1 My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commandments,

2 for they shall add length of days and long life and peace to you.

3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you; tie them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart;

4 so you shall find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in Jehovah with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding.

6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear Jehovah and depart from evil.

8 It shall be healing to your navel and refreshment to your bones.

9 Honor Jehovah with your substance, and with the firstfruits of all your increase,

10 and your barns shall be filled with plenty, and your vats shall be bursting with new wine.

11 My son, do not reject the chastening of Jehovah, and do not loathe His correction;

12 for whom Jehovah loves He corrects, even as a father corrects the son with whom he is pleased.

13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gets understanding;

14 for its profit is better than the gain from silver, and its increase more than fine gold.

15 She is more precious than rubies, and all the things you can desire are not to be compared with her.

16 Length of days is in her right hand, riches and honor in her left hand.

17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold upon her, and happy is everyone who holds fast to her.

19 Jehovah has founded the earth by wisdom; He has established the heavens by understanding;

20 the depths were broken up by His knowledge, and the clouds drop down the dew.

21 My son, do not let them depart from your eyes; keep sound wisdom and discretion,

22 and they shall be life to your soul, and grace to your neck;

23 then you shall walk in your way safely, and your foot shall not stumble.

24 When you lie down, you shall not be in dread; yea, you shall lie down and your sleep shall be sweet.

25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror, nor of the devastation of the wicked when it comes.

26 For Jehovah shall be at your side, and He shall keep your foot from being caught.

27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.

28 Do not say to your neighbor, Go and come back again, and tomorrow I will give, when you have it with you.

29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor, since he dwells by you securely.

30 Do not strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.

31 Do not be envious of the violent man, and choose none of his ways;

32 for the perverse one is an abomination to Jehovah, but His secret counsel is with the upright.

33 The curse of Jehovah is in the house of the wicked, but He blesses the abode of the just.

34 Surely He scorns the scorners, but He gives grace to the lowly.

35 The wise inherit honor, but the exaltation of fools is shame.