1 M y son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep 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 they will add to you.

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

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

Do not let kindness and truth leave you. Tie them around your neck. Write them upon your heart.

4 S o you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man.

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

5 T rust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.

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

6 I n all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

Agree with Him in all your ways, and He will make your paths straight.

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

Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord and turn away from what is sinful.

8 I t will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones.

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

9 H onor the Lord from your wealth And from the first of all your produce;

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

10 S o your barns will be filled with plenty And your vats will 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, do not reject the discipline of the Lord Or loathe His reproof,

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

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

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

13 H ow blessed is the man who finds wisdom And the man who gains understanding.

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

14 F or her profit is better than the profit of silver And her gain better than fine gold.

For it is better than getting silver and fine gold.

15 S he is more precious than jewels; And nothing you desire compares with her.

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

16 L ong life is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor.

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

17 H er ways are pleasant ways 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 those who take hold of her, And happy are all who hold her fast.

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

19 T he Lord 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 drip with dew.

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

21 M y son, let them not vanish from your sight; Keep sound wisdom and discretion,

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

22 S o they will be life to your soul And adornment to your neck.

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

23 T hen you will walk in your way securely And your foot will not stumble.

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

24 W hen you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

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

25 D o not be afraid of sudden fear Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes;

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

For the Lord will be your trust. He will keep your foot from being caught.

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

Do not keep good from those who should have it, when it is in your power to do it.

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

Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and return tomorrow, and I will give it,” when you have it with you.

29 D o not devise harm against your neighbor, While he lives securely beside you.

Do not plan for your neighbor to be hurt, while he trusts you enough to live beside you.

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

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

31 D o not envy a man of violence And do not choose any 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 devious are an abomination to the Lord; But He is intimate 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 the Lord is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the dwelling 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 T hough He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet He gives grace to the afflicted.

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 will inherit honor, But fools display dishonor.

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