Study Desk

Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, And praise Him in the congregation of His godly ones (believers).

Let them praise His name with dancing; Let them sing praises to Him with the tambourine and lyre.

For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation.

To execute on them the judgment written. This is the honor for all His godly ones. Praise the LORD! (Hallelujah!)

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

Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to [the abundance of] His greatness.

The wise will hear and increase their learning, And the person of understanding will acquire wise counsel and the skill [to steer his course wisely and lead others to the truth],

For the LORD gives [skillful and godly] wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

He guards the paths of justice; And He preserves the way of His saints (believers).

My son, do not reject or take lightly the discipline of the LORD [learn from your mistakes and the testing that comes from His correction through discipline]; Nor despise His rebuke,

The LORD by His wisdom has founded the earth; By His understanding He has established the heavens.

By His knowledge the deeps were broken up And the clouds drip with dew.

Do not envy a man of violence And do not choose any of his ways.

For the devious are repulsive to the LORD; But His private counsel is with the upright [those with spiritual integrity and moral courage].

Though He scoffs at the scoffers and scorns the scorners, Yet He gives His grace [His undeserved favor] to the humble [those who give up self-importance].

For the ways of man are directly before the eyes of the LORD, And He carefully watches all of his paths [all of his comings and goings].

The iniquities done by a wicked man will trap him, And he will be held with the cords of his sin.

He will die for lack of instruction (discipline), And in the greatness of his foolishness he will go astray and be lost.

Do this now, my son, and release yourself [from the obligation]; Since you have come into the hand of your neighbor, Go humble yourself, and plead with your neighbor [to pay his debt and release you].

Who winks with his eyes [in mockery], who shuffles his feet [to signal], Who points with his fingers [to give subversive instruction];