Day 625 of 730

¹After these things I looked and saw a door opened in heaven, and the first voice that I heard, like a trumpet speaking with me, was one saying, "Come up here, and I will show you the things which must happen after this."

²Immediately I was in the Spirit. Behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting on the throne.

³And the one who sat there looked like a jasper stone and a sardius. There was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald to look at.

⁴Around the throne were twenty-four thrones. On the thrones were twenty-four elders sitting, dressed in white garments, with crowns of gold on their heads.

⁵Out of the throne proceed lightnings, sounds, and thunders. There were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

⁶Before the throne was something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal. In the midst of the throne, and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes before and behind.

⁷The first living creature was like a lion, and the second living creature like a calf, and the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.

⁸The four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within. They have no rest day and night, saying, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come!"

⁹When the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to him who sits on the throne, to him who lives forever and ever,

¹⁰the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives forever and ever, and throw their crowns before the throne, saying,

¹¹"Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive the glory, the honor, and the power, for you created all things, and because of your desire they existed, and were created!"

¹ALEPH To you, Lord, do I lift up my soul.

²My God, I have trusted in you. Do not let me be shamed. Do not let my enemies triumph over me.

³Yes, no one who waits for you shall be shamed. They shall be shamed who deal treacherously without cause.

⁴Show me your ways, Lord. Teach me your paths.

⁵Guide me in your truth, and teach me, For you are the God of my salvation, I wait for you all day long.

⁶Lord, remember your tender mercies and your loving kindness, for they are from old times.

⁷Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions. Remember me according to your loving kindness, for your goodness' sake, Lord.

⁸Good and upright is the Lord, therefore he will instruct sinners in the way.

⁹He will guide the humble in justice. He will teach the humble his way.

¹⁰All the paths of the Lord are loving kindness and truth to such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

¹¹For your name's sake, Lord, pardon my iniquity, for it is great.

¹²What man is he who fears the Lord? He shall instruct him in the way that he shall choose.

¹³His soul shall dwell at ease. His seed shall inherit the land.

¹⁴The friendship of the Lord is with those who fear him. He will show them his covenant.

¹⁵My eyes are ever on the Lord, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.

¹⁶Turn to me, and have mercy on me, for I am desolate and afflicted.

¹⁷The troubles of my heart are enlarged. Oh bring me out of my distresses.

¹⁸Consider my affliction and my travail. Forgive all my sins.

¹⁹Consider my enemies, for they are many. They hate me with cruel hatred.

²⁰Oh keep my soul, and deliver me. Let me not be disappointed, for I take refuge in you.

²¹Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.

²²Redeem Israel, God, from all of his troubles.

¹My son, pay attention to my wisdom. Turn your ear to my understanding:

²that you may maintain discretion, that your lips may preserve knowledge.

³For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. Her mouth is smoother than oil,

⁴But in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, and as sharp as a two-edged sword.

⁵Her feet go down to death. Her steps lead straight to Sheol.

⁶She gives no thought to the way of life. Her ways are crooked, and she doesn't know it.

⁷Now therefore, my sons, listen to me. Do not depart from the words of my mouth.

⁸Remove your way far from her. Do not come near the door of her house,

⁹lest you give your honor to others, and your years to the cruel one;

¹⁰lest strangers feast on your wealth, and your labors enrich another man's house.

¹¹You will groan at your latter end, when your flesh and your body are consumed,

¹²and say, "How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;

¹³neither have I obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor turned my ear to those who instructed me!

¹⁴I have come to the brink of utter ruin, in the midst of the gathered assembly."

¹⁵Drink water out of your own cistern, running water out of your own well.

¹⁶Should your springs overflow in the streets, streams of water in the public squares?

¹⁷Let them be for yourself alone, not for strangers with you.

¹⁸Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.

¹⁹A loving doe and a graceful deer- let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be captivated always with her love.

²⁰For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another?

²¹For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord. He examines all his paths.

²²The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare him. The cords of his sin hold him firmly.

²³He will die for lack of instruction. In the greatness of his folly, he will go astray.