One of the best-loved passages in all the Bible is Psalm 23. Its simple affirmation of complete trust and confidence in God has inspired countless men and women from generation to generation. See "The Lord is my shepherd."

The book of Psalms can be one of the most effective tools in building your relationship with God. If you feel your prayer life is in decline, read the Psalms. They are the emotional outpourings of people in a host of different situations. They are "a treasury of experiences accumulated by generations of people who lived in the region where the cradle of our own civilization stood." Reading their prayers can help your rejuvenate your prayer life. See Psalms: when you talk to God

For thousands of years, God-fearing women have looked to the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31 as their ideal. This poem was traditionally recited in the Jewish home every week on the eve of the Sabbath. But what about today's woman? Of what value can this ancient poem be to the diverse, complex life-styles of contemporary women? It is more relevant than you might at first expect. One of our most popular articles! Proverbs 31: Portrait of a godly woman.

Ecclesiastes gives a wealth of advice about how to make the most of this life. Yet a despairing emptiness pervades the book. Ironically, this is its greatest contribution. Ecclesiastes highlights the need we all have for something beyond anything this physical life can offer. See Ecclesiastes: The Voice of Experience  

Song of Songs speaks of the power of sexual love. For those who are married, this book has special meaning: Marriage is not a covenant of unwilling obligation, it is a covenant of unbounded joy.  See Exploring the Song of Songs. You can read the article even if you're not married.