| [1] | My son, keep my teaching in your memory, and my rules in your heart: |
| [2] | For they will give you increase of days, years of life, and peace. |
| [3] | Let not mercy and good faith go from you; let them be hanging round your neck, recorded on your heart; |
| [4] | So you will have grace and a good name in the eyes of God and men. |
| [5] | Put all your hope in God, not looking to your reason for support. |
| [6] | In all your ways give ear to him, and he will make straight your footsteps. |
| [7] | Put no high value on your wisdom: let the fear of the Lord be before you, and keep yourself from evil: |
| [8] | This will give strength to your flesh, and new life to your bones. |
| [9] | Give honour to the Lord with your wealth, and with the first-fruits of all your increase: |
| [10] | So your store-houses will be full of grain, and your vessels overflowing with new wine. |
| [11] | My son, do not make your heart hard against the Lord's teaching; do not be made angry by his training: |
| [12] | For to those who are dear to him the Lord says sharp words, and makes the son in whom he has delight undergo pain. |
| [13] | Happy is the man who makes discovery of wisdom, and he who gets knowledge. |
| [14] | For trading in it is better than trading in silver, and its profit greater than bright gold. |
| [15] | She is of more value than jewels, and nothing for which you may have a desire is fair in comparison with her. |
| [16] | Long life is in her right hand, and in her left are wealth and honour. |
| [17] | Her ways are ways of delight, and all her goings are peace. |
| [18] | She is a tree of life to all who take her in their hands, and happy is everyone who keeps her. |
| [19] | The Lord by wisdom put in position the bases of the earth; by reason he put the heavens in their place. |
| [20] | By his knowledge the deep was parted, and dew came dropping from the skies. |
| [21] | My son, keep good sense, and do not let wise purpose go from your eyes. |
| [22] | So they will be life for your soul, and grace for your neck. |
| [23] | Then you will go safely on your way, and your feet will have no cause for slipping. |
| [24] | When you take your rest you will have no fear, and on your bed sleep will be sweet to you. |
| [25] | Have no fear of sudden danger, or of the storm which will come on evil-doers: |
| [26] | For the Lord will be your hope, and will keep your foot from being taken in the net. |
| [27] | Do not keep back good from those who have a right to it, when it is in the power of your hand to do it. |
| [28] | Say not to your neighbour, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when you have it by you at the time. |
| [29] | Do not make evil designs against your neighbour, when he is living with you without fear. |
| [30] | Do not take up a cause at law against a man for nothing, if he has done you no wrong. |
| [31] | Have no envy of the violent man, or take any of his ways as an example. |
| [32] | For the wrong-hearted man is hated by the Lord, but he is a friend to the upright. |
| [33] | The curse of the Lord is on the house of the evil-doer, but his blessing is on the tent of the upright. |
| [34] | He makes sport of the men of pride, but he gives grace to the gentle-hearted. |
| [35] | The wise will have glory for their heritage, but shame will be the reward of the foolish. |