Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart
aMy son, do not forget my teaching,
bbut let your heart keep my commandments,
2 for alength of days and years of life
and bpeace they will add to you.
3 Let not asteadfast love and bfaithfulness forsake you;
cbind them around your neck;
dwrite them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will afind favor and bgood success
in the sight of God and man.
5 aTrust in the Lord with all your heart,
and bdo not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways aacknowledge him,
and he bwill make straight your paths.
7 aBe not wise in your own eyes;
bfear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be ahealing to your flesh
and brefreshment to your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with athe firstfruits of all your produce;
10 then your abarns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine.
11 aMy son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline
or be weary of his reproof,
12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,
as aa father the son in whom he delights.
Blessed Is the One Who Finds Wisdom
13 aBlessed is the one who finds wisdom,
and the one who gets understanding,
14 afor the gain from her is better than gain from silver
and her profit better than bgold.
15 She is more precious than ajewels,
and bnothing you desire can compare with her.
16 aLong life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are briches and honor.
17 Her aways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is aa tree of life to those who blay hold of her;
those who hold her fast are called blessed.
19 aThe Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
by understanding ahe established the heavens;
20 by his knowledge athe deeps broke open,
and bthe clouds drop down the dew.
21 My son, ado not lose sight of these—
keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 and they will be alife for your soul
and badornment for your neck.
23 aThen you will walk on your way securely,
band your foot will not stumble.
24 aIf you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, byour sleep will be sweet.
25 aDo not be afraid of sudden terror
or of bthe ruin of the wicked, when it comes,
26 for the Lord will be your confidence
and will akeep your foot from being caught.
27 aDo not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to do it.
28 aDo not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,
tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.
29 aDo not plan evil against your neighbor,
who bdwells trustingly beside you.
30 aDo not contend with a man for no reason,
when he has done you no harm.
31 aDo not envy ba man of violence
and do not choose any of his ways,
32 for athe devious person is an abomination to the Lord,
but the upright are bin his confidence.
33 aThe Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he bblesses the dwelling of the righteous.
34 Toward the ascorners he bis scornful,
cbut to the humble he gives favor.
35 The wise will inherit honor,
but fools get disgrace.