^{1 Ref} My son! my law forget not, And my commands let thy heart keep,

^{2 Ref} For length of days and years, Life and peace they do add to thee.

^{3 Ref} Let not kindness and truth forsake thee, Bind them on thy neck, Write them on the tablet of thy heart,

^{4 Ref} And find grace and good understanding In the eyes of God and man.

^{5 Ref} Trust unto Jehovah with all thy heart, And unto thine own understanding lean not.

^{6 Ref} In all thy ways know thou Him, And He doth make straight thy paths.

^{7 Ref} Be not wise in thine own eyes, Fear Jehovah, and turn aside from evil.

^{8 Ref} Healing it is to thy navel, And moistening to thy bones.

^{9 Ref} Honour Jehovah from thy substance, And from the beginning of all thine increase;

^{10 Ref} And filled are thy barns `with' plenty, And `with' new wine thy presses break forth.

^{11 Ref} Chastisement of Jehovah, my son, despise not, And be not vexed with His reproof,

^{12 Ref} For whom Jehovah loveth He reproveth, Even as a father the son He is pleased with.

^{13 Ref} O the happiness of a man `who' hath found wisdom, And of a man `who' bringeth forth understanding.

^{14 Ref} For better `is' her merchandise Than the merchandise of silver, And than gold -- her increase.

^{15 Ref} Precious she `is' above rubies, And all thy pleasures are not comparable to her.

^{16 Ref} Length of days `is' in her right hand, In her left `are' wealth and honour.

^{17 Ref} Her ways `are' ways of pleasantness, And all her paths `are' peace.

^{18 Ref} A tree of life she `is' to those laying hold on her, And whoso is retaining her `is' happy.

^{19 Ref} Jehovah by wisdom did found the earth, He prepared the heavens by understanding.

^{20 Ref} By His knowledge depths have been rent, And clouds do drop dew.

^{21 Ref} My son! let them not turn from thine eyes, Keep thou wisdom and thoughtfulness,

^{22 Ref} And they are life to thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

^{23 Ref} Then thou goest thy way confidently, And thy foot doth not stumble.

^{24 Ref} If thou liest down, thou art not afraid, Yea, thou hast lain down, And sweet hath been thy sleep.

^{25 Ref} Be not afraid of sudden fear, And of the desolation of the wicked when it cometh.

^{26 Ref} For Jehovah is at thy side, And He hath kept thy foot from capture.

^{27 Ref} Withhold not good from its owners, When thy hand `is' toward God to do `it'.

^{28 Ref} Say not thou to thy friend, `Go, and return, and to-morrow I give,' And substance with thee.

^{29 Ref} Devise not against thy neighbour evil, And he sitting confidently with thee.

^{30 Ref} Strive not with a man without cause, If he have not done thee evil.

^{31 Ref} Be not envious of a man of violence, Nor fix thou on any of his ways.

^{32 Ref} For an abomination to Jehovah `is' the perverted, And with the upright `is' His secret counsel.

^{33 Ref} The curse of Jehovah `is' in the house of the wicked. And the habitation of the righteous He blesseth.

^{34 Ref} If the scorners He doth scorn, Yet to the humble He doth give grace.

^{35 Ref} Honour do the wise inherit, And fools are bearing away shame!

^{1 Ref} My son, don't forget my teaching; But let your heart keep my commandments:

^{2 Ref} For length of days, and years of life, And peace, will they add to you.

^{3 Ref} Don't let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.

^{4 Ref} So you will find favor, And good understanding in the sight of God and man.

^{5 Ref} Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, And don't lean on your own understanding.

^{6 Ref} In all your ways acknowledge him, And he will direct your paths.

^{7 Ref} Don't be wise in your own eyes. Fear Yahweh, and depart from evil.

^{8 Ref} It will be health to your body, And nourishment to your bones.

^{9 Ref} Honor Yahweh with your substance, With the first fruits of all your increase:

^{10 Ref} So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.

^{11 Ref} My son, don't despise Yahweh's discipline, Neither be weary of his reproof:

^{12 Ref} For whom Yahweh loves, he reproves; Even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.

^{13 Ref} Happy is the man who finds wisdom, The man who gets understanding.

^{14 Ref} For her good profit is better than getting silver, And her return is better than fine gold.

^{15 Ref} She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her.

^{16 Ref} Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor.

^{17 Ref} Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace.

^{18 Ref} She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her.

^{19 Ref} By wisdom Yahweh founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens.

^{20 Ref} By his knowledge, the depths were broken up, And the skies drop down the dew.

^{21 Ref} My son, let them not depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion:

^{22 Ref} So they will be life to your soul, And grace for your neck.

^{23 Ref} Then you shall walk in your way securely. Your foot won't stumble.

^{24 Ref} When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.

^{25 Ref} Don't be afraid of sudden fear, Neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes:

^{26 Ref} For Yahweh will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being taken.

^{27 Ref} Don't withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do it.

^{28 Ref} Don't say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again, Tomorrow I will give it to you," When you have it by you.

^{29 Ref} Don't devise evil against your neighbor, Seeing he dwells securely by you.

^{30 Ref} Don't strive with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm.

^{31 Ref} Don't envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways.

^{32 Ref} For the perverse is an abomination to Yahweh, But his friendship is with the upright.

^{33 Ref} Yahweh's curse is in the house of the wicked, But he blesses the habitation of the righteous.

^{34 Ref} Surely he mocks the mockers, But he gives grace to the humble.

^{35 Ref} The wise will inherit glory, But shame will be the promotion of fools.

^{1 Ref} My son, keep my teaching in your memory, and my rules in your heart:

^{2 Ref} For they will give you increase of days, years of life, and peace.

^{3 Ref} Let not mercy and good faith go from you; let them be hanging round your neck, recorded on your heart;

^{4 Ref} So you will have grace and a good name in the eyes of God and men.

^{5 Ref} Put all your hope in God, not looking to your reason for support.

^{6 Ref} In all your ways give ear to him, and he will make straight your footsteps.

^{7 Ref} Put no high value on your wisdom: let the fear of the Lord be before you, and keep yourself from evil:

^{8 Ref} This will give strength to your flesh, and new life to your bones.

^{9 Ref} Give honour to the Lord with your wealth, and with the first-fruits of all your increase:

^{10 Ref} So your store-houses will be full of grain, and your vessels overflowing with new wine.

^{11 Ref} My son, do not make your heart hard against the Lord's teaching; do not be made angry by his training:

^{12 Ref} For to those who are dear to him the Lord says sharp words, and makes the son in whom he has delight undergo pain.

^{13 Ref} Happy is the man who makes discovery of wisdom, and he who gets knowledge.

^{14 Ref} For trading in it is better than trading in silver, and its profit greater than bright gold.

^{15 Ref} She is of more value than jewels, and nothing for which you may have a desire is fair in comparison with her.

^{16 Ref} Long life is in her right hand, and in her left are wealth and honour.

^{17 Ref} Her ways are ways of delight, and all her goings are peace.

^{18 Ref} She is a tree of life to all who take her in their hands, and happy is everyone who keeps her.

^{19 Ref} The Lord by wisdom put in position the bases of the earth; by reason he put the heavens in their place.

^{20 Ref} By his knowledge the deep was parted, and dew came dropping from the skies.

^{21 Ref} My son, keep good sense, and do not let wise purpose go from your eyes.

^{22 Ref} So they will be life for your soul, and grace for your neck.

^{23 Ref} Then you will go safely on your way, and your feet will have no cause for slipping.

^{24 Ref} When you take your rest you will have no fear, and on your bed sleep will be sweet to you.

^{25 Ref} Have no fear of sudden danger, or of the storm which will come on evil-doers:

^{26 Ref} For the Lord will be your hope, and will keep your foot from being taken in the net.

^{27 Ref} Do not keep back good from those who have a right to it, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.

^{28 Ref} Say not to your neighbour, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when you have it by you at the time.

^{29 Ref} Do not make evil designs against your neighbour, when he is living with you without fear.

^{30 Ref} Do not take up a cause at law against a man for nothing, if he has done you no wrong.

^{31 Ref} Have no envy of the violent man, or take any of his ways as an example.

^{32 Ref} For the wrong-hearted man is hated by the Lord, but he is a friend to the upright.

^{33 Ref} The curse of the Lord is on the house of the evil-doer, but his blessing is on the tent of the upright.

^{34 Ref} He makes sport of the men of pride, but he gives grace to the gentle-hearted.

^{35 Ref} The wise will have glory for their heritage, but shame will be the reward of the foolish.