| 1 ¶ My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
|
|
| 2 For length of days, and long1 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 good2 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 health3 to thy navel, and marrow4 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 getteth5 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 established6 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 them7 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 Devise8 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,9 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 be10 the promotion of fools.
|
|