1.
My son, forget not My instruction, and may your heart keep My commandments;
2.
for they shall add length of days and years of life and peace to you.
3.
Kindness and truth shall not leave you; bind them upon your neck, inscribe them upon the tablet of your heart;
4.
and find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely upon your understanding.
6.
Know Him in all your ways, and He will direct your paths.
7.
Do not be wise in your own sight; fear the Lord and turn away from evil
8.
it shall be healing for your navel and marrow for your bones.
9.
Honor the Lord from your substance and from the first of all your grain,
10.
and your barns shall be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11.
My son, despise not the discipline of the Lord, and do not abhor His chastening,
12.
for the Lord chastens the one He loves, as a father placates a son.
13.
Fortunate is the man who has found wisdom and a man who gives forth discernment,
14.
for its commerce is better than the commerce of silver, and its gain [is better] than fine gold;
15.
it is more precious than pearls, and all your desirable things cannot be compared to it.
16.
Length of days is in its right hand; in its left hand are riches and honor.
17.
Its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its paths are peace.
18.
It is a tree of life for those who grasp it, and those who draw near it are fortunate.
19.
The Lord founded the earth with wisdom, established the heavens with discernment.
20.
With His knowledge the depths were split, and the heavens drip dew.
21.
My son, let them not depart from your eyes; guard sound wisdom and thought,
22.
and they shall be life for your soul, and grace for your neck.
23.
Then you shall go securely on your way, and your foot shall not stumble.
24.
If you lie down, you shall not fear, and when you lie down, your sleep shall be sweet.
25.
Be not afraid of sudden terror, or of the darkness of the wicked when it will come.
26.
For the Lord shall be your trust, and He shall keep your root from being caught.
27.
Do not withhold good from the one who needs it when you have power in your hand to do it.
28.
Do not say to your fellow, "Go and return, and tomorrow I will give," though you have it with you.
29.
Devise no harm against your fellow, when he dwells securely with you.
30.
Do not quarrel with anyone without cause, if he did you no harm.
31.
Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways;
32.
for the perverse is an abomination to the Lord, but His counsel is with the upright.
33.
The curse of the Lord is in the wicked man's house, but He shall bless the dwelling of the righteous.
34.
If [one goes] to the scoffers, he will scoff; but [if he goes] to the humble, he evokes grace.
35.
The wise shall inherit honor, but the fools take disgrace as their portion.
