^{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!