The Rewards of Wisdom
3 My son, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments;
2 for length of days and long life
and peace will they add to you.
3 Do not let mercy and truth forsake you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart,
4 so you will find favor and good understanding
in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He will direct your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and depart from evil.
8 It will be health to your body,
and strength to your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your substance,
and with the first fruits of all your increase;
10 so your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your presses will burst out with new wine.
11 My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
nor be weary of His correction;
12 for whom the Lord loves He corrects,
even as a father the son in whom he delights.
13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
and the man who gets understanding;
14 for her benefit is more profitable than silver,
and her gain than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies,
and all the things you may desire are not to be compared with her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand,
and in her left hand riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
and happy is everyone who retains her.
19 The Lord by wisdom has founded the earth;
by understanding He has established the heavens;
20 by His knowledge the depths are broken up,
and the clouds 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 grace to your neck.
23 Then you will walk safely in your way,
and your foot will not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror,
nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;
26 for the Lord will be your confidence,
and will keep your foot from being caught.
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
28 Do not say to your neighbor,
“Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give it,”
when you have it with you.
29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor,
seeing he dwells securely by you.
30 Do not strive with a man without cause,
if he has done you no harm.
31 Do not envy the oppressor,
and choose none of his ways;
32 for the perverse is an abomination to the Lord,
but His secret counsel is with the righteous.
33 The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked,
but He blesses the habitation of the just.
34 Surely He scorns the scornful,
but He gives favor to the humble.
35 The wise will inherit glory,
but shame will be the legacy of fools.
