3 My son, don’t forget my teaching,
keep my commands in your heart;
² for they will add to you many days,
years of life and peace.

³ Do not let grace and truth leave you —
bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
⁴ Then you will win favor and esteem
in the sight of God and of people.

⁵ Trust in Adonai with all your heart;
do not rely on your own understanding.
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him;
then he will level your paths.

⁷ Don’t be conceited about your own wisdom;
but fear Adonai, and turn from evil.
⁸ This will bring health to your body
and give strength to your bones.

⁹ Honor Adonai with your wealth
and with the firstfruits of all your income.
¹⁰ Then your granaries will be filled
and your vats overflow with new wine.

¹¹ My son, don’t despise Adonai’s discipline
or resent his reproof;
¹² for Adonai corrects those he loves
like a father who delights in his son.

¹³ Happy the person who finds wisdom,
the person who acquires understanding;
¹⁴ for her profit exceeds that of silver,
gaining her is better than gold,
¹⁵ she is more precious than pearls —
nothing you want can compare with her.
¹⁶ Long life is in her right hand,
riches and honor in her left.
¹⁷ Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who grasp her;
whoever holds fast to her will be made happy.

¹⁹ Adonai by wisdom founded the earth,
by understanding he established the heavens,
²⁰ by his knowledge the deep [springs] burst open
and the dew condenses from the sky.
²¹ My son, don’t let these slip from your sight;
preserve common sense and discretion;
²² they will be life for your being
and grace for your neck.
²³ Then you will walk your way securely,
without hurting your foot.
²⁴ When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

²⁵ Don’t be afraid of sudden terror or destruction
caused by the wicked, when it comes;
²⁶ for you can rely on Adonai;
he will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.

²⁷ Don’t withhold good from someone entitled to it
when you have in hand the power to do it.
²⁸ Don’t tell your neighbor, “Go away! Come another time;
I’ll give it to you tomorrow,” when you have it now.
²⁹ Don’t plan harm against your neighbor
who lives beside you trustingly.
³⁰ Don’t quarrel with someone for no reason,
if he has done you no harm.
³¹ Don’t envy a man of violence,
don’t choose any of his ways;
³² for the perverse is an abomination to Adonai,
but he shares his secret counsel with the upright.
³³ Adonai’s curse is in the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the righteous.
³⁴ The scornful he scorns,
but gives grace to the humble.
³⁵ The wise win honor,
but fools win shame.