Chapter Text
3:1 My son! my law forget not, And my commands let thy heart keep,
3:2 For length of days and years, Life and peace they do add to thee.
3:3 Let not kindness and truth forsake thee, Bind them on thy neck, Write them on the tablet of thy heart,
3:4 And find grace and good understanding In the eyes of God and man.
3:5 Trust unto Jehovah with all thy heart, And unto thine own understanding lean not.
3:6 In all thy ways know thou Him, And He doth make straight thy paths.
3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes, Fear Jehovah, and turn aside from evil.
3:8 Healing it is to thy navel, And moistening to thy bones.
3:9 Honour Jehovah from thy substance, And from the beginning of all thine increase;
3:10 And filled are thy barns <FI>with<Fi> plenty, And <FI>with<Fi> new wine thy presses break forth.
3:11 Chastisement of Jehovah, my son, despise not, And be not vexed with His reproof,
3:12 For whom Jehovah loveth He reproveth, Even as a father the son He is pleased with.
3:13 O the happiness of a man <FI>who<Fi> hath found wisdom, And of a man <FI>who<Fi> bringeth forth understanding.
3:14 For better <FI>is<Fi> her merchandise Than the merchandise of silver, And than gold--her increase.
3:15 Precious she <FI>is<Fi> above rubies, And all thy pleasures are not comparable to her.
3:16 Length of days <FI>is<Fi> in her right hand, In her left <FI>are<Fi> wealth and honour.
3:17 Her ways <FI>are<Fi> ways of pleasantness, And all her paths <FI>are<Fi> peace.
3:18 A tree of life she <FI>is<Fi> to those laying hold on her, And whoso is retaining her <FI>is<Fi> happy.
3:19 Jehovah by wisdom did found the earth, He prepared the heavens by understanding.
3:20 By His knowledge depths have been rent, And clouds do drop dew.
3:21 My son! let them not turn from thine eyes, Keep thou wisdom and thoughtfulness,
3:22 And they are life to thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
3:23 Then thou goest thy way confidently, And thy foot doth not stumble.
3:24 If thou liest down, thou art not afraid, Yea, thou hast lain down, And sweet hath been thy sleep.
3:25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, And of the desolation of the wicked when it cometh.
3:26 For Jehovah is at thy side, And He hath kept thy foot from capture.
3:27 Withhold not good from its owners, When thy hand <FI>is<Fi> toward God to do <FI>it<Fi> .
3:28 Say not thou to thy friend, `Go, and return, and to-morrow I give,' And substance with thee.
3:29 Devise not against thy neighbour evil, And he sitting confidently with thee.
3:30 Strive not with a man without cause, If he have not done thee evil.
3:31 Be not envious of a man of violence, Nor fix thou on any of his ways.
3:32 For an abomination to Jehovah <FI>is<Fi> the perverted, And with the upright <FI>is<Fi> His secret counsel.
3:33 The curse of Jehovah <FI>is<Fi> in the house of the wicked. And the habitation of the righteous He blesseth.
3:34 If the scorners He doth scorn, Yet to the humble He doth give grace.
3:35 Honour do the wise inherit, And fools are bearing away shame!