✧My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: ✧2For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. ✧3Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: ✧4So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. ✧5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. ✧6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. ✧7Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. ✧8It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. ✧9Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: ✧10So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. ✧11My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: ✧12For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; 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 merchandise of it [is] better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. ✧15She [is] more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. ✧16Length of days [is] in her right hand; [and] in her left hand riches and honour. ✧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. ✧19The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. ✧20By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew. ✧21My son, let not them 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 safely, 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 the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken. ✧27Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do [it]. ✧28Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee. ✧29Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee. ✧30Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm. ✧31Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. ✧32For the froward [is] abomination to the LORD: but his secret [is] with the righteous. ✧33The curse of the LORD [is] in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just. ✧34Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly. ✧35The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.