¹ My son, do not forget my teaching,
But let your heart keep my commandments; ² For length of days and years of life
And peace they will add to you. ³ Do not let kindness and truth leave you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart. ⁴ So you will find favor and good repute
In the sight of God and man. ⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding. ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight. ⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. ⁸ It will be healing to your body
And refreshment to your bones. ⁹ Honor the LORD from your wealth
And from the first of all your produce; ¹⁰ So your barns will be filled with plenty
And your vats will overflow with new wine. ¹¹ My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD
Or loathe His reproof, ¹² For whom the LORD loves He reproves,
Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights. ¹³ How blessed is the man who finds wisdom
And the man who gains understanding. ¹⁴ For her profit is better than the profit of silver
And her gain better than fine gold. ¹⁵ She is more precious than jewels;
And nothing you desire compares with her. ¹⁶ Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are riches and honor. ¹⁷ Her ways are pleasant ways
And all her paths are peace. ¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who hold her fast. ¹⁹ The LORD by wisdom founded the earth,
By understanding He established the heavens. ²⁰ By His knowledge the deeps were broken up
And the skies drip with dew. ²¹ My son, let them not vanish from your sight;
Keep sound wisdom and discretion, ²² So they will be life to your soul
And adornment to your neck. ²³ Then you will walk in your way securely
And your foot will not stumble. ²⁴ When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. ²⁵ Do not be afraid of sudden fear
Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes; ²⁶ For the LORD will be your confidence
And will keep your foot from being caught. ²⁷ Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
When it is in your power to do it. ²⁸ Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it,”
When you have it with you. ²⁹ Do not devise harm against your neighbor,
While he lives securely beside you. ³⁰ Do not contend with a man without cause,
If he has done you no harm. ³¹ Do not envy a man of violence
And do not choose any of his ways. ³² For the devious are an abomination to the LORD;
But He is intimate with the upright. ³³ The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked,
But He blesses the dwelling of the righteous. ³⁴ Though He scoffs at the scoffers,
Yet He gives grace to the afflicted. ³⁵ The wise will inherit honor,
But fools display dishonor.