Trust, Fear, and Honor Yahweh

¹My son, do not forget my law,[#3:1 Or instruction]

But let your heart guard my commandments;

²For length of days and years of life

And peace they will add to you.

³Do not let lovingkindness and truth forsake you;

Bind them around your neck,

Write them on the tablet of your heart.

⁴So you will find favor and good insight

In the eyes of God and man.

⁵Trust in Yahweh with all your heart

And do not lean on your own understanding.

⁶In all your ways acknowledge Him,[#3:6 Lit know]

And He will make your paths straight.

⁷Do not be wise in your own eyes;

Fear Yahweh and turn away from evil.

⁸It will be healing to your body[#3:8 Lit navel]

And refreshment to your bones.

⁹Honor Yahweh from your wealth

And from the first of all your produce;

¹⁰So your barns will be filled with plenty

And your vats will burst with new wine.

¹¹My son, do not reject the discipline of Yahweh[#3:11 Or instruction]

Or loathe His reproof,

¹²For whom Yahweh loves He reproves,

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

¹³¶How blessed is the man who finds wisdom

And the man who obtains discernment.

¹⁴For her profit is better than the profit of silver

And her produce better than fine gold.

¹⁵She is more precious than pearls;[#3:15 Or corals]

And nothing you desire compares with her.

¹⁶Length of days is in her right hand;

In her left hand are riches and glory.

¹⁷Her ways are pleasant ways

And all her pathways are peace.

¹⁸She is a tree of life to those who seize her,

And all those who hold her fast are blessed.

¹⁹Yahweh by wisdom founded the earth,

By discernment He established the heavens.

²⁰By His knowledge the deeps were split up

And the skies drip with dew.

²¹My son, let them not deviate from your eyes;

Guard sound wisdom and discretion,

²²So they will be life for your soul

And grace for your neck.

²³Then you will walk in your way securely

And your foot will not stumble.

²⁴When you lie down, you will not be in dread;

You will lie down, and your sleep will be pleasant.

²⁵Do not be afraid of sudden dread

Nor of the storm of the wicked when it comes;

²⁶For Yahweh will be your confidence[#3:26 Or at your side]

And will keep your foot from being caught.

²⁷¶Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,[#3:27 Lit its owners]

When it is in your hand to do it .

²⁸Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back,

And tomorrow I will give it ,”

When it is there with you.

²⁹Do not devise harm against your neighbor,[#3:29 Lit evil]

While he lives securely beside you.

³⁰Do not contend with a man without cause,

If he has dealt you no harm.

³¹Do not envy a man of violence

And do not choose any of his ways.

³²For the devious one is an abomination to Yahweh;

But His secret council is with the upright.

³³The curse of Yahweh is on the house of the wicked one,

But He blesses the abode of the righteous.

³⁴Though He scoffs at the scoffers,

Yet He gives grace to the humble.

³⁵The wise will inherit glory,

But fools raise up disgrace.