Trust God

3 My child, do not forget what I teach you. Always think carefully about my commands. ² If you obey them, you will live a long life. You will have peace in your mind. and you will enjoy your life.

³ Keep hold of faithful love. That will be like a beautiful necklace that you always wear. Think about what it means to love other people. ⁴ If you do that, you will make God happy. People will also be pleased and they will respect you.

⁵ Trust in the Lord completely. Do not think that you understand things well enough for yourself. ⁶ Whatever you are doing, remember that the Lord is with you. Then he will show you the right way to go.

⁷ Do not think that you are already wise enough. Obey the Lord and refuse to do evil things. ⁸ If you do that, it will make you healthy and strong.

⁹ Show that you respect the Lord in the way that you use your money. Offer the first part of the harvest from your farm to him. ¹⁰ If you do that, you will store more food than you need for yourself. You will have more wine than you can drink.

¹¹ My child, if the Lord warns you that you have done something wrong, accept it. Do not be upset if he warns you. ¹² He is doing it because he loves you. When a father loves his son very much, he warns him when he does something wrong.

Wisdom is a blessing

¹³ Anyone who finds wisdom is in a happy place! So is the person who has learned to understand things.

¹⁴ Wisdom helps people better than silver or gold will ever help them.

¹⁵ Wisdom is more valuable than the most expensive jewels.

Nothing that you might want for yourself is as good as wisdom.

¹⁶ Wisdom is ready to give you a long life. She will also give you riches and honour.^[a]

¹⁷ Wisdom will be your guide through a happy life. She will lead you in ways that keep you safe. ¹⁸ Wisdom is like a tree with fruits that give life to the people who pick them. The Lord blesses everyone who keeps hold of wisdom.

¹⁹ The Lord used wisdom to create the earth. He understood the right way to create the heavens. ²⁰ He used his knowledge to pour water from under the earth into the rivers and seas. He caused the clouds to send down rain.

²¹ My child, always keep hold of wisdom and a good mind. Make sure that you keep them safe. ²² They will give you strength in life. You will enjoy life, like a beautiful necklace that you wear.

²³ You will be safe as you travel through life. There will be no danger to make you fall down. ²⁴ When you lie down to sleep, you will not be afraid. You will sleep well with peace in your mind. ²⁵ You will not be frightened of any trouble that might surprise you. Trouble may destroy wicked people, but you will know that you are safe. ²⁶ The Lord is the one who will take care of you. He will protect you, so that no danger can hurt you.

Wisdom causes you to help other people

²⁷ Do not refuse to help those people who need help. If you are able to help them, do it! ²⁸ If you can give your neighbour the help that he needs, do not say to him, ‘Go away! Come back tomorrow, and then I will help you.’

²⁹ Do not think of ways to hurt your neighbour. You should help him to trust you.

³⁰ Do not quarrel with other people if they have done nothing to hurt you. You have no reason to accuse them of anything wrong.

³¹ Do not be jealous of cruel people. Do not try to copy the things that they do. ³² The Lord hates wicked people. But he makes righteous people his friends.

³³ The Lord curses the homes of wicked people, but he blesses the homes of righteous people. ³⁴ The Lord laughs at proud people who laugh at other people. But he is kind to humble people.

³⁵ Wise people will receive honour. But fools will only have shame.