1My son, forget not my laws; but let your heart keep my words:

2for length of existence, and years of life, and peace, shall they add to you.

3Let not mercy and truth forsake you; but bind them about your neck:

4so shall you find favor: ¹⁰and do you ¹¹provide things honest in the sight of the Lord, and of men.

5Trust in God with all your heart; and be not exalted in your own wisdom.

6In all your ways acquaint yourself with her, that she may rightly ¹²direct your paths.

7Be not wise in your own conceit; but fear God, and depart from all evil.

8Then shall there be health to your body, and good keeping to your bones.

9Honor the Lord with your just labors, and give him the first of your fruits of righteousness:

10that your storehouses may be completely filled with corn, and that your presses may burst forth with wine.

11¹³My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; nor faint when you are rebuked of him:

12for whom the Lord loves, he rebukes, and scourges every son whom he receives.

13Blessed is the man who has found wisdom, and the mortal who knows prudence.

14For it is better to traffic for her, than for treasures of gold and silver.

15And she is more valuable than precious stones: no evil thing shall resist her: she is well known to all that approach her, and no precious thing is equal to her in value.

16For length of existence and years of life are in her right hand; and in her left hand are wealth and glory: out of her mouth proceeds righteousness, and she carries law and mercy upon her tongue.

17Her ways are good ways, and all her paths are peaceful.

18She is a tree of life to all that lay hold upon her; and she is a secure help to all that stay themselves on her, as on the Lord.

19God by wisdom founded the earth, and by prudence he prepared the heavens.

20By understanding were the depths broken up, and the clouds dropped water.

21My son, let them not ¹⁴pass from you, but keep my counsel and understanding:

22that your soul may live, and that there may be grace round your neck; and it shall be health to your flesh, and safety to your bones:

23that you may go confidently in peace in all your ways, and that your foot may not stumble.

24For if you ¹⁵rest, you shall be undismayed; and if you sleep, you shall slumber sweetly.

25And you shall not be afraid of alarm coming upon you, neither of approaching attacks of ungodly men.

26For the Lord shall be over all your ways, and shall establish your foot that you be not moved.

27Forbear not to do good to the poor, whenever your hand may have power to help him.

28Say not, Come back another time, to-morrow I will give; while you are able to do him good: for you know not what the next day will bring forth.

29Devise not evil against your friend, living near you and trusting in you.

30Be not ready to quarrel with a man without a cause, lest he do you some harm.

31Procure not the reproaches of bad men, neither do you covet their ways.

32For every transgressor is unclean before the Lord; neither does he sit among the righteous.

33The curse of God is in the houses of the ungodly; but the habitations of the just are blessed.

34¹⁶The Lord resists the proud; but he gives grace to the humble.

35The wise shall inherit glory; but the ungodly have exalted their own dishonor.