| Chapter 3 |
1 |
My son, forget not my teaching, and let thy heart observe my commandments; |
2 |
for length of days, and years of life, and peace shall they add to thee. |
3 |
Let not loving-kindness and truth forsake thee; bind them about thy neck, write them upon the tablet of thy heart: |
4 |
and thou shalt find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. |
5 |
Confide in Jehovah with all thy heart, and lean not unto thine own intelligence; |
6 |
in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will make plain thy paths. |
7 |
Be not wise in thine own eyes; fear Jehovah, and depart from evil: |
8 |
it shall be health for thy navel, and moisture for thy bones. |
9 |
Honour Jehovah with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase; |
10 |
so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy vats shall overflow with new wine. |
11 |
My son, despise not the instruction of Jehovah, neither be weary of his chastisement; |
12 |
for whom Jehovah loveth he chasteneth, even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. |
13 |
Blessed is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. |
14 |
For the gain thereof is better than the gain of silver, and her revenue than fine gold. |
15 |
She is more precious than rubies; and all the things thou canst desire are not equal unto her. |
16 |
Length of days is in her right hand; 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 he that retaineth her. |
19 |
Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens. |
20 |
By his knowledge the deeps were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew. |
21 |
My son, let them not depart from thine eyes; keep sound wisdom and discretion: |
22 |
so shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace unto thy neck. |
23 |
Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, and thy foot shall not stumble; |
24 |
when thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid, but thou shalt lie down and thy sleep shall be sweet. |
25 |
Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the destruction of the wicked, when it cometh; |
26 |
for Jehovah shall be thy confidence, and he will keep thy foot from being taken. |
27 |
Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thy 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 not the man of violence, and choose none of his ways. |
32 |
For the perverse is an abomination to Jehovah; but his secret is with the upright. |
33 |
The curse of Jehovah is in the house of the wicked; but he blesseth the habitation of the righteous. |
34 |
He indeed scorneth the scorners; but he giveth grace unto the lowly. |
35 |
The wise shall inherit glory; but shame shall be the promotion of the foolish. |