¹ My son, do not 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 Do not 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 the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

⁸ It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.

⁹ Honor the Lord 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, do not despise the Lord's discipline, neither be weary of his reproof:

¹² for whom the Lord loves, he reproves; even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.¹

1. 3:11-12 Hebrews 12:5-6

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 the Lord 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 Do not be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes:

²⁶ for the Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being taken.

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 again; tomorrow I will give it to you," when you have it by you.

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

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

³¹ Do not envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways.

³² For the perverse is an abomination to the Lord, but his friendship is with the upright.

³³ The Lord's curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.

³⁴ Surely he is scornful to scoffers,¹ but he gives grace to the humble.²

1. LXX: "The Lord resists the proud." Compare Proverbs 21:24
2. Jacob 4:6; 1Peter 5:5

³⁵ The wise will inherit glory, but shame will be the promotion of fools.