1My son, forget not My instruction, and may your heart keep My commandments;

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

3Kindness and truth shall not leave you; bind them upon your neck, inscribe them upon the tablet of your heart;

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

5Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely upon your understanding.

6Know Him in all your ways, and He will direct your paths.

7Do not be wise in your own sight; fear the Lord and turn away from evil

8it shall be healing for your navel and marrow for your bones.

9Honor the Lord from your substance and from the first of all your grain,

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

11My son, despise not the discipline of the Lord, and do not abhor His chastening,

12for the Lord chastens the one He loves, as a father placates a son.

13Fortunate is the man who has found wisdom and a man who gives forth discernment,

14for its commerce is better than the commerce of silver, and its gain [is better] than fine gold;

15it is more precious than pearls, and all your desirable things cannot be compared to it.

16Length of days is in its right hand; in its left hand are riches and honor.

17Its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its paths are peace.

18It is a tree of life for those who grasp it, and those who draw near it are fortunate.

19The Lord founded the earth with wisdom, established the heavens with discernment.

20With His knowledge the depths were split, and the heavens drip dew.

21My son, let them not depart from your eyes; guard sound wisdom and thought,

22and they shall be life for your soul, and grace for your neck.

23Then you shall go securely on your way, and your foot shall not stumble.

24If you lie down, you shall not fear, and when you lie down, your sleep shall be sweet.

25Be not afraid of sudden terror, or of the darkness of the wicked when it will come.

26For the Lord shall be your trust, and He shall keep your foot from being caught.

27Do not withhold good from the one who needs it when you have power in your hand to do it.

28Do not say to your fellow, "Go and return, and tomorrow I will give," though you have it with you.

29Devise no harm against your fellow, when he dwells securely with you.

30Do not quarrel with anyone without cause, if he did you no harm.

31Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways;

32for the perverse is an abomination to the Lord, but His counsel is with the upright.

33The curse of the Lord is in the wicked man's house, but He shall bless the dwelling of the righteous.

34If [one goes] to the scoffers, he will scoff; but [if he goes] to the humble, he evokes grace.

35The wise shall inherit honor, but the fools take disgrace as their portion