1 M y son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep my commandments;

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

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

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

3 D o not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your 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 you will find favor and good repute 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 your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.

Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding.

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

In all your ways acknowledge him, 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.

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

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

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

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

Honor Yahweh with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase:

10 S o your barns will be filled with plenty And your vats will overflow 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 reject the discipline of the Lord Or loathe His reproof,

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

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

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

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

Happy is the man who finds wisdom, 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 her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold.

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

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

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

Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor.

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

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 founded the earth, By understanding He established the heavens.

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

20 B y His knowledge the deeps were broken up And the skies drip with dew.

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

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

My son, let them not depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion:

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

so they will be life to your soul, and grace for your neck.

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

Then you shall walk in your way securely. Your foot won’t stumble.

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

When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.

25 D o not be afraid of sudden fear Nor of the onslaught 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 will be your confidence And will keep your foot from being caught.

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

27 D o not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in your power 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 to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it,” When you have it with you.

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 harm against your neighbor, While he lives securely beside you.

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

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

Don’t strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.

31 D o not envy a man of violence And do not choose any of his ways.

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

32 F or the devious are an abomination to the Lord; But He is intimate with the upright.

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

33 T he curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the dwelling of the righteous.

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

34 T hough He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet He gives grace to the afflicted.

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

35 T he wise will inherit honor, But fools display dishonor.

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