312.

311. THE JOYOUS LOT OF THE UPRIGHT

They who trust in the Lord are as Mount Zion, which
I cannot be moved.

Jerusalem stands forever, encircled by mountains;

So the Lord is round about his people, now and ever

more.

Happy are all who revere the Lord, living as he directs.
You shall eat the fruit of your toil, happy and prosperous.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine, in the inner room
of your house;

Your sons like young olive-trees, round about your table.

Even thus shall the man be blessed who reveres the Lord.
The Lord shall bless you from Zion all the days of your

life,

You shall see your children's children, and the prosperity of Jerusalem.

See how good and pleasant it is for brothers to dwell in unity!

It is like the precious oil on the head that ran down on the beard,

Even on Aaron's beard, that flowed over the collar of his garment.

Like the dew of Mount Hermon, that descends on the mountains of Zion;

For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

THE SECURITY OF HIM WHO TRUSTS IN GOD

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.'

THE TEACHINGS OF THE WISE

PROVERBS

THE PRACTICAL VALUE OF THE TEACHINGS OF THE WISE

313. THE AIMS AND METHODS OF THE WISE

Is not Wisdom calling,

And Reason crying aloud?

That men may get wisdom and discipline,
May understand words of discernment,
May receive training in wise conduct,
In that which is right, just, and honorable;
That shrewdness may be taught to the simple,
And knowledge and a purpose to youth;

That the wise man may hear and grow wiser,
And that the intelligent man may be guided
In interpreting proverbs and parables,
The words of the wise and their riddles.

On the prominent heights by the way,
In the midst of the highways she stands,
By the gates that lead into the city,
At the entrance she cries aloud:
"To you, O men, I call,

My appeal is to all mankind.

O simple ones, learn to be prudent,
And you who are foolish, gain insight,
Give heed; what I speak is important,
And what my lips utter is right.

All is clear to the man of sense,

And right to those who gain knowledge.
Choose instruction rather than silver,

And knowledge rather than gold,

For wisdom is better than corals,
And with her no treasures compare.

With me are counsel and skill,
Insight and power are mine,
By me kings do reign,

And rulers decree what is just,

By me officials govern,

And nobles rule over the earth.

Those who love me, I love,

Those who seek earnestly, find me,
With me are riches and honor,
Lordly wealth and prosperity.
My fruit is better than gold,
My revenue than choicest silver.
I walk in the way that is right,
And keep to the pathways of justice,

Endowing with wealth those who love me,

And filling their treasuries full.'

314. THE RÔLE OF WISDOM IN THE UNIVERSE

The Lord formed me as his first creation,

The earliest of his works of old.

In the primeval past was I fashioned,
At the first, before earth existed,

When there were no depths, I was born;
When there were no springs full of water,
Ere the mountains were set in their places,
And before there were hills I was born,

Or ever the earth and the fields had been made,
Or the first of the dust of the world.

When God set up the heavens, I was there,
And when he stretched the vault over the deep,
When he made firm the skies above,

And fixed the fountains of the deep,

And when the Lord set to the sea its bounds,

So that its waters should not transgress his commands,
When he laid the foundations of the earth,

Then I was by him as a foster-child;
And I was his delight from day to day,
Playing before him at all times,
Playing upon his habitable earth.

My delight is to be with mankind;
So now, my sons, listen to me,

Hear instruction that you may be wise,
And reject it not.

Happy the man who hears me,
And they who follow my counsel,
Watching daily at my gates,
And waiting at my door-posts.
For he who finds me finds life,
And wins the favor of the Lord.

But he who misses me wrongs himself,

For all who hate me love death.

315. THE ALLUREMENTS OF WISDOM AND OF

FOLLY

Wisdom has built her house,

She has set up her seven pillars,

She has killed her cattle and mixed her wine,

She also has spread her table.

She has sent her maidens to proclaim

On the prominent heights in the city:
'Let him who is simple, turn in!'
To him who lacks insight she says:
'Come now and eat my bread,
And drink of the wine I have mixed!'
Abandon your folly and live,