1 M y son, don’t 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, will they add to you.

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

3 D on’t let kindness 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. Tie them around your neck. Write them upon your heart.

4 S o you will find favor, and good understanding 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 Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t 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 on’t be wise in your own eyes. Fear Yahweh, and depart 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 health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.

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

9 H onor Yahweh with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase:

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, don’t despise Yahweh’s discipline, neither be weary of 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 Yahweh loves, he reproves; even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.

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

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

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

14 F or her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold.

For it is better than getting silver and fine gold.

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

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

16 L ength of days 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 ways of pleasantness. 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 lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her.

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

19 B y wisdom Yahweh 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 depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.

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

21 M y son, let them not depart from your eyes. 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 grace for your neck.

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

23 T hen you shall walk in your way securely. Your foot won’t 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. Yes, you will lie down, and 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 on’t be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation 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 Yahweh will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being taken.

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

27 D on’t withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.

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

28 D on’t say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you,” when you have it by you.

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

29 D on’t devise evil against your neighbor, since he dwells securely by you.

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

30 D on’t strive 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 on’t envy the man of violence. Choose none 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 perverse is an abomination to Yahweh, but his friendship is with the upright.

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

33 Y ahweh’s curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the habitation 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 S urely he mocks the mockers, but he gives grace to the humble.

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 glory, but shame will be the promotion of fools.

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