1  ^hMy son, ⁱdo not forget my teaching,

but let your heart keep my commandments,

2  for ^jlength of days and years of life

and peace they will add to you.

3  Let not ^ksteadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;

^lbind them around your neck;

write them on the tablet of your heart.

4  So you will find favor and ^mgood success¹

in the sight of God and man.

5  ⁿTrust 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 ^omake straight your paths.

7  Be not ^pwise in your own eyes;

^qfear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

8  It will be ^rhealing to your flesh²

and refreshment³ to your bones.

9  Honor the Lord with your wealth

and with the firstfruits of all your produce;

10  then your ^sbarns will be filled with plenty,

and your vats will be bursting with wine.

11  ^tMy son, do not ^udespise the Lord’s ^vdiscipline

or be weary of his reproof,

12  for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,

^was a father the son in whom he delights.

13  ^xBlessed is the one who finds wisdom,

and the one who gets understanding,

14  for the gain from her is ^ybetter than gain from ^zsilver

and her profit better than gold.

15  She is more precious than jewels,

and ^anothing you desire can compare with her.

16  Long life is in her right hand;

in her left hand are riches and honor.

17  Her ways are ways of pleasantness,

and all her paths are peace.

18  She is a ^btree of life to those who ^clay hold of her;

those who hold her fast are called blessed.

19  The Lord ^dby wisdom founded the earth;

by understanding he established the heavens;

20  by his knowledge ^ethe deeps broke open,

and the clouds drop down the dew.

21  My son, ^fdo not lose sight of these—

keep sound wisdom and discretion,

22  and they will be ^glife for your soul

and adornment ^hfor your neck.

23  Then you will ⁱwalk on your way securely,

and your foot will not stumble.

24  ^jIf you lie down, you will not be afraid;

when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

25  Do not be afraid of sudden terror

or of the ruin⁴ of the wicked, ^kwhen it comes,

26  for the Lord will be your confidence

and will keep your foot from being caught.

27  ^lDo not withhold good from those to whom it is due,⁵

when it is in your power to do it.

28  ^mDo not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,

tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.

29  Do not ⁿplan evil against your neighbor,

who dwells trustingly beside you.

30  Do not contend with a man for no reason,

when he has done you no harm.

31  Do not ^oenvy a man of violence

and do not choose any of his ways,

32  for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord,

but the upright are in his confidence.

33  The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,

but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous.

34  ^pToward the scorners he is scornful,

but to the humble he gives favor.⁶

35  The wise will inherit honor,

but fools get^{7 q}disgrace.