Saturday, April 6th, 2024

Greetings and salutations on another day above ground, dear Reader, and welcome to this obscure little blog. I slept in today and the Sun is already shining in all of its brilliant glory here in the great American Southwest. 💜
I woke up with this Scripture on my heart:

So,  naturally, we had to listen to this!

Here is all of Psalm 113 (from the NKJV today):
The Majesty and Condescension of God

113 Praise[a] the Lord!

Praise, O servants of the Lord,

Praise the name of the Lord!

2 Blessed be the name of the Lord

From this time forth and forevermore!

3 From the rising of the sun to its going down

The Lord’s name is to be praised.

4 The Lord is high above all nations,

His glory above the heavens.

5 Who is like the Lord our God,

Who dwells on high,

6 Who humbles Himself to behold

The things that are in the heavens and in the earth?

7 He raises the poor out of the dust,

And lifts the needy out of the ash heap,

8 That He may seat him with princes—

With the princes of His people.

9 He grants the [b]barren woman a home,

Like a joyful mother of children.

Praise the Lord!

Footnotes

Psalm 113:1 Heb. Hallelujah

Psalm 113:9 childless

And here are words of Life from the Book of Wisdom. Proverbs 6, NKJV, full text (highlighted):

Dangerous Promises

6 My son, if you become [a]surety for your friend,

If you have [b]shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,

2 You are snared by the words of your mouth;

You are taken by the words of your mouth.

3 So do this, my son, and deliver yourself;

For you have come into the hand of your friend:

Go and humble yourself;

Plead with your friend.

4 Give no sleep to your eyes,

Nor slumber to your eyelids.

5 Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,

And like a bird from the hand of the [c]fowler.

The Folly of Indolence

6 Go to the ant, you sluggard!

Consider her ways and be wise,

7 Which, having no [d]captain,

Overseer or ruler,

8 Provides her [e]supplies in the summer,

And gathers her food in the harvest.

9 How long will you [f]slumber, O sluggard?

When will you rise from your sleep?

10 A little sleep, a little slumber,

A little folding of the hands to sleep—

11 So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler,

And your need like an armed man.

The Wicked Man

12 A worthless person, a wicked man,

Walks with a perverse mouth;

13 He winks with his eyes,

He [g]shuffles his feet,

He points with his fingers;

14 Perversity is in his heart,

He devises evil continually,

He sows discord.

15 Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly;

Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy.

16 These six things the Lord hates,

Yes, seven are an abomination to [h]Him:

17 A[i] proud look,

A lying tongue,

Hands that shed innocent blood,

18 A heart that devises wicked plans,

Feet that are swift in running to evil,

19 A false witness who speaks lies,

And one who sows discord among brethren.

Beware of Adultery

20 My son, keep your father’s command,

And do not forsake the law of your mother.

21 Bind them continually upon your heart;

Tie them around your neck.

22 When you roam, [j]they will lead you;

When you sleep, they will keep you;

And when you awake, they will speak with you.

23 For the commandment is a lamp,

And the law a light;

Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,

24 To keep you from the evil woman,

From the flattering tongue of a seductress.

25 Do not lust after her beauty in your heart,

Nor let her allure you with her eyelids.

26 For by means of a harlot

A man is reduced to a crust of bread;

And [k]an adulteress will prey upon his precious life.

27 Can a man take fire to his bosom,

And his clothes not be burned?

28 Can one walk on hot coals,

And his feet not be seared?

29 So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife;

Whoever touches her shall not be innocent.

30 People do not despise a thief

If he steals to satisfy himself when he is starving.

31 Yet when he is found, he must restore sevenfold;

He may have to give up all the substance of his house.

32 Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding;

He who does so destroys his own soul.

33 Wounds and dishonor he will get,

And his reproach will not be wiped away.

34 For jealousy is a husband’s fury;

Therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

35 He will [l]accept no recompense,

Nor will he be appeased though you give many gifts.

Footnotes

Proverbs 6:1 guaranty or collateral

Proverbs 6:1 Lit. struck

Proverbs 6:5 One who catches birds in a trap or snare

Proverbs 6:7 Lit. leader

Proverbs 6:8 Lit. bread

Proverbs 6:9 Lit. lie down

Proverbs 6:13 gives signals, lit. scrapes

Proverbs 6:16 Lit. His soul

Proverbs 6:17 Lit. Haughty eyes

Proverbs 6:22 Lit. it

Proverbs 6:26 Wife of another, lit. a man’s wife

Proverbs 6:35 Lit. lift up the face of any