Then the Lord said to Satan,“Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.”

—JOB 2:3

The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one Shepherd. Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body. —ECCLESIASTES 12:11–12

Why do the nations say,“Where is their God?” Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. —PSALM 115:2–3

Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward and speak lies. — PSALM 58:3

The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began. When there were no oceans , I was given birth, when there were no springs abounding with water; before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth, before he made the earth or its fields or any of the dust of the world.

— PROVERBS 8 : 2 2 – 2 6

You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. —PSALM 18:28

It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them. —PSALM 44:3

WALKING THE STRAIGHT PATH

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. —PSALM 1:1–2

A MATTER OF FAITH

For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

—PSALM 139:13–14

RETURNING TO THE ORIGINAL STORY LINE

The highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth he has given to man. It is not the dead who praise the Lord, those who go down to silence; it is we who extol the Lord, both now and forevermore. Praise the Lord.

—PSALM 115:16–18