Trust, Fear, and Honor Yahweh
My son, ado not forget my law,
But let your heart bguard my commandments;
2 For alength of days and years of life
And peace they will add to you.
3 Do not let alovingkindness and truth forsake you;
bBind them around your neck,
cWrite them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will afind favor and bgood insight
In the eyes of God and man.
5 aTrust in Yahweh with all your heart
And bdo not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways aacknowledge Him,
And He will bmake your paths straight.
7 aDo not be wise in your own eyes;
bFear Yahweh and turn away from evil.
8 It will be ahealing to your body
And brefreshment to your bones.
9 aHonor Yahweh from your wealth
And from the bfirst of all your produce;
10 So your abarns will be filled with plenty
And your bvats will burst with new wine.
11 aMy son, do not reject the discipline of Yahweh
Or loathe His reproof,
12 For awhom Yahweh loves He reproves,
Even bas a father reproves the son in whom he delights.
13 aHow blessed is the man who finds wisdom
And the man who obtains discernment.
14 For her aprofit is better than the profit of silver
And her produce better than fine gold.
15 She is amore precious than pearls;
And nothing you desire compares with her.
16 aLength of days is in her right hand;
In her left hand are briches and glory.
17 Her aways are pleasant ways
And all her pathways are bpeace.
18 She is a atree of life to those who seize her,
And all those who hold her fast are blessed.
19 Yahweh aby wisdom founded the earth,
By discernment He bestablished the heavens.
20 By His knowledge the adeeps were split up
And the bskies drip with dew.
21 My son, alet them not deviate from your eyes;
Guard sound wisdom and discretion,
22 So they will be alife for your soul
And bgrace for your neck.
23 Then you will awalk in your way securely
And your foot will not bstumble.
24 When you alie down, you will not be in dread;
You will lie down, and your sleep will be pleasant.
25 aDo not be afraid of sudden dread
Nor of the bstorm of the wicked when it comes;
26 For Yahweh 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 hand to do it.
28 aDo not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it,”
When it is there with you.
29 aDo not devise harm against your neighbor,
While he lives securely beside you.
30 aDo not contend with a man without cause,
If he has dealt you no harm.
31 aDo not envy a man of violence
And do not choose any of his ways.
32 For the adevious one is an abomination to Yahweh;
But His bsecret council is with the upright.
33 The acurse of Yahweh is on the house of the wicked one,
But He bblesses the abode of the righteous.
34 Though aHe scoffs at the scoffers,
Yet bHe gives grace to the humble.
35 aThe wise will inherit glory,
But fools raise up disgrace.