The plans of the diligent lead only to plenty, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.

Then observers will say, “Yes indeed, the godly are rewarded! Yes indeed, there is a God who judges in the earth!”

But you must not eat meat with its life (that is, its blood) in it.

Surely now he has worn me out, you have devastated my entire household.

“Indeed, you have said in my hearing (I heard the sound of the words!):

Surely you put them in slippery places; you bring them down to ruin.

Surely people go through life as mere ghosts. Surely they accumulate worthless wealth without knowing who will eventually haul it away.”

But some men from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.

Only his flesh has pain for himself, and he mourns for himself.”

“He has put my relatives far from me; my acquaintances only turn away from me.

Surely it is an empty cry – God does not hear it; the Almighty does not take notice of it.

Do not be angry and frustrated! Do not fret! That only leads to trouble!

Patiently wait for God alone, my soul! For he is the one who gives me confidence.

He alone is my protector and deliverer. He is my refuge; I will not be upended.

A psalm by Asaph. Certainly God is good to Israel, and to those whose motives are pure!

I concluded, “Surely in vain I have kept my motives pure and maintained a pure lifestyle.

Certainly his loyal followers will soon experience his deliverance; then his splendor will again appear in our land.

If I were to say, “Certainly the darkness will cover me, and the light will turn to night all around me,”

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

One person is generous and yet grows more wealthy, but another withholds more than he should and comes to poverty.