1My son, forget not my law; but let thine
heart keep my commandments:
2For length of days, and long life, and
peace, shall they add to thee.
3Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind
them about thy neck; write them upon the table of
thine heart:
4So shalt thou find favour and good
understanding in the sight of God and man.
5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and
lean not unto thine own understanding.
6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he
shall direct thy paths.
7Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the
LORD, and depart from evil.
8It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow
to thy bones.
9Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with
the firstfruits of all thine increase:
10So shall thy barns be filled with plenty,
and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
11My son, despise not the chastening of the
LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
12For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth;
even as a father the son in
whom he delighteth.
13Happy is the
man that findeth
wisdom, and the man that getteth
understanding.
14For the merchandise of it is better
than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof
than fine gold.
15She is more
precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst
desire are not to be compared unto her.
16Length of days is in
her right hand; and in
her left hand riches and honour.
17Her ways are ways
of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18She is a
tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and
happy is
every one that retaineth her.
19The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth;
by understanding hath he established the heavens.
20By his knowledge the depths are broken up,
and the clouds drop down the dew.
21My son, let not them depart from thine
eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22So shall they be life unto thy soul, and
grace to thy neck.
23Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and
thy foot shall not stumble.
24When thou liest down, thou shalt not be
afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep
shall be sweet.
25Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of
the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
26For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and
shall keep thy foot from being taken.
27Withhold not good from them to whom it is
due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
28Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come
again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it
by thee.
29Devise not evil against thy neighbour,
seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
30Strive not with a man without cause, if he
have done thee no harm.
31Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose
none of his ways.
32For the froward is abomination
to the LORD: but his secret is with
the righteous.
33The curse of the LORD is in
the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the
habitation of the just.
34Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he
giveth grace unto the lowly.
35The wise shall inherit glory: but shame
shall be the promotion of fools.