Day 566 of 730

¹Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

²We always give thanks to God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers,

³remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father.

⁴We know, brothers loved by God, that you are chosen,

⁵and that our Good News came to you not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and with much assurance. You know what kind of men we showed ourselves to be among you for your sake.

⁶You became imitators of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,

⁷so that you became an example to all who believe in Macedonia and in Achaia.

⁸For from you the word of the Lord has been declared, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone out; so that we need not to say anything.

⁹For they themselves report concerning us what kind of a reception we had from you; and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God,

¹⁰and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead-Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.

¹I love the Lord, because he listens to my voice, and my cries for mercy.

²Because he has turned his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.

³The cords of death surrounded me, the pains of Sheol got a hold of me. I found trouble and sorrow.

⁴Then I called on the name of the Lord: "Lord, I beg you, deliver my soul."

⁵The Lord is Gracious and righteous. Yes, our God is merciful.

⁶The Lord preserves the simple. I was brought low, and he saved me.

⁷Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

⁸For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.

⁹I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.

¹⁰I believed, therefore I said, "I am greatly afflicted."

¹¹I said in my haste, "All men are liars."

¹²What will I give to the Lord for all his benefits toward me?

¹³I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.

¹⁴I will pay my vows to the Lord, yes, in the presence of all his people.

¹⁵Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his holy ones.

¹⁶Lord, truly I am your servant. I am your servant, the son of your handmaid. You have freed me from my chains.

¹⁷I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call on the name of the Lord.

¹⁸I will pay my vows to the Lord, yes, in the presence of all his people,

¹⁹in the courts of the Lord's house, in the midst of you, Jerusalem. Praise Yah!

¹Doesn't wisdom cry out? Doesn't understanding raise her voice?

²On the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she stands.

³Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entry doors, she cries aloud:

⁴"To you men, I call! I send my voice to the sons of mankind.

⁵You simple, understand prudence. You fools, be of an understanding heart.

⁶Hear, for I will speak excellent things. The opening of my lips is for right things.

⁷For my mouth speaks truth. Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

⁸All the words of my mouth are in righteousness. There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.

⁹They are all plain to him who understands, right to those who find knowledge.

¹⁰Receive my instruction rather than silver; knowledge rather than choice gold.

¹¹For wisdom is better than rubies. All the things that may be desired can't be compared to it.

¹²"I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling. Find out knowledge and discretion.

¹³The fear of the Lord is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.

¹⁴Counsel and sound knowledge are mine. I have understanding and power.

¹⁵By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

¹⁶By me princes rule; nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.

¹⁷I love those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will find me.

¹⁸With me are riches, honor, enduring wealth, and prosperity.

¹⁹My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold; my yield than choice silver.

²⁰I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice;

²¹That I may give wealth to those who love me. I fill their treasuries.

²²"The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his work, before his deeds of old.

²³I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, before the earth existed.

²⁴When there were no depths, I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.

²⁵Before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was brought forth;

²⁶while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.

²⁷When he established the heavens, I was there; when he set a circle on the surface of the deep,

²⁸when he established the clouds above, when the springs of the deep became strong,

²⁹when he gave to the sea its boundary, that the waters should not violate his commandment, when he marked out the foundations of the earth;

³⁰then I was the craftsman by his side. I was a delight day by day, always rejoicing before him,

³¹Rejoicing in his whole world. My delight was with the sons of men.

³²"Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.

³³Hear instruction, and be wise. Do not refuse it.

³⁴Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my door posts.

³⁵For whoever finds me, finds life, and will obtain favor from the Lord.

³⁶But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death."