1 Filho meu, não te esqueças dos meus ensinos,
e o teu coração guarde os meus mandamentos;
2 porque eles aumentarão os teus dias
e te acrescentarão anos de vida e paz.
3 Não te desamparem a benignidade e a fidelidade;
ata-as ao pescoço;
escreve-as na tábua do teu coração
4 e acharás graça e boa compreensão
diante de Deus e dos homens.
5 Confia no Senhor de todo o teu coração
e não te estribes no teu próprio entendimento.
6 Reconhece-o em todos os teus caminhos,
e ele endireitará as tuas veredas.
7 Não sejas sábio aos teus próprios olhos;
teme ao Senhor e aparta-te do mal;
8 será isto saúde para o teu corpo
e refrigério, para os teus ossos.
9 Honra ao Senhor com os teus bens
e com as primícias de toda a tua renda;
10 e se encherão fartamente os teus celeiros,
e transbordarão de vinho os teus lagares.
11 Filho meu, não rejeites a disciplina do Senhor,
nem te enfades da sua repreensão.
12 Porque o Senhor repreende a quem ama,
assim como o pai, ao filho a quem quer bem.
13 Feliz o homem que acha sabedoria,
e o homem que adquire conhecimento;
14 porque melhor é o lucro que ela dá do que o da prata,
e melhor a sua renda do que o ouro mais fino.
15 Mais preciosa é do que pérolas,
e tudo o que podes desejar não é comparável a ela.
16 O alongar-se da vida está na sua mão direita,
na sua esquerda, riquezas e honra.
17 Os seus caminhos são caminhos deliciosos,
e todas as suas veredas, paz.
18 É árvore de vida para os que a alcançam,
e felizes são todos os que a retêm.
19 O Senhor com sabedoria fundou a terra,
com inteligência estabeleceu os céus.
20 Pelo seu conhecimento os abismos se rompem,
e as nuvens destilam orvalho.
21 Filho meu, não se apartem estas coisas dos teus olhos;
guarda a verdadeira sabedoria e o bom siso;
22 porque serão vida para a tua alma
e adorno ao teu pescoço.
23 Então, andarás seguro no teu caminho,
e não tropeçará o teu pé.
24 Quando te deitares, não temerás;
deitar-te-ás, e o teu sono será suave.
25 Não temas o pavor repentino,
nem a arremetida dos perversos, quando vier.
26 Porque o Senhor será a tua segurança
e guardará os teus pés de serem presos.
27 Não te furtes a fazer o bem a quem de direito,
estando na tua mão o poder de fazê-lo.
28 Não digas ao teu próximo: Vai e volta amanhã;
então, to darei, se o tens agora contigo.
29 Não maquines o mal contra o teu próximo,
pois habita junto de ti confiadamente.
30 Jamais pleiteies com alguém sem razão,
se te não houver feito mal.
31 Não tenhas inveja do homem violento,
nem sigas nenhum de seus caminhos;
32 porque o Senhor abomina o perverso,
mas aos retos trata com intimidade.
33 A maldição do Senhor habita na casa do perverso,
porém a morada dos justos ele abençoa.
34 Certamente, ele escarnece dos escarnecedores,
mas dá graça aos humildes.
35 Os sábios herdarão honra,
mas os loucos tomam sobre si a ignomínia.
1 My son, forget not my law;
But let thy heart keep my commandments:
2 For length of days, and years of life,
And peace, will they add to thee.
3 Let not kindness and truth forsake thee:
Bind them about thy neck;
Write them upon the tablet of thy heart:
4 So shalt thou find favor and good understanding
In the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart,
And lean not upon thine own understanding:
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him,
And he will direct thy paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes;
Fear Jehovah, and depart from evil:
8 It will be health to thy navel,
And marrow to thy bones.
9 Honor Jehovah with thy substance,
And with the first-fruits of all thine increase:
10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty,
And thy vats shall overflow with new wine.
11 My son, despise not the chastening of Jehovah;
Neither be weary of his reproof:
12 For whom Jehovah loveth he reproveth,
Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,
And the man that getteth understanding.
14 For the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver,
And the profit thereof than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies:
And none of the things thou canst desire are to be compared unto 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,
And all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her:
And happy is every one that retaineth her.
19 Jehovah by wisdom 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 thine eyes;
Keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22 So shall they be life unto thy soul,
And grace to thy neck.
23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely,
And thy foot shall not stumble.
24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid:
Yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25 Be not afraid of sudden fear,
Neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh:
26 For Jehovah will be thy confidence,
And will keep thy foot from being taken.
27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due,
When it is in the power of thy hand to do it.
28 Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and come again,
And to-morrow I will give;
When thou hast it by thee.
29 Devise not evil against thy neighbor,
Seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
30 Strive not with a man without cause,
If he have done thee no harm.
31 Envy thou not the man of violence,
And choose none of his ways.
32 For the perverse is an abomination to Jehovah;
But his friendship is with the upright.
33 The curse of Jehovah is in the house of the wicked;
But he blesseth the habitation of the righteous.
34 Surely he scoffeth at the scoffers;
But he giveth grace unto the lowly.
35 The wise shall inherit glory;
But shame shall be the promotion of fools.
1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,
2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.
3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. [^1]
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.
8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
11 My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline, and do not resent his rebuke,
12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. [^2]
13 Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.
19 By wisdom the LORD laid the earth's foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place;
20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.
21 My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion;
22 they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck.
23 Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the LORD will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.
28 Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back tomorrow and I'll give it to you" — when you already have it with you.
29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you.
30 Do not accuse anyone for no reason — when they have done you no harm.
31 Do not envy the violent or choose any of their ways.
32 For the LORD detests the perverse but takes the upright into his confidence.
33 The LORD's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous.
34 He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.
35 The wise inherit honor, but fools get only shame.