3
1 My
son, don’t forget
my teaching,
but let your
heart keep my
commandments,
2 for
they will add
to you length
of days,
years of life,
and peace.
3 Don’t let
kindness and truth
forsake you.
Bind them around
your neck.
Write them on
the tablet of
your heart.
4 So
you will find
favor,
and good
understanding in
the sight of God
and man.
5 Trust
in the LORD
with all your
heart,
and don’t lean on
your own understanding.
6 In
all your ways
acknowledge him,
and he will
make your paths
straight.
7 Don’t be
wise in your
own eyes.
Fear the LORD,
and depart from
evil.
8 It
will be health
to your body,
and nourishment to
your bones.
9 Honor
the LORD with
your substance,
with the first
fruits of all
your increase;
10 so
your barns will be
filled with plenty,
and your vats
will overflow with
new wine.
11 My
son, don’t despise
the LORD’s
discipline,
neither be weary
of his correction;
12 for
whom the
LORD loves, he
corrects,
even as a
father reproves
the son in
whom he delights.
13 Happy is
the man who
finds wisdom,
the man who gets
understanding.
14 For
her good profit
is better
than getting silver,
and her return is
better than fine
gold.
15 She
is more precious
than rubies.
None of the
things you can
desire are to
be compared to
her.
16 Length
of days is
in her right
hand.
In her left
hand are riches
and honor.
17 Her
ways are ways
of pleasantness.
All her paths
are peace.
18 She
is a tree
of life to
those who lay hold
of her.
Happy is everyone who retains
her.
19 By
wisdom the LORD
founded the earth.
By understanding,
he established the
heavens.
20 By
his knowledge, the
depths were broken
up,
and the skies
drop down the
dew.
21 My
son, let them
not depart from
your eyes.
Keep sound wisdom
and discretion,
22 so
they will be
life to your
soul,
and grace for
your neck.
23 Then
you shall walk
in your
way securely.
Your foot won’t
stumble.
24 When
you lie down,
you will not
be afraid.
Yes, you will lie
down, and your
sleep will be
sweet.
25 Don’t be
afraid of sudden
fear,
neither of the
desolation of the
wicked, when
it comes;
26 for
the LORD will
be your confidence,
and will keep
your foot from
being taken.
27 Don’t
withhold good from
those to whom it
is due,
when it is
in the power
of your hand
to do it.
28 Don’t say
to your neighbor,
“Go, and come
again;
tomorrow I will
give it to
you,”
when you have
it by you.
29 Don’t
devise evil
against your
neighbor,
since he dwells securely
by you.
30 Don’t
strive with a
man without cause,
if he has done
you no harm.
31 Don’t envy
the man of
violence.
Choose none of
his ways.
32 For
the perverse is
an abomination to
the LORD,
but his
friendship is with
the upright.
33 The
LORD’s curse is
in the house
of the wicked,
but he blesses
the habitation of
the righteous.
34 Surely
he mocks the
mockers,
but he gives
grace to the
humble.
35 The
wise will inherit
glory,
but shame will be
the promotion of
fools.