1My son, forget not my law, and let thy heart keep my commandments.
2For they shall add to thee length of days, and years of life, and peace.
3Let not mercy aud truth leave thee, put them about thy neck, and write them in the tables of thy heart.
4And thou shalt find grace, and good understanding before God and men.
5Have confidence in the Lord with all thy heart, and lean not upon thy own prudence.
6In all thy ways think on him, and he will direct thy steps.
7Be not wise in thy own conceit: fear God, and depart from evil:
8For it shall be health to thy navel, and moistening to thy bones.
9Honour the Lord with thy substance, and give him of the first of all thy fruits;
10And thy barns shall be filled with abundance, and thy presses shall run over with wine.
11My son, reject not the correction of the Lord: and do not faint when thou art chastised by him:
12For whom the Lord loveth, he chastiseth: and as a father in the son he pleaseth himself.
13Blessed is the man that findeth wisdom, and is rich in prudence:
14The purchasing thereof is better than the merchandise of silver, and her fruit than the chief and purest gold:
15She is more precious than all riches: and all the things that are desired, are not to be compared to her.
16Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and glory.
17Her ways are beautiful ways, and all her paths are peaceable.
18She is a tree of life to them that lay hold on her: and he that shall retain her is blessed.
19The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth, hath established the heavens by prudence.
20By his wisdom the depths have broken out, and the clouds grow thick with dew.
21My son, let not these things depart from thy eyes: keep the law and counsel:
22And there shall be life to thy soul, and grace to thy mouth.
23Then shalt thou walk confidently in thy way, and thy foot shall not stumble:
24If thou sleep, thou shalt not fear: thou shalt rest, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25Be not afraid of sudden fear, nor of the power of the wicked falling upon thee.
26For the Lord will be at thy side, and will keep thy foot that thou be not taken.
27Do not withhold him from doing good, who is able: if thou art able, do good thyself also.
28Say not to thy friend: Go, and come again: and to morrow I will give to thee: when thou canst give at present.
29Practise not evil against thy friend, when he hath confidence in thee.
30Strive not against a man without cause, when he hath done thee no evil.
31Envy not the unjust man, and do not follow his ways.
32For every mocker is an abomination to the Lord, and his communication is with the simple.
33Want is from the Lord in the house of the wicked: but the habitations of the just shall be blessed.
34He shall scorn the scorners, and to the meek he will give grace.
35The wise shall possess glory: the promotion of fools is disgrace.