✧1My son, forget not my law; But let thy heart keep my commandments: ✧2For length of days, and years of life, And peace, will they add to thee. ✧3Let not kindness and truth forsake thee: Bind them about thy neck; Write them upon the tablet of thy heart: ✧4So shalt thou find favor and good understanding In the sight of God and man. ✧5Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, And lean not upon thine own understanding: ✧6In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he will direct thy paths. ✧7Be not wise in thine own eyes; Fear Jehovah, and depart from evil: ✧8It will be health to thy navel, And marrow to thy bones. ✧9Honor Jehovah with thy substance, And with the first-fruits of all thine increase:
American Standard Version (ASV). American Standard Version (1901). Public domain.
✧10So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, And thy vats shall overflow with new wine.
✧11My son, despise not the chastening of Jehovah; Neither be weary of his reproof:
✧12For whom Jehovah loveth he reproveth, Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
✧13Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, And the man that getteth understanding.
✧14For the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver, And the profit thereof than fine gold.
✧15She is more precious than rubies: And none of the things thou canst desire are to be compared unto her.
✧16Length of days is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor.
✧17Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace.
✧18She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: And happy is every one that retaineth her.
✧19Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding he established the heavens.
✧20By his knowledge the depths were broken up, And the skies drop down the dew.
✧21My son, let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep sound wisdom and discretion:
✧22So shall they be life unto thy soul, And grace to thy neck.
✧23Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, And thy foot shall not stumble.
✧24When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: Yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
✧25Be not afraid of sudden fear, Neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh:
✧26For Jehovah will be thy confidence, And will keep thy foot from being taken.
✧27Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, When it is in the power of thy hand to do it.
✧28Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and come again, And to-morrow I will give; When thou hast it by thee.
✧29Devise not evil against thy neighbor, Seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
✧30Strive not with a man without cause, If he have done thee no harm.
✧31Envy thou not the man of violence, And choose none of his ways.
✧32For the perverse is an abomination to Jehovah; But his friendship is with the upright.
✧33The curse of Jehovah is in the house of the wicked; But he blesseth the habitation of the righteous.
✧34Surely he scoffeth at the scoffers; But he giveth grace unto the lowly.
✧35The wise shall inherit glory; But shame shall be the promotion of fools.