1 M y son, forget not my teaching, and let thy heart observe my commandments;

My son, do not forget my teaching. Let your heart keep my words.

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

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

3 L et not loving-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. Tie them around your neck. Write them upon your heart.

4 a nd thou shalt find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

So you will find favor and good understanding in the eyes of God and man.

5 C onfide in Jehovah with all thy heart, and lean not unto thine own intelligence;

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not trust in your own understanding.

6 i n all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will make plain thy paths.

Agree with Him in all your ways, 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 what is sinful.

8 i t shall be health for thy navel, and moisture for thy bones.

It will be healing to your body and medicine to your bones.

9 H onour Jehovah with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase;

Honor the Lord with your riches, and with the first of all you grow.

10 s o shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy vats shall overflow with new wine.

Then your store-houses will be filled with many good things and your barrels will flow over with new wine.

11 M y son, despise not the instruction of Jehovah, neither be weary of his chastisement;

My son, listen when the Lord punishes you. Do not give up when He tells you what you must do.

12 f or whom Jehovah loveth he chasteneth, even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

The Lord punishes everyone He loves. He whips every son He receives.

13 B lessed is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gets understanding.

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

For it is better than getting silver and fine gold.

15 S he is more precious than rubies; and all the things thou canst desire are not equal unto her.

She is worth more than stones of great worth. Nothing you can wish for compares with her.

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

Long life is in her right hand. Riches and honor are in her left hand.

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

Her ways are pleasing, and all her paths are peace.

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

She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her. Happy are all who hold her near.

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

The Lord built the earth by wisdom. He built the heavens by understanding.

20 B y his knowledge the deeps were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.

By what He knows, the seas were broken up and water falls from the sky.

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

My son, do not allow them to leave your eyes. Keep perfect wisdom and careful thinking.

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

And they will be life to your soul and a chain of beauty to your neck.

23 T hen shalt thou walk in thy way securely, and thy foot shall not stumble;

Then you will be safe as you walk on your way, and your foot will not trip.

24 w hen thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid, but thou shalt lie down and thy sleep shall be sweet.

You will not be afraid when you lie down. When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

25 B e not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the destruction of the wicked, when it cometh;

Do not be afraid of fear that comes all at once. And do not be afraid of the storm of the sinful when it comes.

26 f or Jehovah shall be thy confidence, and he will keep thy foot from being taken.

For the Lord will be your trust. He 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 keep good from those who should have it, when it is in your power to do it.

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 return tomorrow, and 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 plan for your neighbor to be hurt, while he trusts you enough to live beside you.

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

Do not fight with a man for no reason, when he has done you no wrong.

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

Do not be jealous of a man who hurts others, and do not choose any of his ways.

32 F or the perverse is an abomination to Jehovah; but his secret is with the upright.

For the bad man is hated by the Lord, but He is near to those who are right with Him.

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

The punishment of the Lord is on the house of the sinful, but He makes good come to the house of those who are right with Him.

34 H e indeed scorneth the scorners; but he giveth grace unto the lowly.

God makes fun of those who make fun of the truth but gives loving-favor to those who have no pride.

35 T he wise shall inherit glory; but shame shall be the promotion of the foolish.

Honor will be given to the wise, but shame will be given to fools.