¹My son , don’t forget my teaching ,

but let your heart keep my commandments ,

²for they will add to you length of days ,

years of life , and peace .

³Don’t let kindness and truth forsake you .

Bind them around your neck .

Write them on the tablet of your heart .

⁴So you will find favour ,

and good understanding in the sight of God and man .

⁵Trust in the LORD with all your heart ,

and don’t lean on your own understanding .

⁶In all your ways acknowledge him ,

and he will make your paths straight .

⁷Don’t be wise in your own eyes .

Fear the LORD , and depart from evil .

⁸It will be health to your body ,

and nourishment to your bones .

⁹Honour the LORD with your substance ,

with the first fruits of all your increase ;

¹⁰so your barns will be filled with plenty ,

and your vats will overflow with new wine .

¹¹My son , don’t despise the LORD ’s discipline ,

neither be weary of his correction ;

¹²for whom the LORD loves, he corrects ,

even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights .

¹³Happy is the man who finds wisdom ,

the man who gets understanding .

¹⁴For her good profit is better than getting silver ,

and her return is better than fine gold .

¹⁵She is more precious than rubies .

None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her .

¹⁶Length of days is in her right hand .

In her left hand are riches and honour .

¹⁷Her ways are ways of pleasantness .

All her paths are peace .

¹⁸She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her .

Happy is everyone who retains her .

¹⁹By wisdom the LORD founded the earth .

By understanding , he established the heavens .

²⁰By his knowledge , the depths were broken up ,

and the skies drop down the dew .

²¹My son , let them not depart from your eyes .

Keep sound wisdom and discretion ,

²²so they will be life to your soul ,

and grace for your neck .

²³Then you shall walk in your way securely.

Your foot won’t stumble .

²⁴When you lie down , you will not be afraid .

Yes, you will lie down , and your sleep will be sweet .

²⁵Don’t be afraid of sudden fear ,

neither of the desolation of the wicked , when it comes;

²⁶for the LORD will be your confidence ,

and will keep your foot from being taken .

²⁷Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due ,

when it is in the power of your hand to do it .

²⁸Don’t say to your neighbour , “Go , and come again ;

tomorrow I will give it to you ,”

when you have it by you .

²⁹Don’t devise evil against your neighbour ,

since he dwells securely by you .

³⁰Don’t strive with a man without cause ,

if he has done you no harm .

³¹Don’t envy the man of violence .

Choose none of his ways .

³²For the perverse is an abomination to the LORD ,

but his friendship is with the upright .

³³The LORD ’s curse is in the house of the wicked ,

but he blesses the habitation of the righteous .

³⁴Surely he mocks the mockers ,

but he gives grace to the humble .

³⁵The wise will inherit glory ,

but shame will be the promotion of fools .