[1] My son, don’t forget my teaching; but let your heart keep my commandments:
[2] for length of days, and years of life, and peace, will they add to you.
[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 Yahweh 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 Yahweh, and depart from evil.
[8] It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.
[9] Honor Yahweh 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 Yahweh’s discipline, neither be weary of his reproof:
[12] for whom Yahweh loves, he reproves; 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 Yahweh 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 Yahweh 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 Yahweh, but his friendship is with the upright.
[33] Yahweh’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.