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

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

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

For they shall add length of days and long life and peace unto thee.

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 thee; bind them about thy neck; write them upon the tablet of thine heart:

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

So shalt thou find grace and good favour 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 thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding.

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

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

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

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

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

It shall be medicine to thy navel and marrow to thy bones.

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

Honour the LORD with thy substance and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

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

So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out 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; neither be weary of his correction:

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

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

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

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

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

for the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver and the fruits thereof more 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 precious stones, and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto 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 and in her left hand riches and honour.

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 that lay hold upon her, and blessed is every one that retains her.

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

The LORD by wisdom has founded the earth; by intelligence has 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 are broken up, and the heavens drop down the dew.

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

¶ My son, do not let them depart from thine eyes; keep sound wisdom and discretion,

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

so shall they be life unto thy soul and grace to thy neck.

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

Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall 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 thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

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

Thou shall not 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 the LORD shall be thy confidence and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

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 thine hand 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 unto thy neighbour, Go and come again and tomorrow I will give when thou hast it by thee.

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

Do not devise evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwells securely by thee.

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

Do not sue a man without cause, if he has done thee no harm.

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

Envy thou not 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 is an abomination to the LORD; but his secret is with the righteous.

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 in the house of the wicked, but he shall bless the habitation of the just.

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

Surely he scorns the scorners; but he gives grace unto 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 promotion of fools.