My lover spoke and said to me,“Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come with me. See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land . . .Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.”

— SONG OF SONGS 2:10–13

Jerusalem has sinned greatly and so has become unclean. All who honored her despise her, for they have seen her nakedness; she herself groans and turns away. —LAMENTATIONS 1:8

If you say , “But we knew nothing about this, ” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?

—PROVERBS 24:12

Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand.

—JOB 38:4

Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?...“I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion.To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. ” —PROVERBS 8:1,12–13

The length of our days is seventy years—or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

—PSALM 90:10

But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads:“He trusts in the Lord; let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.”

—PSALM 22:6–8

Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God’s wonders. . . . Tell us what we should say to him; we cannot draw up our case because of our darkness. . . .Out of the north he comes in golden splendor; God comes in awesome majesty....Therefore, men revere him, for does he not have regard for all the wise in heart? —JOB 37:14, 19, 22, 24

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. —PROVERBS 3:3–4

You are God my stronghold. Why have you rejected me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy? Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.

—PSALM 43:2–3