1 ¶ My son, forget not my law, but let thine heart keep my commandments:

My son, don’t forget my teaching; but let your heart keep my commandments:

2 F or they shall add length of days and long life and peace unto thee.

for length of days, and years of life, and peace, will they add to you.

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

Don’t let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.

4 S o shalt thou find grace and good favour in the sight of God and man.

So you will find favor, and good understanding 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 Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t lean 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 will make your paths straight.

7 ¶ Be not wise in thine own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil.

Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Fear Yahweh, and depart from evil.

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

It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.

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

Honor Yahweh with your substance, with the first fruits 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, do not despise the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:

My son, don’t despise Yahweh’s discipline, neither be weary of his reproof:

12 F or the LORD chastens whom he loves and delights in, even as a father to his son.

for whom Yahweh loves, he reproves; even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.

13 ¶ Blessed is the man that has found wisdom and who brings to light intelligence,

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

14 f or the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver and the fruits thereof more than fine gold.

For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold.

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

She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to 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 are riches and honor.

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

Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace.

18 S he is a tree of life to those that lay hold upon her, and blessed is every one that retains her.

She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her.

19 T he LORD by wisdom has founded the earth; by intelligence has he established the heavens.

By wisdom Yahweh founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens.

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

By his knowledge, the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.

21 ¶ My son, do not let 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 for your neck.

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

Then you shall walk in your way securely. Your foot won’t 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 T hou shall not be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked when it comes.

Don’t be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes:

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

for Yahweh will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being taken.

27 ¶ Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.

28 D o not say unto thy neighbour, Go and come again and tomorrow I will give when thou hast it by thee.

Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you,” when you have it by you.

29 D o not devise evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwells securely by thee.

Don’t devise evil against your neighbor, since he dwells securely by you.

30 D o not sue a man without cause, if he has done thee no harm.

Don’t 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.

Don’t envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways.

32 F or the perverse is an abomination to the LORD; but his secret is with the righteous.

For the perverse is an abomination to Yahweh, but his friendship is with the upright.

33 T he curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked, but he shall bless the habitation of the just.

Yahweh’s curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.

34 S urely he scorns the scorners; but he gives grace unto the humble.

Surely he mocks the mockers, but he gives grace to the humble.

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

The wise will inherit glory, but shame will be the promotion of fools.