1 M y son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands;

My son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep my commandments;

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

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

3 L et not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,

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

4 A nd so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.

So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man.

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

Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.

6 I n all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

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 depart from evil.

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

8 I t will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.

It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones.

9 H onor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase;

Honor the Lord from your wealth And from the first of all your produce;

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 despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His correction;

My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord Or loathe His reproof,

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

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

13 H appy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding;

How blessed is the man who finds wisdom And the man who gains understanding.

14 F or her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold.

For her profit is better than the profit of silver And her gain better than fine gold.

15 S he is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.

She is more precious than jewels; And nothing you desire compares with her.

16 L ength of days is in her right hand, In her left hand riches and honor.

Long life 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 pleasant ways 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 retain her.

She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who hold her fast.

19 T he Lord by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding He established the heavens;

The Lord by wisdom founded the earth, By understanding He established the heavens.

20 B y His knowledge the depths were broken up, And clouds drop down the dew.

By His knowledge the deeps were broken up And the skies drip with dew.

21 M y son, let them not depart from your eyes— Keep sound wisdom and discretion;

My son, let them not vanish from your sight; Keep sound wisdom and discretion,

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

So they will be life to your soul And adornment to your neck.

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

Then you will walk in your way securely And your foot will not stumble.

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

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

25 D o not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;

Do not be afraid of sudden fear Nor of the onslaught of the wicked 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 confidence And will keep your foot from being caught.

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

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, 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 come back, And tomorrow I will give it,” When you have it with you.

29 D o not devise evil against your neighbor, For he dwells by you for safety’s sake.

Do not devise harm against your neighbor, While he lives securely beside you.

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

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

31 D o not envy the oppressor, And choose none of his ways;

Do not envy a man of violence And do not choose any of his ways.

32 F or the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord, But His secret counsel is with the upright.

For the devious are an abomination to the Lord; But He is intimate with the upright.

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

The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the dwelling of the righteous.

34 S urely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble.

Though He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet He gives grace to the afflicted.

35 T he wise shall inherit glory, But shame shall be the legacy of fools.

The wise will inherit honor, But fools display dishonor.