3
1 My son, don’t forget my teaching;
but keep my mitzvot ·instructions· in your heart:
2 for length of days, and years of life,
and peace, will they add to you.
3 Don’t let chesed ·loving-kindness· and truth forsake you.
Bind them around your neck.
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will find chen ·grace·,
and good understanding in the sight of God and man. * †
5 Trust in Adonai with all your heart,
and don’t lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
7 Don’t be wise in your own eyes.
Fear Adonai, and depart from evil.
8 It will be health to your body,
and nourishment to your bones.
9 Honor Adonai with your substance,
with the first fruits of all your increase:
10 so your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 My son, don’t despise Adonai’s discipline,
neither be despondent when he corrects you:
12 for whom Adonai 'ahav ·affectionately loves·, he reproves; ‡
even as a father § reproves his son * in whom he delights.
13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
the man who gets understanding.
14 For her good profit is better than getting silver,
and her teshuvah ·complete return· is better than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies.
None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand.
In her left hand are riches and kavod ·weighty glory·.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness.
All her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her.
Happy is everyone who retains her.
19 By wisdom Adonai founded the earth.
By understanding, he established the heavens.
20 By his knowledge, the depths were broken up,
and the skies drop down the dew.
21 My son, let them not depart from your eyes.
Keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22 so they will be life to your soul,
and chen ·grace· for your neck.
23 Then you shall walk in your way securely.
Your foot won’t stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid.
Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.
25 Don’t be afraid of sudden fear,
neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes:
26 for Adonai will be your confidence,
and will keep your foot from being taken.
27 Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
28 Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again;
tomorrow I will give it to you,”
when you have it by you.
29 Don’t devise evil against your neighbor,
since he dwells securely by you.
30 Don’t strive with a man without cause,
if he has done you no harm.
31 Don’t envy the man of violence.
Choose none of his ways.
32 For the perverse is an abomination to Adonai,
but his friendship is with the upright.
33 Adonai’s curse is in the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the habitation of the upright.
34 Surely he opposes the mockers,
but he gives chen ·grace· to the humble. †
35 The wise will inherit kavod ·weighty glory·,
but shame will be the promotion of fools.
* 3:4 Greek Septuagint version: “So shall you find favor: and you do provide what is right in the sight of Adonai and of men.” † 3:4 Greek Septuagint is Quoted in 2 Cor 8:21 ‡ 3:12 . Quoted in Rev 3:19 § 3:12 . Quoted in Heb 12:7 * 3:12 . (11-12) Quoted in Heb 12:5-6 † 3:34 . Quoted in James 4:6; 1 Pet 5:5