נָצַר

…maintaining loving devotion to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers on their children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”

He found him in a desert land, in a barren, howling wilderness; He surrounded him, He instructed him, He guarded him as the apple of His eye.

He said of his father and mother, ‘I do not consider them.’ He disregarded his brothers and did not know his own sons, for he kept Your word and maintained Your covenant.

The Israelites secretly did things against the LORD their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city, they built high places in all their cities.

He defeated the Philistines as far as Gaza and its borders, from watchtower to fortified city.

If I have sinned, what have I done to You, O watcher of mankind? Why have You made me Your target, so that I am a burden to You?

The house he built is like a moth’s cocoon, like a hut set up by a watchman.

You, O LORD, will keep us; You will forever guard us from this generation.

All the LORD’s ways are loving and faithful to those who keep His covenant and His decrees.

May integrity and uprightness preserve me, because I wait for You.

Love the LORD, all His saints. The LORD preserves the faithful, but fully repays the arrogant.

You are my hiding place. You protect me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah

Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech.

O LORD, do not withhold Your mercy from me; Your loving devotion and faithfulness will always guard me.

May he sit enthroned in God’s presence forever; appoint Your loving devotion and Your faithfulness to guard him.

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Hear, O God, my voice of complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy.

…that they should put their confidence in God, not forgetting His works, but keeping His commandments.

…that they might keep His statutes and obey His laws. Hallelujah!

Blessed are those who keep His testimonies and seek Him with all their heart.

Remove my scorn and contempt, for I have kept Your testimonies.

Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, and I will keep them to the end.

Give me understanding that I may obey Your law, and follow it with all my heart.

This is my practice, for I obey Your precepts.

Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, I keep Your precepts with all my heart.

I discern more than the elders, for I obey Your precepts.

Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may obey the commandments of my God.

Wonderful are Your testimonies; therefore I obey them.

I call with all my heart; answer me, O LORD! I will obey Your statutes.

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men. Protect me from men of violence,

Guard me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked. Keep me safe from men of violence who scheme to make me stumble.

Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips.

…to guard the paths of justice and protect the way of His saints.

Discretion will watch over you, and understanding will guard you,

My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;

My son, do not lose sight of this: Preserve sound judgment and discernment.

Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you.

Hold on to instruction; do not let go. Guard it, for it is your life.

Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.

…that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge.

My son, keep your father’s commandment, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.

Then a woman came out to meet him, with the attire of a harlot and cunning of heart.

He who guards his mouth protects his life, but the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.

Righteousness guards the man of integrity, but wickedness undermines the sinner.

The highway of the upright leads away from evil; he who guards his way protects his life.

Loving devotion and faithfulness preserve a king; by these he maintains his throne.

The LORD’s eyes keep watch over knowledge, but He frustrates the words of the faithless.

If you say, “Behold, we did not know about this,” does not He who weighs hearts consider it? Does not the One who guards your life know? Will He not repay a man according to his deeds?

Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored.

A discerning son keeps the law, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.

And the Daughter of Zion is abandoned like a shelter in a vineyard, like a shack in a cucumber field, like a city besieged.