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

My son, do not forget my teaching. Let your heart keep my words.

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

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

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

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

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

So you will find favor 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.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not trust in your own understanding.

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

Agree with Him in all your ways, and He will make your paths straight.

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

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

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

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

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

Honor the Lord with your riches, and with the first of all you grow.

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

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

11 C hastisement of Jehovah, my son, despise not, And be not vexed with 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 Jehovah loveth He reproveth, Even as a father the son He is pleased with.

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

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

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

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

For it is better than getting silver and fine gold.

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

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

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

Long life is in her right hand. Riches and honor are in her left hand.

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

Her ways are pleasing, and all her paths are peace.

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

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

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

The Lord built the earth by wisdom. He built the heavens by understanding.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Then you will be safe as you walk on your way, and your foot will not trip.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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