12 He saved me from evil of every kind and preserved me in time of trouble. For this reason I thank him and I praise him; I bless the name of the LORD.
13 When I was young and innocent, I sought wisdom.
14 She came to me in her beauty, and until the end I will cultivate her.
15 As the blossoms yielded to ripening grapes, the heart’s joy, My feet kept to the level path because from earliest youth I was familiar with her.
16 In the short time I paid heed, I met with great instruction.
17 Since in this way I have profited, I will give my teacher grateful praise.
18 I became resolutely devoted to her– the good I persistently strove for.
19 I burned with desire for her, never turning back. I became preoccupied with her, never weary of extolling her. My hand opened her gate and I came to know her secrets.
20 For her I purified my hands; in cleanness I attained to her. At first acquaintance with her, I gained understanding such that I will never forsake her.
27 They returned once more to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple area, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders approached him
28 and said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do them?”
29 Jesus said to them, “I shall ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.
30 Was John’s baptism of heavenly or of human origin? Answer me.”
31 They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say, ‘(Then) why did you not believe him?’
32 But shall we say, ‘Of human origin’?”–they feared the crowd, for they all thought John really was a prophet.
33 So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” Then Jesus said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
