1My son, forget not my laws; but let thine heart keep my words:
2for length of existence, and years of life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
3Let not mercy and truth forsake thee; but bind them about thy neck:
4so shalt thou find favour: and do thou provide things honest in the sight of the Lord, and of men.
5Trust in God with all thine heart; and be not exalted in thine own wisdom.
6In all thy ways acquaint thyself with her, that she may rightly direct thy paths.
7Be not wise in thine own conceit; but fear God, and depart from all evil.
8Then shall there be health to thy body, and good keeping to thy bones.
9Honour the Lord with thy just labours, and give him the first of thy fruits of righteousness:
10that thy storehouses may be completely filled with corn, and that thy presses may burst forth with wine.
11My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
12for whom the Lord loves, he rebukes, and scourges every son whom he receives.
13Blessed is the man who has found wisdom, and the mortal who knows prudence.
14For it is better to traffic for her, than for treasures of gold and silver.
15And she is more valuable than precious stones: no evil thing shall resist her: she is well known to all that approach her, and no precious thing is equal to her in value.
16For length of existence and years of life are in her right hand; and in her left hand are wealth and glory:
16aout of her mouth proceeds righteousness, and she carries law and mercy upon her tongue.
17Her ways are good ways, and all her paths are peaceful.
18She is a tree of life to all that lay hold upon her; and she is a secure help to all that stay themselves on her, as on the Lord.
19God by wisdom founded the earth, and by prudence he prepared the heavens.