbly with God] there is wisdom and soundness of mind.

The people curse him who holds back grain [when the public needs it], But a blessing [from God and man] is upon the head of him who sells it.