1 M y son! my law forget not, And my commands let thy heart keep,

2 F or length of days and years, Life and peace they do add to thee.

3 L et not kindness and truth forsake thee, Bind them on thy neck, Write them on the tablet of thy heart,

4 A nd find grace and good understanding In the eyes of God and man.

5 T rust unto Jehovah with all thy heart, And unto thine own understanding lean not.

6 I n all thy ways know thou Him, And He doth make straight thy paths.

7 B e not wise in thine own eyes, Fear Jehovah, and turn aside from evil.

8 H ealing it is to thy navel, And moistening to thy bones.

9 H onour Jehovah from thy substance, And from the beginning of all thine increase;

10 A nd filled are thy barns plenty, And new wine thy presses break forth.

11 C hastisement of Jehovah, my son, despise not, And be not vexed with His reproof,

12 F or whom Jehovah loveth He reproveth, Even as a father the son He is pleased with.

13 O the happiness of a man hath found wisdom, And of a man bringeth forth understanding.

14 F or better her merchandise Than the merchandise of silver, And than gold -- her increase.

15 P recious she above rubies, And all thy pleasures are not comparable to her.

16 L ength of days in her right hand, In her left wealth and honour.

17 H er ways ways of pleasantness, And all her paths peace.

18 A tree of life she to those laying hold on her, And whoso is retaining her happy.

19 J ehovah by wisdom did found the earth, He prepared the heavens by understanding.

20 B y His knowledge depths have been rent, And clouds do drop dew.

21 M y son! let them not turn from thine eyes, Keep thou wisdom and thoughtfulness,

22 A nd they are life to thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

23 T hen thou goest thy way confidently, And thy foot doth not stumble.

24 I f thou liest down, thou art not afraid, Yea, thou hast lain down, And sweet hath been thy sleep.

25 B e not afraid of sudden fear, And of the desolation of the wicked when it cometh.

26 F or Jehovah is at thy side, And He hath kept thy foot from capture.

27 W ithhold not good from its owners, When thy hand toward God to do.

28 S ay not thou to thy friend, `Go, and return, and to-morrow I give,' And substance with thee.

29 D evise not against thy neighbour evil, And he sitting confidently with thee.

30 S trive not with a man without cause, If he have not done thee evil.

31 B e not envious of a man of violence, Nor fix thou on any of his ways.

32 F or an abomination to Jehovah the perverted, And with the upright His secret counsel.

33 T he curse of Jehovah in the house of the wicked. And the habitation of the righteous He blesseth.

34 I f the scorners He doth scorn, Yet to the humble He doth give grace.

35 H onour do the wise inherit, And fools are bearing away shame!