1My son, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments;
1My son, do not forget my instruction, and let your heart keep my commands.
2for they will add length to your days,
years and peace to your life.
2For length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.
3Never let loving devotiona or faithfulness leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
3And do not let loving devotion and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.
4Then you will find favor and high regard
in the sight of God and man.
4And you will find favor and good understanding in the eyes of God and man.
5Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and lean not on your own understanding;
5Put your trust unto YHWH with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding.
6in all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He will make your paths straight.
6In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.
7Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
7Do not be wise in your own eyes, fear YHWH and turn away from evil.
8This will bring healing to your bodya
and refreshmentb to your bones.
8Healing it will be to your navel, and refreshment to your bones.
9Honor the LORD with your wealth
and with the firstfruits of all your crops;
9Honor YHWH from your wealth, and from the first of all your produce,
10then your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will overflow with new wine.
10and your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD,
and do not loathe His rebuke;a
11My son, do not despise the discipline of YHWH, and do not be grieved by His reproof,
12for the LORD disciplines the one He loves,
as does a father the son in whom he delights.a
12for whom YHWH loves, He reproves, even as a father the son he is pleased with.
13Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,
the man who acquires understanding,
13Blessed is the man who has found wisdom, and the man who brings forth understanding,
14for she is more profitable than silver,
and her gain is better than fine gold.
14for better is the profit from her than profits of silver, and her produce than fine gold.
15She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire compares with her.
15Precious she is above rubies, and all your delights do not compare with her.
16Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
16Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand are wealth and honor.
17All her ways are pleasant,
and all her paths are peaceful.
17Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18She is a tree of life to those who embrace her,
and those who lay hold of her are blessed.
18A tree of life she is to those taking hold on her, and those grasping her are blessed.
19The LORD founded the earth by wisdom
and established the heavens by understanding.
19YHWH by wisdom founded the earth; He established the heavens by understanding;
20By His knowledge the watery depths were broken open,
and the clouds dripped with dew.
20by His knowledge the depths have been broken up, and the clouds dripped dew.
21My son, do not lose sight of this:
Preserve sound judgment and discernment.
21My son, do not do let them depart from your eyes; keep watch over wisdom and discretion,
22They will be life to your soul
and adornment to your neck.
22and they will be life for your soul, and grace for your neck.
23Then you will go on your way in safety,
and your foot will not stumble.
23Then you will walk your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.
24When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you rest, your sleep will be sweet.
24If you lie down, you will not dread; and you have lain down, and your sleep shall be pleasant.
25Do not fear sudden danger
or the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
25Do not be afraid from sudden dread, and from the desolation of the wicked when it comes.
26for the LORD will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from the snare.
26For YHWH is at your flank, and He will guard your foot from capture.
27Do not withhold good from the deservinga
when it is within your power to act.
27Do not withhold good from its owners, with it being in the power of your hand to act.
28Do not tell your neighbor,
“Come back tomorrow and I will provide”—
when you already have the means.
28You must not say to your neighbor, “Go and return, and tomorrow I will give”—and it is with you.
29Do not devise evil against your neighbor,
for he trustfully dwells beside you.
29Do not devise evil against your neighbor, for he is dwelling in trust with you.
30Do not accuse a man without cause,
when he has done you no harm.
30Do not strive with a man without cause, if he has not dealt with you for evil.
31Do not envy a violent man
or choose any of his ways;
31Do not be envious of a man of violence, and do not choose any of his ways.
32for the LORD detests the perverse,
but He is a friend to the upright.
32For a perverse one is an abomination to YHWH, and with the upright is His secret counsel.
33The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked,
but He blesses the home of the righteous.
33The curse of YHWH is on the house of the wicked one, but the abode of the righteous He blesses.
34He mocks the mockers,
but gives grace to the humble.a
34If He mocks at those mocking, then He gives favor to the humble.
35The wise will inherit honor,
but fools are held up to shame.
35The wise will inherit honor, and fools are held up to disgrace.