1My 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.
28 Say 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.