1 M y son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands;

2 f or length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you.

3 L et not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,

4 s o shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.

5 T rust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;

6 I n all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

7 B e not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.

8 I t shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.

9 H onour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase;

10 s o shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.

11 M y son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:

My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His correction;

12 f or whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.

13 H appy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding;

14 F or the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold.

15 S he is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.

16 L ength of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

Length of days is in her right hand, In her left hand riches and honor.

17 H er ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace.

18 S he is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who retain her.

19 T he Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding He established the heavens;

20 B y his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

By His knowledge the depths were broken up, And clouds drop down the dew.

21 M y son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:

My son, let them not depart from your eyes— Keep sound wisdom and discretion;

22 s o shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

So they will be life to your soul And grace to your neck.

23 T hen shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.

Then you will walk safely in your way, And your foot will not stumble.

24 W hen thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.

25 B e not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.

Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;

26 F or the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

For the Lord will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught.

27 W ithhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so.

28 S ay not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.

Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it, ” When you have it with you.

29 D evise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.

Do not devise evil against your neighbor, For he dwells by you for safety’s sake.

30 S trive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

Do not strive with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm.

31 E nvy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.

Do not envy the oppressor, And choose none of his ways;

32 F or the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous.

For the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord, But His secret counsel is with the upright.

33 T he curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.

The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the home of the just.

34 S urely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.

Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble.

35 T he wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

The wise shall inherit glory, But shame shall be the legacy of fools.