1My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: 2For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.3.2 long…: Heb. years of life 3Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: 4So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.3.4 good…: or, good success
5¶ Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7¶ Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. 8It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.3.8 health: Heb. medicine3.8 marrow: Heb. watering, or, moistening 9Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
11¶ My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: 12For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
13¶ Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.3.13 that getteth…: Heb. that draweth out understanding 14For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. 15She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. 16Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. 17Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 18She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her. 19The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.3.19 established: or, prepared 20By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
21¶ My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: 22So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. 23Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. 24When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. 25Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. 26For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
27¶ Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.3.27 them…: Heb. the owners thereof 28Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee. 29Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.3.29 Devise…: or, Practise no evil
30¶ Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
31¶ Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.3.31 the oppressor: Heb. a man of violence 32For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.
33¶ The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just. 34Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly. 35The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.3.35 shall be…: Heb. exalteth the fools
信靠耶和華
1孩子啊，不要忘記我的訓言，
要把我的誡命存在心裡，
2因為這必使你延年益壽，
幸福平安。
3不要讓慈愛和信實離開你，
要把他們繫在你的頸項上，
刻在你的心坎上。
4這樣，你必蒙上帝和世人的喜悅，
享有美譽。
5你要全心信靠耶和華，
不可倚靠自己的悟性。
6凡事都要尋求祂，
祂必指引你走正路。
7不要自以為有智慧，
要敬畏耶和華，遠離惡事。
8這樣可醫治你的身體，
滋潤你的筋骨。
9你要用自己的財富和一切初熟的物產來尊崇耶和華，
10祂必使你五穀滿倉，
榨酒池溢出新釀。
11孩子啊，不可輕視耶和華的管教，
也不可厭煩祂的責備。
12因為耶和華責備祂所愛的人，
就像父親責備他所疼愛的孩子。
13找到智慧、得到悟性的人有福了，
14因為智慧比銀子更有價值，
比金子更有益處，
15比珠寶更珍貴；
你所喜愛的一切都難以相比。
16智慧的右手有長壽，
左手有富貴和尊榮。
17她的路上有福樂，
她的道上有平安。
18對持守智慧的人來說，
智慧是生命樹，
緊握智慧的人必蒙祝福。
19耶和華以智慧奠立大地，
以悟性鋪設諸天；
20祂的知識使深淵裂開，
使天上降下甘霖。
21孩子啊，你要守護智慧和明辨力，
別讓她們離開你的視線。
22她們必給你帶來生命，
作你頸項上華美的裝飾。
23如此，你必步履穩健，不致失足；
24你必安然躺臥，睡得香甜。
25不要怕突來的災禍，
不要怕惡人遭毀滅，
26因為耶和華是你的靠山，
祂使你的腳不陷入網羅。
27倘若有力量行善，
就當幫助有需要的人，不要推託。
28倘若可以幫忙，
就不可對有求於你的鄰人說：
「回去吧，明天再來，我必給你！」
29鄰舍在你附近安分居住，
不可謀害他。
30別人若沒有害你，
不要無故與他相爭。
31不要羡慕殘暴之徒，
也不可步其後塵，
32因為耶和華憎惡邪僻之徒，
喜愛正直的人。
33耶和華咒詛惡人的家，
賜福義人的家。
34耶和華譏笑好譏誚的人，
恩待謙卑的人。
35智者得尊榮，
愚人受羞辱。
