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