Chapter 3

My son, forget⁴ not my law; but let thine heart keep⁴ my commandments:

For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add⁵⁵ to thee.

Let not mercy and truth forsake⁴ thee: bind³ them about thy neck; write³ them upon the table of thine heart:

So shalt thou find³ favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

Trust³ in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean¹¹ not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge³ him, and he shall direct¹⁷ thy paths.

Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear³ the LORD, and depart³ from evil.

It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

Honour¹⁶ the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

So shall thy barns be filled¹¹ with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out⁴ with new wine.

My son, despise⁴ not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary⁴ of his correction:

For whom the LORD loveth⁴ he correcteth;⁵⁵ even as a father the son [in whom] he delighteth.⁴

Happy [is] the man [that] findeth¹ wisdom, and the man [that] getteth⁵⁵ understanding.

For the merchandise of it [is] better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

She [is] more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared⁴ unto her.

Length of days [is] in her right hand; [and] in her left hand riches and honour.

Her ways [are] ways of pleasantness, and all her paths [are] peace.

She [is] a tree of life to them that lay hold⁵⁶ upon her: and happy³⁰ [is every one] that retaineth⁶ her.

The LORD by wisdom hath founded¹ the earth; by understanding hath he established³¹ the heavens.

By his knowledge the depths are broken up,⁸ and the clouds drop down⁴ the dew.

My son, let not them depart⁴ from thine eyes: keep³ sound wisdom and discretion:

So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

Then shalt thou walk⁴ in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.⁴

When thou liest down,⁴ thou shalt not be afraid:⁴ yea, thou shalt lie down,¹ and thy sleep shall be sweet.¹

Be not afraid⁴ of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.⁴

For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep¹ thy foot from being taken.

Withhold⁴ not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do² [it].

Say⁴ not unto thy neighbour, Go,³ and come again,³ and to morrow I will give;⁴ when thou hast it by thee.

Devise⁴ not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth⁶ securely by thee.

Strive⁴ not with a man without cause, if he have done¹ thee no harm.

Envy¹⁷ thou not the oppressor, ²⁵⁵⁵ and choose⁴ none of his ways.

For the froward¹² [is] abomination to the LORD: but his secret [is] with the righteous.

The curse of the LORD [is] in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth¹⁷ the habitation of the just.

Surely he scorneth⁵⁵ the scorners:⁵ but he giveth⁴ grace unto the lowly. ⁶⁰⁴¹

The wise shall inherit⁴ glory: but shame shall be the promotion⁵⁶ of fools.