danger

¹²The discerning man, seeing evil, hides himself. The little ones, continuing on, sustain losses.

³The clever saw evil and hid himself. The innocent continued on and was afflicted with damage.

⁴For, even if I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evils. For you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they have given me consolation.

¹⁶The wise fear, and so turn away from evil. The foolish leap ahead with confidence.

⁸Be sober and vigilant. For your adversary, the devil, is like a roaring lion, traveling around and seeking those whom he might devour.

¹The Praise of a Canticle, of David. Whoever dwells with the assistance of the Most High will abide in the protection of the God of heaven. ²He will say to the Lord, “You are my supporter and my refuge.” My God, I will hope in him. ³For he has freed me from the snare of those who go hunting, and from the harsh word. ⁴He will overshadow you with his shoulders, and you will hope under his wings. ⁵His truth will surround you with a shield. You will not be afraid: before the terror of the night, ⁶before the arrow flying in the day, before the troubles that wander in the darkness, nor of invasion and the midday demon.

³I will hope in him. God is my strong one, my shield, and the horn of my salvation. He lifts me up, and he is my refreshment. You, O my Savior, will free me from iniquity. ⁴I will call upon the Lord, who is praiseworthy; and I will be saved from my enemies.

⁷The Lord guards you from all evil. May the Lord guard your soul. ⁸May the Lord guard your entrance and your exit, from this time forward and even forever.

²Our God is our refuge and strength, a helper in the tribulations that have greatly overwhelmed us.

¹And know this: that in the last days perilous times will press near. ²Men will be lovers of themselves, greedy, self-exalting, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, wicked, ³without affection, without peace, false accusers, unchaste, cruel, without kindness, ⁴traitorous, reckless, self-important, loving pleasure more than God, ⁵even having the appearance of piety while rejecting its virtue. And so, avoid them.

³⁴But be attentive to yourselves, lest perhaps your hearts may be weighed down by self-indulgence and inebriation and the cares of this life. And then that day may overwhelm you suddenly. ³⁵For like a snare it will overwhelm all those who sit upon the face of the entire earth. ³⁶And so, be vigilant, praying at all times, so that you may be held worthy to escape from all these things, which are in the future, and to stand before the Son of man.”

²⁸And do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. But instead fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell.

²⁵Do not fear unexpected terror, nor the power of the impious falling upon you. ²⁶For the Lord will be at your side, and he will guard your feet, so that you may not be seized.