1 My sonne, forget not thou my Lawe, but let thine heart keepe my commandements. 2 For they shall increase the length of thy dayes and the yeeres of life, and thy prosperitie. 3 Let not mercie and trueth forsake thee: binde them on thy necke, and write them vpon the table of thine heart. 4 So shalt thou finde fauour and good vnderstanding in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and leane not vnto thine owne wisdome. 6 In all thy wayes acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy wayes. 7 Be not wise in thine owne eyes: but feare the Lord, and depart from euill. 8 So health shalbe vnto thy nauel, and marowe vnto thy bones. 9 Honour the Lord with thy riches, and with the first fruites of all thine increase. 10 So shall thy barnes be filled with abundance, and thy presses shall burst with newe wine. 11 My sonne, refuse not the chastening of the Lord, neither be grieued with his correction. 12 For the Lord correcteth him, whome he loueth, euen as the father doeth the childe in whom he deliteth. 13 Blessed is the man that findeth wisedome, and the man that getteth vnderstanding. 14 For the marchandise thereof is better then the marchandise of siluer, and the gaine thereof is better then golde. 15 It is more precious then pearles: and all things that thou canst desire, are not to be compared vnto her. 16 Length of dayes is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and glory. 17 Her wayes are wayes of pleasure, and all her pathes prosperitie. 18 She is a tree of life to them that lay holde on her, and blessed is he that retaineth her. 19 The Lord by wisdome hath layde the foundation of the earth, and hath stablished the heauens through vnderstanding. 20 By his knowledge the depthes are broken vp, and the cloudes droppe downe the dewe. 21 My sonne, let not these things depart from thine eyes, but obserue wisdome, and counsell. 22 So they shalbe life to thy soule, and grace vnto thy necke. 23 Then shalt thou walke safely by thy way: and thy foote shall not stumble. 24 If thou sleepest, thou shalt not bee afraide, and when thou sleepest, thy sleepe shalbe sweete. 25 Thou shalt not feare for any sudden feare, neither for the destruction of the wicked, when it commeth. 26 For the Lord shall be for thine assurance, and shall preserue thy foote from taking. 27 Withhold not the good from the owners thereof, though there be power in thine hand to doe it. 28 Say not vnto thy neighbour, Go and come againe, and to morow wil I giue thee, if thou now haue it. 29 Intend none hurt against thy neighbour, seeing he doeth dwell without feare by thee. 30 Striue not with a man causelesse, when he hath done thee no harme. 31 Bee not enuious for the wicked man, neither chuse any of his wayes. 32 For the frowarde is abomination vnto the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous. 33 The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the righteous. 34 With the scornefull he scorneth, but hee giueth grace vnto the humble. 35 The wise shall inherite glorie: but fooles dishonour, though they be exalted.
1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: 2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. 3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: 4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5 ¶ Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 ¶ Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. 8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. 9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
11 ¶ My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: 12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
13 ¶ Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. 14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. 16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her. 19 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. 20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
21 ¶ My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: 22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. 23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. 24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. 25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. 26 For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
27 ¶ Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it . 28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee. 29 Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
30 ¶ Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
31 ¶ Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. 32 For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.
33 ¶ The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just. 34 Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly. 35 The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.