Proverbs

1My son! my law forget not, And my commands let thy heart keep,

2For length of days and years, Life and peace they do add to thee.

3Let not kindness and truth forsake thee, Bind them on thy neck, Write them on the tablet of thy heart,

4And find grace and good understanding In the eyes of God and man.

5Trust unto Jehovah with all thy heart, And unto thine own understanding lean not.

6In all thy ways know thou Him, And He doth make straight thy paths.

7Be not wise in thine own eyes, Fear Jehovah, and turn aside from evil.

8Healing it is to thy navel, And moistening to thy bones.

9Honour Jehovah from thy substance, And from the beginning of all thine increase;

10And filled are thy barns [with] plenty, And [with] new wine thy presses break forth.

11Chastisement of Jehovah, my son, despise not, And be not vexed with His reproof,

12For whom Jehovah loveth He reproveth, Even as a father the son He is pleased with.

13O the happiness of a man [who] hath found wisdom, And of a man [who] bringeth forth understanding.

14For better [is] her merchandise Than the merchandise of silver, And than gold — her increase.

15Precious she [is] above rubies, And all thy pleasures are not comparable to her.

16Length of days [is] in her right hand, In her left [are] wealth and honour.

17Her ways [are] ways of pleasantness, And all her paths [are] peace.

18A tree of life she [is] to those laying hold on her, And whoso is retaining her [is] happy.

19Jehovah by wisdom did found the earth, He prepared the heavens by understanding.

20By His knowledge depths have been rent, And clouds do drop dew.

21My son! let them not turn from thine eyes, Keep thou wisdom and thoughtfulness,

22And they are life to thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

23Then thou goest thy way confidently, And thy foot doth not stumble.

24If thou liest down, thou art not afraid, Yea, thou hast lain down, And sweet hath been thy sleep.

25Be not afraid of sudden fear, And of the desolation of the wicked when it cometh.

26For Jehovah is at thy side, And He hath kept thy foot from capture.

27Withhold not good from its owners, When thy hand [is] toward God to do [it].

28Say not thou to thy friend, 'Go, and return, and to-morrow I give,' And substance with thee.

29Devise not against thy neighbour evil, And he sitting confidently with thee.

30Strive not with a man without cause, If he have not done thee evil.

31Be not envious of a man of violence, Nor fix thou on any of his ways.

32For an abomination to Jehovah [is] the perverted, And with the upright [is] His secret counsel.

33The curse of Jehovah [is] in the house of the wicked. And the habitation of the righteous He blesseth.

34If the scorners He doth scorn, Yet to the humble He doth give grace.

35Honour do the wise inherit, And fools are bearing away shame!

1My son, don’t forget my teaching,but let your heart keep my commandments,

2for they will add to you length of days,years of life, and peace.

3Don’t let kindness and truth forsake you.Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.

4So you will find favor,and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

5Trust in the LORD with all your heart,and don’t lean on your own understanding.

6In all your ways acknowledge him,and he will make your paths straight.

7Don’t be wise in your own eyes.Fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

8It will be health to your body,and nourishment to your bones.

9Honor the LORD with your substance,with the first fruits of all your increase;

10so your barns will be filled with plenty,and your vats will overflow with new wine.

11My son, don’t despise the LORD’s discipline,neither be weary of his correction;

12for whom the LORD loves, he corrects,even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.

13Happy is the man who finds wisdom,the man who gets understanding.

14For her good profit is better than getting silver,and her return is better than fine gold.

15She is more precious than rubies.None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her.

16Length of days is in her right hand.In her left hand are riches and honor.

17Her ways are ways of pleasantness.All her paths are peace.

18She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her.Happy is everyone who retains her.

19By wisdom the LORD founded the earth.By understanding, he established the heavens.

20By his knowledge, the depths were broken up,and the skies drop down the dew.

21My son, let them not depart from your eyes.Keep sound wisdom and discretion,

22so they will be life to your soul,and grace for your neck.

23Then you shall walk in your way securely.Your foot won’t stumble.

24When you lie down, you will not be afraid.Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.

25Don’t be afraid of sudden fear,neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes;

26for the LORD will be your confidence,and will keep your foot from being taken.

27Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due,when it is in the power of your hand to do it.

28Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again;tomorrow I will give it to you,” when you have it by you.

29Don’t devise evil against your neighbor,since he dwells securely by you.

30Don’t strive with a man without cause,if he has done you no harm.

31Don’t envy the man of violence.Choose none of his ways.

32For the perverse is an abomination to the LORD,but his friendship is with the upright.

33The LORD’s curse is in the house of the wicked,but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.

34Surely he mocks the mockers,but he gives grace to the humble.

35The wise will inherit glory,but shame will be the promotion of fools.