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¹ My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;² for length of days and years of life and abundant welfare will they give you.³ Let not loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them about your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.⁴ So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man.⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

⁷ Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.⁸ It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.⁹ Honor the LORD with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce;¹⁰ then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.¹¹ 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 a father the son in whom he delights.

¹³ Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gets understanding,¹⁴ for the gain from it is better than gain from silver and its profit better than gold.¹⁵ She is more precious than jewels, and nothing 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 tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called happy.¹⁹ The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens;²⁰ by his knowledge the deeps broke forth, and the clouds drop down the dew.

²¹ My son, keep sound wisdom and discretion; let them not escape from your sight,²² and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck.²³ Then you will walk on your way securely and your foot will not stumble.²⁴ If you sit down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.²⁵ Do not be afraid of sudden panic, or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes;²⁶ for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.

²⁷ Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.²⁸ Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it" --when you have it with you.²⁹ Do not plan 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 envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways;³² for the perverse man 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 abode of the righteous.³⁴ Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he shows favor.³⁵ The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace.