Day 691 of 730

¹He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

²I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust."

³For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the deadly pestilence.

⁴He will cover you with his feathers. Under his wings you will take refuge. His faithfulness is your shield and rampart.

⁵You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day;

⁶nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that wastes at noonday.

⁷A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not come near you.

⁸You will only look with your eyes, and see the recompense of the wicked.

⁹Because you have made Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place,

¹⁰no evil shall happen to you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.

¹¹For he will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways.

¹²They will bear you up in their hands, so that you won't dash your foot against a stone.

¹³You will tread on the lion and cobra. You will trample the young lion and the serpent underfoot.

¹⁴"Because he has set his love on me, therefore I will deliver him. I will set him on high, because he has known my name.

¹⁵He will call on me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him, and honor him.

¹⁶I will satisfy him with long life, and show him my salvation."

¹Wisdom has built her house. She has carved out her seven pillars.

²She has prepared her meat. She has mixed her wine. She has also set her table.

³She has sent out her maidens. She cries from the highest places of the city:

⁴"Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!" As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,

⁵"Come, eat some of my bread, Drink some of the wine which I have mixed!

⁶Leave your simple ways, and live. Walk in the way of understanding."

⁷He who corrects a mocker invites insult. He who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.

⁸Do not reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you. Reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

⁹Instruct a wise man, and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

¹⁰The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

¹¹For by me your days will be multiplied. The years of your life will be increased.

¹²If you are wise, you are wise for yourself. If you mock, you alone will bear it.

¹³The foolish woman is loud, Undisciplined, and knows nothing.

¹⁴She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,

¹⁵To call to those who pass by, who go straight on their ways,

¹⁶"Whoever is simple, let him turn in here." as for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,

¹⁷"Stolen water is sweet. Food eaten in secret is pleasant."

¹⁸But he doesn't know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.