¹May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;

may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.

²May he send you help from the sanctuary

and grant you support from Zion.

³May he remember all your sacrifices

and accept your burnt offerings.

⁴May he give you the desire of your heart

and make all your plans succeed.

⁵May we shout for joy over your victory

and lift up our banners in the name of our God.

May the Lord grant all your requests.

⁶Now this I know:

the Lord gives victory to his anointed.

He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary

with the victorious power of his right hand.

⁷Some trust in chariots and some in horses,

but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

⁸They are brought to their knees and fall,

but we rise up and stand firm.

⁹ Lord, give victory to the king!

Answer us when we call!

¹How long, Lord? Will you forget me for ever?

How long will you hide your face from me?

²How long must I wrestle with my thoughts

and day after day have sorrow in my heart?

How long will my enemy triumph over me?

³Look on me and answer, Lord my God.

Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,

⁴and my enemy will say, ‘I have overcome him,’

and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

⁵But I trust in your unfailing love;

my heart rejoices in your salvation.

⁶I will sing the Lord’s praise,

for he has been good to me.

¹Answer me when I call to you,

my righteous God.

Give me relief from my distress;

have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

²How long will you people turn my glory into shame?

How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?

³Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself;

the Lord hears when I call to him.

⁴Tremble and do not sin;

when you are on your beds,

search your hearts and be silent.

⁵Offer the sacrifices of the righteous

and trust in the Lord.

⁶Many, Lord, are asking, ‘Who will bring us prosperity?’

Let the light of your face shine on us.

⁷Fill my heart with joy

when their grain and new wine abound.

⁸In peace I will lie down and sleep,

for you alone, Lord,

make me dwell in safety.

¹My son, do not forget my teaching,

but keep my commands in your heart,

²for they will prolong your life many years

and bring you peace and prosperity.

³Let love and faithfulness never leave you;

bind them round your neck,

write them on the tablet of your heart.

⁴Then you will win favour and a good name

in the sight of God and man.

⁵Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

⁶in all your ways submit to him,

and he will make your paths straight.

⁷Do not be wise in your own eyes;

fear the Lord and shun evil.

⁸This will bring health to your body

and nourishment to your bones.

⁹Honour the Lord with your wealth,

with the firstfruits of all your crops;

¹⁰then your barns will be filled to overflowing,

and your vats will brim over with new wine.

¹¹My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline,

and do not resent his rebuke,

¹²because the Lord disciplines those he loves,

as a father the son he delights in.

¹³Blessed are those who find wisdom,

those who gain understanding,

¹⁴for she is more profitable than silver

and yields better returns than gold.

¹⁵She is more precious than rubies;

nothing you desire can compare with her.

¹⁶Long life is in her right hand;

in her left hand are riches and honour.

¹⁷Her ways are pleasant ways,

and all her paths are peace.

¹⁸She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;

those who hold her fast will be blessed.

¹⁹By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,

by understanding he set the heavens in place;

²⁰by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,

and the clouds let drop the dew.

²¹My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,

preserve sound judgment and discretion;

²²they will be life for you,

an ornament to grace your neck.

²³Then you will go on your way in safety,

and your foot will not stumble.

²⁴When you lie down, you will not be afraid;

when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

²⁵Have no fear of sudden disaster

or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,

²⁶for the Lord will be at your side

and will keep your foot from being snared.

²⁷Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,

when it is in your power to act.

²⁸Do not say to your neighbour,

‘Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you’ –

when you already have it with you.

²⁹Do not plot harm against your neighbour,

who lives trustfully near you.

³⁰Do not accuse anyone for no reason –

when they have done you no harm.

³¹Do not envy the violent

or choose any of their ways.

³²For the Lord detests the perverse

but takes the upright into his confidence.

³³The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,

but he blesses the home of the righteous.

³⁴He mocks proud mockers

but shows favour to the humble and oppressed.

³⁵The wise inherit honour,

but fools get only shame.