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^1 (a)My son, do not forget my teaching,
    ^(b)but let your heart keep my commandments,
² for ^(c)length of days and years of life
    and ^(d)peace they will add to you.

³ Let not ^(e)steadfast love and ^(f)faithfulness forsake you;
    ^(g)bind them around your neck;
    ^(h)write them on the tablet of your heart.
⁴ So you will ⁽ⁱ⁾find favor and ^(j)good success^[a]
    in the sight of God and man.

^5 (k)Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and ^(l)do not lean on your own understanding.
⁶ In all your ways ^(m)acknowledge him,
    and he ⁽ⁿ⁾will make straight your paths.
^7 (o)Be not wise in your own eyes;
    ^(p)fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
⁸ It will be ^(q)healing to your flesh^[b]
    and ^(r)refreshment^[c] to your bones.

⁹ Honor the Lord with your wealth
    and with ^(s)the firstfruits of all your produce;
¹⁰ then your ^(t)barns will be filled with plenty,
    and your vats will be bursting with wine.

^11 (u)My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline
    or be weary of his reproof,
¹² for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,
    as ^(v)a father the son in whom he delights.

^13 (w)Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
    and the one who gets understanding,
^14 (x)for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
    and her profit better than ^(y)gold.
¹⁵ She is more precious than ^(z)jewels,
    and ^(aa)nothing you desire can compare with her.
^16 (ab)Long life is in her right hand;
    in her left hand are ^(ac)riches and honor.
¹⁷ Her ^(ad)ways are ways of pleasantness,
    and all her paths are peace.
¹⁸ She is ^(ae)a tree of life to those who ^(af)lay hold of her;
    those who hold her fast are called blessed.

^19 (ag)The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
    by understanding ^(ah)he established the heavens;
²⁰ by his knowledge ^(ai)the deeps broke open,
    and ^(aj)the clouds drop down the dew.

²¹ My son, ^(ak)do not lose sight of these—
    keep sound wisdom and discretion,
²² and they will be ^(al)life for your soul
    and ^(am)adornment for your neck.
^23 (an)Then you will walk on your way securely,
    ^(ao)and your foot will not stumble.
^24 (ap)If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
    when you lie down, ^(aq)your sleep will be sweet.
^25 (ar)Do not be afraid of sudden terror
    or of ^(as)the ruin^[d] of the wicked, when it comes,
²⁶ for the Lord will be your confidence
    and will ^(at)keep your foot from being caught.
^27 (au)Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,^[e]
    when it is in your power to do it.

^28 (av)Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again,
    tomorrow I will give it"—when you have it with you.
^29 (aw)Do not plan evil against your neighbor,
    who ^(ax)dwells trustingly beside you.
^30 (ay)Do not contend with a man for no reason,
    when he has done you no harm.
^31 (az)Do not envy ^(ba)a man of violence
    and do not choose any of his ways,
³² for ^(bb)the devious person is an abomination to the Lord,
    but the upright are ^(bc)in his confidence.
^33 (bd)The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked,
    but he ^(be)blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
³⁴ Toward the ^(bf)scorners he ^(bg)is scornful,
    ^(bh)but to the humble he gives favor.^[f]
35 The wise will inherit honor,
    but fools get^[g] disgrace.