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Don’t let kindness and truth forsake you.
    Bind them around your neck.
    Write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will find favor,
    and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

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Let love and faithfulness(A) never leave you;
    bind them around your neck,
    write them on the tablet of your heart.(B)
Then you will win favor and a good name
    in the sight of God and man.(C)

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13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
    the man who gets understanding.
14 For her good profit is better than getting silver,
    and her return is better than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies.
    None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand.
    In her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness.
    All her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her.
    Happy is everyone who retains her.

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13 Blessed are those who find wisdom,
    those who gain understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver
    and yields better returns than gold.(A)
15 She is more precious than rubies;(B)
    nothing you desire can compare with her.(C)
16 Long life is in her right hand;(D)
    in her left hand are riches and honor.(E)
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
    and all her paths are peace.(F)
18 She is a tree of life(G) to those who take hold of her;
    those who hold her fast will be blessed.(H)

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35 The wise will inherit glory,
    but shame will be the promotion of fools.

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35 The wise inherit honor,
    but fools get only shame.

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Wisdom is supreme.
    Get wisdom.
    Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
Esteem her, and she will exalt you.
    She will bring you to honor when you embrace her.
She will give to your head a garland of grace.
    She will deliver a crown of splendor to you.”

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The beginning of wisdom is this: Get[a] wisdom.
    Though it cost all(A) you have,[b] get understanding.(B)
Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
    embrace her, and she will honor you.(C)
She will give you a garland to grace your head
    and present you with a glorious crown.(D)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:7 Or Wisdom is supreme; therefore get
  2. Proverbs 4:7 Or wisdom. / Whatever else you get

The memory of the righteous is blessed,
    but the name of the wicked will rot.

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The name of the righteous(A) is used in blessings,[a]
    but the name of the wicked(B) will rot.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:7 See Gen. 48:20.

16 A gracious woman obtains honor,
    but violent men obtain riches.

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16 A kindhearted woman gains honor,(A)
    but ruthless men gain only wealth.

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26 People curse someone who withholds grain,
    but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
27 He who diligently seeks good seeks favor,
    but he who searches after evil, it shall come to him.

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26 People curse the one who hoards grain,
    but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.

27 Whoever seeks good finds favor,
    but evil comes to one who searches for it.(A)

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A man shall be commended according to his wisdom,
    but he who has a warped mind shall be despised.

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A person is praised according to their prudence,
    and one with a warped(A) mind is despised.

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Better is he who is little known, and has a servant,
    than he who honors himself, and lacks bread.

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Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant
    than pretend to be somebody and have no food.

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15 Good understanding wins favor,
    but the way of the unfaithful is hard.

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15 Good judgment wins favor,
    but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:15 Septuagint and Syriac; the meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.

18 Poverty and shame come to him who refuses discipline,
    but he who heeds correction shall be honored.

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18 Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame,(A)
    but whoever heeds correction is honored.(B)

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35 The king’s favor is toward a servant who deals wisely,
    but his wrath is toward one who causes shame.

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35 A king delights in a wise servant,
    but a shameful servant arouses his fury.(A)

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