3
📚✭My son, do not forget my law,but let your heart keep my commands,
2 📚✭For they will add to you length
of days and long life, and peace.
How to walk in a wise way
3 📚✭Do not let mercy and truth leave you.
Bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 📚So you will find favour and good understanding
in the sight of God and man.
5 📚✭Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 📚In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will direct your paths✭.
7 📚Do not be wise in your own eyes✭.
Fear✭ the LORD and depart from evil.
8 📚✭It will be health to your navel,
and marrow to your bones.
9 📚✭Honour the LORD with your possessions,
and with the firstfruits of all your harvests;
10 📚Then your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your winepresses will burst open
with new wine.
11 📚✭My son, do not despise the discipline
of the LORD,
nor be weary of his correction,
12 📚For whom the LORD loves he corrects,
as a father the son in whom he delights.
Wisdom is more precious than gold
13 📚✭Happy is the man who
finds wisdom,
and the man who gets understanding.
14 📚For profit from it is more valuable
than the profit of silver,
and its yield better than fine gold.
15 📚She is more precious than rubies,
and all the things you can desire are not
to be compared to her.
16 📚Length of days is in her right hand,
and in her left hand are riches
and honour.
17 📚Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
18 📚She is a tree of life✭ to those
who take hold of her;
and happy is everyone who retains her.
19 📚By wisdom the LORD founded the earth,
by understanding he established the heavens.
20 📚By his knowledge the depths are broken open,
and the clouds let drop the dew.
Further benefits of wisdom
21 📚✭My son, keep sound wisdom and discretion,
not letting them depart from your eyes.
22 📚So they will be life to your soul,
and grace to your neck.
23 📚Then you will walk in your way in safety,
and your foot will not stumble.
24 📚When you lie down,
you will not be afraid;
yes, you will lie down and your sleep
will be sweet.
25 📚Be not afraid of something causing
sudden terror,
or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes.
26 📚For the LORD will be your confidence,
and will keep your foot from being captured.
Wise behavior towards others
27 📚✭Do not withhold good from those to
whom it is due,
when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
28 📚Do not say to your neighbour,
“Go and come again”,
and “Tomorrow I will give”,
when you have it with you.
29 📚Do not plot to do evil against your neighbour,
living securely near you.
30 📚Do not strive with a man without cause,
if he has done no harm to you.
31 📚Do not envy the oppressor,
and do not choose any of his ways.
32 📚For the perverse man is
an abomination✭ to the LORD,
but his secret is with the righteous.
God’s curse
33 📚✭✭The curse of the LORD is
on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the just.
34 📚✭Surely he scorns the scorners,
but he gives grace to the lowly.
35 📚The wise will inherit glory,
but fools will be held up to shame.