1 M y son, do not forget my teaching. Let your heart keep my words.

My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands;

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

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

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

Let not mercy 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 understanding in the eyes of God and man.

And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.

5 T rust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not trust in your own understanding.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;

6 A gree with Him in all your ways, and He will make your paths straight.

In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

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

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

8 I t will be healing to your body and medicine to your bones.

It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.

9 H onor the Lord with your riches, and with the first of all you grow.

Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase;

10 T hen your store-houses will be filled with many good things and your barrels will flow over with new wine.

So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.

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

My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His correction;

12 T he Lord punishes everyone He loves. He whips every son He receives.

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

13 H appy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gets understanding.

Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding;

14 F or it is better than getting silver and fine gold.

For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold.

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

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

16 L ong life is in her right hand. Riches and honor are in her left hand.

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

17 H er ways are pleasing, 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 those who take hold of her. Happy are all who hold her near.

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

19 T he Lord built the earth by wisdom. He built the heavens by understanding.

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

20 B y what He knows, the seas were broken up and water falls from the sky.

By His knowledge the depths were broken up, And clouds drop down the dew.

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

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

22 A nd they will be life to your soul and a chain of beauty to your neck.

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

23 T hen you will be safe as you walk on your way, and your foot will not trip.

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

24 Y ou will not be afraid when you lie down. 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 fear that comes all at once. And do not be afraid of the storm of the sinful when it comes.

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

26 F or the Lord will be your trust. He 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 keep good from those who should have it, when it is in your power to do it.

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

28 D o not say to your neighbor, “Go, and return tomorrow, and 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 plan for your neighbor to be hurt, while he trusts you enough to live beside you.

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

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

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

31 D o not be jealous of a man who hurts others, and do not choose any of his ways.

Do not envy the oppressor, And choose none of his ways;

32 F or the bad man is hated by the Lord, but He is near to those who are right with Him.

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

33 T he 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.

The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the home of the just.

34 G od makes fun of those who make fun of the truth but gives loving-favor to those who have no pride.

Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble.

35 H onor will be given to the wise, but shame will be given to fools.

The wise shall inherit glory, But shame shall be the legacy of fools.