1 M y son, forget not my law; But let thy heart keep my commandments:

My son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep my commandments;

2 F or length of days, and years of life, And peace, will they add to thee.

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

3 L et not kindness and truth forsake thee: Bind them about thy neck; Write them upon the tablet of thy heart:

Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.

4 S o shalt thou find favor and good understanding In the sight of God and man.

So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man.

5 T rust in Jehovah with all thy heart, And lean not upon thine own understanding:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.

6 I n all thy ways acknowledge him, And he will direct thy paths.

In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

7 B e not wise in thine own eyes; Fear Jehovah, and depart from evil:

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

8 I t will be health to thy navel, And marrow to thy bones.

It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones.

9 H onor Jehovah with thy substance, And with the first-fruits of all thine increase:

Honor the Lord from your wealth And from the first of all your produce;

10 S o shall thy barns be filled with plenty, And thy vats shall overflow 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 Jehovah; Neither be weary of his reproof:

My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord Or loathe His reproof,

12 F or whom Jehovah loveth he reproveth; Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

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

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

How blessed is the man who finds wisdom And the man who gains understanding.

14 F or the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver, And the profit thereof than fine gold.

For her profit is better than the profit of silver And her gain better than fine gold.

15 S he is more precious than rubies: And none of the things thou canst desire are to be compared unto her.

She is more precious than jewels; And nothing you desire compares with her.

16 L ength of days is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor.

Long life is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor.

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

Her ways are pleasant ways 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 hold her fast.

19 J ehovah by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding he established the heavens.

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

20 B y his knowledge the depths were broken up, And the skies drop down the dew.

By His knowledge the deeps were broken up And the skies drip with dew.

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

My son, let them not vanish from your sight; 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 adornment to your neck.

23 T hen shalt thou walk in thy way securely, And thy foot shall not stumble.

Then you will walk in your way securely 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; When you lie down, 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 fear Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes;

26 F or Jehovah will be thy confidence, And will 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 thy hand to do it.

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

28 S ay not unto thy neighbor, 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 neighbor, Seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.

Do not devise harm against your neighbor, While he lives securely beside you.

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

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

31 E nvy thou not the man of violence, And choose none of his ways.

Do not envy a man of violence And do not choose any of his ways.

32 F or the perverse is an abomination to Jehovah; But his friendship is with the upright.

For the devious are an abomination to the Lord; But He is intimate with the upright.

33 T he curse of Jehovah is in the house of the wicked; But he blesseth the habitation of the righteous.

The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the dwelling of the righteous.

34 S urely he scoffeth at the scoffers; But he giveth grace unto the lowly.

Though He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet He gives grace to the afflicted.

35 T he wise shall inherit glory; But shame shall be the promotion of fools.

The wise will inherit honor, But fools display dishonor.