Protect me from the snare they have laid for me, and the traps the evildoers have set.

A well-written song by David, when he was in the cave; a prayer. To the Lord I cry out; to the Lord I plead for mercy.

Even when my strength leaves me, you watch my footsteps. In the path where I walk they have hidden a trap for me.

Listen to my cry for help, for I am in serious trouble! Rescue me from those who chase me, for they are stronger than I am.

Free me from prison, that I may give thanks to your name. Because of me the godly will assemble, for you will vindicate me.

A psalm of David. O Lord, hear my prayer! Pay attention to my plea for help! Because of your faithfulness and justice, answer me!

Do not sit in judgment on your servant, for no one alive is innocent before you.

Certainly my enemies chase me. They smash me into the ground. They force me to live in dark regions, like those who have been dead for ages.

I spread my hands out to you in prayer; my soul thirsts for you in a parched land.

May I hear about your loyal love in the morning, for I trust in you. Show me the way I should go, because I long for you.

Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord! I run to you for protection.

Teach me to do what pleases you, for you are my God. May your kind presence lead me into a level land.

O Lord, for the sake of your reputation, revive me! Because of your justice, rescue me from trouble!

As a demonstration of your loyal love, destroy my enemies! Annihilate all who threaten my life, for I am your servant.

By David. The Lord, my protector, deserves praise -- the one who trains my hands for battle, and my fingers for war,

He satisfies the desire of his loyal followers; he hears their cry for help and delivers them.

Praise the Lord, for it is good to sing praises to our God! Yes, praise is pleasant and appropriate!

The Lord takes delight in his faithful followers, and in those who wait for his loyal love.

For he makes the bars of your gates strong. He blesses your children within you.

He brings peace to your territory. He abundantly provides for you the best grain.

Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he gave the command and they came into existence.

Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty extends over the earth and sky.

For the Lord takes delight in his people; he exalts the oppressed by delivering them.

Let the godly rejoice because of their vindication! Let them shout for joy upon their beds!

Praise him for his mighty acts! Praise him for his surpassing greatness!

For they will be like an elegant garland on your head, and like pendants around your neck.

for they are eager to inflict harm, and they hasten to shed blood.

but these men lie in wait for their own blood, they ambush their own lives!

For the waywardness of the simpletons will kill them, and the careless ease of fools will destroy them.

indeed, if you call out for discernment -- raise your voice for understanding --

if you seek it like silver, and search for it like hidden treasure,

For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

He stores up effective counsel for the upright, and is like a shield for those who live with integrity,

For wisdom will enter your heart, and moral knowledge will be attractive to you.

For her house sinks down to death, and her paths lead to the place of the departed spirits.

For the upright will reside in the land, and those with integrity will remain in it,

for they will provide a long and full life, and they will add well-being to you.

For the Lord disciplines those he loves, just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.

For her benefit is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than gold.

for the Lord will be the source of your confidence, and he will guard your foot from being caught in a trap.

for one who goes astray is an abomination to the Lord, but he reveals his intimate counsel to the upright.

For they cannot sleep unless they cause harm; they are robbed of sleep until they make someone stumble.

For they eat bread gained from wickedness and drink wine obtained from violence.

for they are life to those who find them and healing to one's entire body.

Guard your heart with all vigilance, for from it are the sources of life.

Make the path for your feet level, so that all your ways may be established.

For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey, and her seductive words are smoother than olive oil,

For I did not obey my teachers and I did not heed my instructors.

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

For the ways of a person are in front of the Lord's eyes, and the Lord weighs all that person's paths.

My child, if you have made a pledge for your neighbor, and have become a guarantor for a stranger,

For the commandments are like a lamp, instruction is like a light, and rebukes of discipline are like the road leading to life,

Do not lust in your heart for her beauty, and do not let her captivate you with her alluring eyes;

for on account of a prostitute one is brought down to a loaf of bread, but the wife of another man preys on your precious life.

for jealousy kindles a husband's rage, and he will not show mercy when he takes revenge.

For at the window of my house through my window lattice I looked out

That is why I came out to meet you, to look for you, and I found you!

For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a journey of some distance.

for she has brought down many fatally wounded, and all those she has slain are many.

Listen, for I will speak excellent things, and my lips will utter what is right.

For my mouth speaks truth, and my lips hate wickedness.

For wisdom is better than rubies, and desirable things cannot be compared to her.

For the one who finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord.

Whoever corrects a mocker is asking for insult; whoever reproves a wicked person receives abuse.

For because of me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.

The teaching of the righteous feeds many, but fools die for lack of wisdom.

Carrying out a wicked scheme is enjoyable to a fool, and so is wisdom for the one who has discernment.

The way of the Lord is like a stronghold for the upright, but it is destruction to evildoers.

The one who puts up security for a stranger will surely have trouble, but whoever avoids shaking hands will be secure.

What the righteous desire leads only to good, but what the wicked hope for leads to wrath.

A generous person will be enriched, and the one who provides water for others will himself be satisfied.

The one who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but the one who searches for evil -- it will come to him.

A righteous person cares for the life of his animal, but even the most compassionate acts of the wicked are cruel.

The one who tells the truth will endure forever, but the one who lies will last only for a moment.

A benevolent person leaves an inheritance for his grandchildren, but the wealth of a sinner is stored up for the righteous.

In the speech of a fool is a rod for his back, but the words of the wise protect them.

The scorner seeks wisdom but finds none, but understanding is easy for a discerning person.

The backslider will be paid back from his own ways, but a good person will be rewarded for his.

In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and it will be a refuge for his children.

Severe discipline is for the one who abandons the way; the one who hates reproof will die.

The path of life is upward for the wise person, to keep him from going downward to Sheol.

The one who is greedy for gain troubles his household, but whoever hates bribes will live.

The Lord works everything for its own ends -- even the wicked for the day of disaster.

A laborer's appetite works on his behalf, for his hunger urges him to work.

The crucible is for refining silver and the furnace is for gold, likewise the Lord tests hearts.

Excessive speech is not becoming for a fool; how much less are lies for a ruler!

A bribe works like a charm for the one who offers it; in whatever he does he succeeds.

It is better for a person to meet a mother bear being robbed of her cubs, than to encounter a fool in his folly.

As for the one who repays evil for good, evil will not leave his house.

The one who lacks wisdom strikes hands in pledge, and puts up financial security for his neighbor.

The mouth of a fool is his ruin, and his lips are a snare for his life.

A person's gift makes room for him, and leads him before important people.

Luxury is not appropriate for a fool; how much less for a servant to rule over princes!

The one who is gracious to the poor lends to the Lord, and the Lord will repay him for his good deed.

Discipline your child, for there is hope, but do not set your heart on causing his death.

What is desirable for a person is to show loyal love, and a poor person is better than a liar.

Judgments are prepared for scorners, and floggings for the backs of fools.

It is an honor for a person to cease from strife, but every fool quarrels.

The sluggard will not plow during the planting season, so at harvest time he looks for the crop but has nothing.

Take a man's garment when he has given security for a stranger, and when he gives surety for strangers, hold him in pledge.