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 .
The Benefits of Wisdom
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 : 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 .
The Discipline of the Lord
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 .
The Blessings of Wisdom
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 .