1 - My son, keep my teaching in your memory, and my rules in your heart:
2 - For they will give you increase of days, years of life, and peace.
3 - Let not mercy and good faith go from you; let them be hanging round your neck, recorded on your heart;
4 - So you will have grace and a good name in the eyes of God and men.
5 - Put all your hope in God, not looking to your reason for support.
6 - In all your ways give ear to him, and he will make straight your footsteps.
7 - Put no high value on your wisdom: let the fear of the Lord be before you, and keep yourself from evil:
8 - This will give strength to your flesh, and new life to your bones.
9 - Give honour to the Lord with your wealth, and with the first-fruits of all your increase:
10 - So your store-houses will be full of grain, and your vessels overflowing with new wine.
11 - My son, do not make your heart hard against the Lord's teaching; do not be made angry by his training:
12 - For to those who are dear to him the Lord says sharp words, and makes the son in whom he has delight undergo pain.
13 - Happy is the man who makes discovery of wisdom, and he who gets knowledge.
14 - For trading in it is better than trading in silver, and its profit greater than bright gold.
15 - She is of more value than jewels, and nothing for which you may have a desire is fair in comparison with her.
16 - Long life is in her right hand, and in her left are wealth and honour.
17 - Her ways are ways of delight, and all her goings are peace.
18 - She is a tree of life to all who take her in their hands, and happy is everyone who keeps her.
19 - The Lord by wisdom put in position the bases of the earth; by reason he put the heavens in their place.
20 - By his knowledge the deep was parted, and dew came dropping from the skies.
21 - My son, keep good sense, and do not let wise purpose go from your eyes.
22 - So they will be life for your soul, and grace for your neck.
23 - Then you will go safely on your way, and your feet will have no cause for slipping.
24 - When you take your rest you will have no fear, and on your bed sleep will be sweet to you.
25 - Have no fear of sudden danger, or of the storm which will come on evil-doers:
26 - For the Lord will be your hope, and will keep your foot from being taken in the net.
27 - Do not keep back good from those who have a right to it, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
28 - Say not to your neighbour, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when you have it by you at the time.
29 - Do not make evil designs against your neighbour, when he is living with you without fear.
30 - Do not take up a cause at law against a man for nothing, if he has done you no wrong.
31 - Have no envy of the violent man, or take any of his ways as an example.
32 - For the wrong-hearted man is hated by the Lord, but he is a friend to the upright.
33 - The curse of the Lord is on the house of the evil-doer, but his blessing is on the tent of the upright.
34 - He makes sport of the men of pride, but he gives grace to the gentle-hearted.
35 - The wise will have glory for their heritage, but shame will be the reward of the foolish.