¹ My son, forget not my teaching, And let thy heart observe my precepts!

² For length of days, and years of life, And peace shall they multiply to thee.

³ Let not kindness and truth forsake thee; Bind them around thy neck, Write them upon the tablet of thy heart:

⁴ Then shalt thou find favor and good success In the sight of God and man.

⁵ Trust in the LORD with all thy heart, And lean not on thine own understanding;

⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he will make thy paths plain.

⁷ Be not wise in thine own eyes; Fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

⁸ It shall be health to thy muscles, And moisture to thy bones.

⁹ Honor the LORD with thy substance, And with the first-fruits of all thy increase;

¹⁰ So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, And thy vats overflow with new wine.

¹¹ My son, despise not the correction of the LORD, Nor be impatient under his chastisement!

¹² For whom the LORD loveth he chasteneth, Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

¹³ Happy the man who findeth wisdom; Yea, the man who getteth understanding!

¹⁴ For the profit thereof is greater than that of silver, And the gain thereof than that of fine gold.

¹⁵ More precious is she than pearls, And none of thy jewels is to be compared with 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 of her, And happy is every one who hath her in his grasp.

¹⁹ The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding he framed the heavens.

²⁰ By his knowledge the deep waters were cleft, And the clouds drop down the dew.

²¹ My son, let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep sound wisdom and discretion!

²² For they shall be life to thy soul, And grace to thy neck.

²³ Then shalt thou go on 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 thou afraid of sudden alarm, Nor of the storm that is for the wicked, when it cometh;

²⁶ For the LORD shall be thy confidence; Yea, he will keep thy foot from being taken.

²⁷ Withhold not kindness from those who need it, When it is in the power of thy hand to do it.

²⁸ Say not to thy neighbor, "Go, and come again, And to-morrow I will give to thee," when thou hast it by thee.

²⁹ Devise not evil against thy neighbor, While he dwelleth securely by thee.

³⁰ Contend not with a man without cause, When he hath done thee no harm.

³¹ Envy not the oppressor, And choose none of his ways.

³² For the perverse man is the abomination of the LORD, But he is in friendship with the upright.

³³ The curse of the LORD is upon the house of the wicked, But he blesseth the dwelling of the righteous.

³⁴ Surely the scorners he treadeth scornfully, But giveth favor to the lowly.

³⁵ The wise shall obtain honor, But fools shall bear off shame.