Exhortation to Uprightness

In many ways this chapter in Wisdom sounds similar to the Book of Proverbs. However there are slight language variance even for the untrained linguist which may point to a different author for these two books. This chapter looks at righteousness and our relationship with God. It describes the consequences of unrighteousness and contrast it with the rewards from righteous actions.




Wisdom 1 (NRSVCE)
Exhortation to Uprightness
1 Love righteousness, you rulers of the earth,
think of the Lord in goodness
and seek him with sincerity of heart;
2 because he is found by those who do not put him to the test,
and manifests himself to those who do not distrust him.
3 For perverse thoughts separate people from God,
and when his power is tested, it exposes the foolish;
4 because wisdom will not enter a deceitful soul,
or dwell in a body enslaved to sin.
5 For a holy and disciplined spirit will flee from deceit,
and will leave foolish thoughts behind,
and will be ashamed at the approach of unrighteousness.

6 For wisdom is a kindly spirit,
but will not free blasphemers from the guilt of their words;
because God is witness of their inmost feelings,
and a true observer of their hearts, and a hearer of their tongues.
7 Because the spirit of the Lord has filled the world,
and that which holds all things together knows what is said,
8 therefore those who utter unrighteous things will not escape notice,
and justice, when it punishes, will not pass them by.
9 For inquiry will be made into the counsels of the ungodly,
and a report of their words will come to the Lord,
to convict them of their lawless deeds;
10 because a jealous ear hears all things,
and the sound of grumbling does not go unheard.
11 Beware then of useless grumbling,
and keep your tongue from slander;
because no secret word is without result,[a]
and a lying mouth destroys the soul.

12 Do not invite death by the error of your life,
or bring on destruction by the works of your hands;
13 because God did not make death,
and he does not delight in the death of the living.
14 For he created all things so that they might exist;
the generative forces[b] of the world are wholesome,
and there is no destructive poison in them,
and the dominion[c] of Hades is not on earth.
15 For righteousness is immortal.

Life as the Ungodly See It
16 But the ungodly by their words and deeds summoned death;[d]
considering him a friend, they pined away
and made a covenant with him,
because they are fit to belong to his company.

Make every effort to add to your faith goodness

2 Peter 1:5
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness

Goodness does not come automatically even for believers. The verse above requires us to add, which means a deliberate action is required to produce goodness. Where or how does the goodness comes from? By first having faith in Yshua, we get to know Him. We also know right and wrong from the Holy Spirit. After knowing, it requires conscious effort for us to do the right thing. Hence it is necessary to do our part, not for salvation, but in order to walk in God's ways.

For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either

After giving a stern assessment on the Israelites, Paul assures that God does not forget His covenant people. However, there will only be a remnant elected by grace. God let the Israelites fall so they will be provoked when the Gentiles get chosen by God.

Paul then switches to address the Gentiles. Basically Paul warns the gentiles not to be boastful because they are chosen over God's people the Israelites. God has not permanently rejected His people, only giving them a chance to come back. He uses the analogy of a gentiles being a foreign branch grafted onto a tree with holy root. He reminds the gentiles "Do not be haughty, but fear." God's people, the natural branches were cut off, but they can be grafted back in again. Also the gentiles who were grafted in can be cut-off too, if God can cut out even the natural branches.

Romans 11
Israel’s Rejection Not Total

1 I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, 3 “Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”?[a] 4 But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”[b] 5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace.[c] But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

7 What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. 8 Just as it is written:

“God has given them a spirit of stupor,
Eyes that they should not see
And ears that they should not hear,
To this very day.”[d]
9 And David says:

“Let their table become a snare and a trap,
A stumbling block and a recompense to them.
10 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see,
And bow down their back always.”[e]


Israel’s Rejection Not Final

11 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. 12 Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!

13 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. 15 For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

16 For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, 18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.

19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” 20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness,[f] if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved,[g] as it is written:

“The Deliverer will come out of Zion,
And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
27 For this is My covenant with them,
When I take away their sins.”[h]
28 Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, 31 even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.

33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!

34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has become His counselor?”[i]
35 “Or who has first given to Him
And it shall be repaid to him?”[j]
36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

Circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter

Paul teaches the following points:
- we cannot really judge each other because we are guilt ourselves.
- there is not partiality between the Jews and Gentiles.
- those who seek to do good are rewarded with glory, honour and immortality.
- those who reject God and are hard-hearted will be facing God's wrath.

Paul explains the judgment of people without the knowing God's law. They will face the same judgment. They have nature to testify of God and they have a conscience to tell them God's law. Paul also rebuked God's people who were supposed to keep the law. They have the knowledge and responsibility to testify to others about God with the law. But through their own behaviour, when they broke the law, and led to God being blasphemed among the Gentiles.

Paul uses circumcision to teach about obedient in the heart, not just outward appearance. Circumcision is one of the distinguishing features between a the Covenant people and the Gentiles. However Paul teaches that circumcision itself is no guarantee of the covenant or the right standing with God. In fact the Gentiles who obeys God is considered as one of the circumcised. In fact circumcision of the heart and in the Spirit is what really matters, not just physical circumcision. Paul thus rebukes God's people again for not being genuinely living out their faith.





Romans 2
God’s Righteous Judgment

1 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”:[a] 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.

12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law 13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; 14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.

The Jews Guilty as the Gentiles

17 Indeed[b] you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in God, 18 and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, 19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law. 21 You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? 22 You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? 24 For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,”[c] as it is written.

Circumcision of No Avail

25 For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? 27 And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law? 28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.

And Yet the Soul is Not Satisfied.

The author has made some wise observations that God has allowed some people to become wealthy yet does not get the opportunity to enjoy his wealth, instead it is being enjoyed by others. Another observations is that some people may have long life and many children, yet when they are not satisfied, then it is better for him not to be born. Such feelings may start off as vanity but will eventually lead to darkness. We can relate to these observations, and the message is powerful.
The second part talks about the vanity of man chasing something while he may have been predestined for another. This may not be a message about not being able to change the inevitable but more of being contended and thankful. Our efforts are likened to grasping for the wind, not realising that God is mightier than us and that we cannot go against Him.


Ecclesiastes 6
1 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: 2 A man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor, so that he lacks nothing for himself of all he desires; yet God does not give him power to eat of it, but a foreigner consumes it. This is vanity, and it is an evil affliction.

3 If a man begets a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with goodness, or indeed he has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better than he— 4 for it comes in vanity and departs in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness. 5 Though it has not seen the sun or known anything, this has more rest than that man, 6 even if he lives a thousand years twice—but has not seen goodness. Do not all go to one place?

7 All the labor of man is for his mouth,
And yet the soul is not satisfied.
8 For what more has the wise man than the fool?
What does the poor man have,
Who knows how to walk before the living?
9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire.
This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.
10 Whatever one is, he has been named already,
For it is known that he is man;
And he cannot contend with Him who is mightier than he.
11 Since there are many things that increase vanity,
How is man the better?
12 For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he passes like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will happen after him under the sun?

Do Not Love Sleep, Lest You Come To Poverty

There have been previous chapters including this one, which references a king in the sayings. Apart from a general king, this king may also be regarded as the King of Kings, our Lord. The verses in this chapter are:

2 The wrath[a] of a king is like the roaring of a lion; Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life.
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment, Scatters all evil with his eyes.
26 A wise king sifts out the wicked, And brings the threshing wheel over them.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king, And by lovingkindness he upholds his throne.

Some verses on our self-righteousness, which amounts to nothing:
6 Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man?

9 Who can say, “I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin”?

10 Diverse weights and diverse measures, They are both alike, an abomination to the Lord.
11 Even a child is known by his deeds, Whether what he does is pure and right.

Verses which warns against laziness:
4 The lazy man will not plow because of winter; He will beg during harvest and have nothing.
13 Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.



Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker,
Strong drink is a brawler,
And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

2 The wrath[a] of a king is like the roaring of a lion;
Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life.

3 It is honorable for a man to stop striving,
Since any fool can start a quarrel.

4 The lazy man will not plow because of winter;
He will beg during harvest and have nothing.

5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water,
But a man of understanding will draw it out.

6 Most men will proclaim each his own goodness,
But who can find a faithful man?

7 The righteous man walks in his integrity;
His children are blessed after him.

8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment
Scatters all evil with his eyes.

9 Who can say, “I have made my heart clean,
I am pure from my sin”?

10 Diverse weights and diverse measures,
They are both alike, an abomination to the Lord.

11 Even a child is known by his deeds,
Whether what he does is pure and right.

12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
The Lord has made them both.

13 Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty;
Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.

14 “It is good for nothing,”[b] cries the buyer;
But when he has gone his way, then he boasts.

15 There is gold and a multitude of rubies,
But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

16 Take the garment of one who is surety for a stranger,
And hold it as a pledge when it is for a seductress.

17 Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.

18 Plans are established by counsel;
By wise counsel wage war.

19 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets;
Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.

20 Whoever curses his father or his mother,
His lamp will be put out in deep darkness.

21 An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning
Will not be blessed at the end.

22 Do not say, “I will recompense evil”;
Wait for the Lord, and He will save you.

23 Diverse weights are an abomination to the Lord,
And dishonest scales are not good.

24 A man’s steps are of the Lord;
How then can a man understand his own way?

25 It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy,
And afterward to reconsider his vows.

26 A wise king sifts out the wicked,
And brings the threshing wheel over them.

27 The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord,
Searching all the inner depths of his heart.[c]

28 Mercy and truth preserve the king,
And by lovingkindness he upholds his throne.

29 The glory of young men is their strength,
And the splendor of old men is their gray head.

30 Blows that hurt cleanse away evil,
As do stripes the inner depths of the heart.[d]

Then You Will Understand the Fear of the Lord

The proverbs are given like wisdom given by a father to a son. Here the advice to the son starts by ensuring the son seeks wisdom first. And by gaining knowledge the son will understand the fear of the Lord. God is the one who gives wisdom, so that His children can understand His attributes such as righteousness, justice, and all that is good.

Wisdom can be in our spirit, then our soul will embrace its knowledge. It results in discretion and understanding and keep us from walking in the evil way.

Wisdom in our spirit is able to keep us away from those who pursue evil and may those who try to lead us into their wicked ways. Wisdom in our spirit can keep us away from being tempted - the illustration is that of the immoral woman as the temptress. The stern warning is that those who fall to such temptation, without wisdom in them, are unable to regain their paths.

In summary, wisdom is to keep us walking in goodness and righteousness, to be upright and blameless. The consequence of walking in the wicked and unfaithful ways is to be separated from God.


Proverbs 2
The Value of Wisdom

1 My son, if you receive my words,
And treasure my commands within you,
2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom,
And apply your heart to understanding;
3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment,
And lift up your voice for understanding,
4 If you seek her as silver,
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
5 Then you will understand the fear of the Lord,
And find the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;
8 He guards the paths of justice,
And preserves the way of His saints.
9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice,
Equity and every good path.
10 When wisdom enters your heart,
And knowledge is pleasant to your soul,
11 Discretion will preserve you;
Understanding will keep you,
12 To deliver you from the way of evil,
From the man who speaks perverse things,
13 From those who leave the paths of uprightness
To walk in the ways of darkness;
14 Who rejoice in doing evil,
And delight in the perversity of the wicked;
15 Whose ways are crooked,
And who are devious in their paths;
16 To deliver you from the immoral woman,
From the seductress who flatters with her words,
17 Who forsakes the companion of her youth,
And forgets the covenant of her God.
18 For her house leads down to death,
And her paths to the dead;
19 None who go to her return,
Nor do they regain the paths of life—
20 So you may walk in the way of goodness,
And keep to the paths of righteousness.
21 For the upright will dwell in the land,
And the blameless will remain in it;
22 But the wicked will be cut off from the earth,
And the unfaithful will be uprooted from it.

And All Flesh Shall Bless His Holy Name

David the psalmist praise God for His greatness and majesty. Perhaps more than just the works of creation, David was also praising God for His goodness, righteousness, compassion, mercy, patience. David describes God's rule as everlasting from generation to generation all would know His greatness. This is a God who provides, protects and forms a relationship with those who call on him honestly, who feat Him and who love Him.


Psalm 145
A Song of God’s Majesty and Love
A Praise of David.

1 I will extol You, my God, O King;
And I will bless Your name forever and ever.

2 Every day I will bless You,
And I will praise Your name forever and ever.

3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
And His greatness is unsearchable.

4 One generation shall praise Your works to another,
And shall declare Your mighty acts.

5 I[a] will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty,
And on Your wondrous works.[b]

6 Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts,
And I will declare Your greatness.

7 They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness,
And shall sing of Your righteousness.

8 The Lord is gracious and full of compassion,
Slow to anger and great in mercy.

9 The Lord is good to all,
And His tender mercies are over all His works.

10 All Your works shall praise You, O Lord,
And Your saints shall bless You.

11 They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom,
And talk of Your power,

12 To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts,
And the glorious majesty of His kingdom.

13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.[c]

14 The Lord upholds all who fall,
And raises up all who are bowed down.

15 The eyes of all look expectantly to You,
And You give them their food in due season.

16 You open Your hand
And satisfy the desire of every living thing.

17 The Lord is righteous in all His ways,
Gracious in all His works.

18 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.

19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He also will hear their cry and save them.
20 The Lord preserves all who love Him,
But all the wicked He will destroy.

21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord,
And all flesh shall bless His holy name
Forever and ever.

Sovereignty of the LORD in Creation and History

This psalm leads the praise of the LORD reminding that God delights in prayers from the righteous (faithful) and the the LORD himself is righteous and just. The WORD of God, which is God, and who made the universe, is righteous. The psalm speaks of the Almightiness of God and the nations and kings are nothing in comparison. This psalm reminds us of the majesty of God, creator of the universe, and one who decides on the fate of the nations and kings. We should rejoice at the Almighty, at his mercy and place our trust in Him.

One memorable verse that reminds the nations is: "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD".

Psalm 33

The Sovereignty of the LORD in Creation and History

 1 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous!
         For praise from the upright is beautiful.
 2 Praise the LORD with the harp;
         Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings.
 3 Sing to Him a new song;
         Play skillfully with a shout of joy.
       
 4 For the word of the LORD is right,
         And all His work is done in truth.
 5 He loves righteousness and justice;
         The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.
       
 6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
         And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.
 7 He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap;[a]
         He lays up the deep in storehouses.
       
 8 Let all the earth fear the LORD;
         Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
 9 For He spoke, and it was done;
         He commanded, and it stood fast.
       
 10 The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
         He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.
 11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
         The plans of His heart to all generations.
 12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
         The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.
       
 13 The LORD looks from heaven;
         He sees all the sons of men.
 14 From the place of His dwelling He looks
         On all the inhabitants of the earth;
 15 He fashions their hearts individually;
         He considers all their works.
       
 16 No king is saved by the multitude of an army;
         A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.
 17 A horse is a vain hope for safety;
         Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength.
       
 18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him,
         On those who hope in His mercy,
 19 To deliver their soul from death,
         And to keep them alive in famine.
       
 20 Our soul waits for the LORD;
         He is our help and our shield.
 21 For our heart shall rejoice in Him,
         Because we have trusted in His holy name.
 22 Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us,
         Just as we hope in You.

Turning to God in Trouble; Gratefulness to God

David encourages his readers or hearers to turn to God when they are in trouble. God will not only save us but will rejoice in our salvation. God is dependable when we call on him in need.

David describes the thankfulness and gratefulness of one who has been blessed so much by the LORD. Gratefulness for the strength and salvation given by God. The king whom David describes is most likely himself but the expression of gratefulness can be applied to anyone.


Psalm 21

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

 1 The king shall have joy in Your strength, O LORD;
         And in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
 2 You have given him his heart’s desire,
         And have not withheld the request of his lips.  Selah
       
 3 For You meet him with the blessings of goodness;
         You set a crown of pure gold upon his head.
 4 He asked life from You, and You gave it to him—
         Length of days forever and ever.
 5 His glory is great in Your salvation;
         Honor and majesty You have placed upon him.
 6 For You have made him most blessed forever;
         You have made him exceedingly glad with Your presence.
 7 For the king trusts in the LORD,
         And through the mercy of the Most High he shall not be moved.
       
 8 Your hand will find all Your enemies;
         Your right hand will find those who hate You.
 9 You shall make them as a fiery oven in the time of Your anger;
         The LORD shall swallow them up in His wrath,
         And the fire shall devour them.
 10 Their offspring You shall destroy from the earth,
         And their descendants from among the sons of men.
 11 For they intended evil against You;
         They devised a plot which they are not able to perform.
 12 Therefore You will make them turn their back;
         You will make ready Your arrows on Your string toward their faces.
       
 13 Be exalted, O LORD, in Your own strength!
         We will sing and praise Your power.


Psalm 20

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

 1 May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble;
         May the name of the God of Jacob defend you;
 2 May He send you help from the sanctuary,
         And strengthen you out of Zion;
 3 May He remember all your offerings,
         And accept your burnt sacrifice.  Selah
       
 4 May He grant you according to your heart’s desire,
         And fulfill all your purpose.
 5 We will rejoice in your salvation,
         And in the name of our God we will set up our banners!
         May the LORD fulfill all your petitions.
       
 6 Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed;
         He will answer him from His holy heaven
         With the saving strength of His right hand.
       
 7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses;
         But we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
 8 They have bowed down and fallen;
         But we have risen and stand upright.
       
 9 Save, LORD!
         May the King answer us when we call.