Chapter 3

The Rewards of Wisdom

1 My son, ado not forget my 1teaching,

But let your heart bkeep my commandments;

2 For alength of days and years of life

And peace they will add to you.

3 Do not let akindness and truth leave you;

bBind them around your neck,

cWrite them on the tablet of your heart.

4 So you will afind favor and bgood 1repute

In the sight of God and man.

5 aTrust in the Lord with all your heart

And bdo not lean on your own understanding.

6 In all your ways aacknowledge Him,

And He will bmake your paths straight.

7 aDo not be wise in your own eyes;

bFear the Lord and turn away from evil.

8 It will be ahealing to your 1body

And brefreshment to your bones.

9 aHonor the Lord from your wealth

And from the bfirst of all your produce;

10 So your abarns will be filled with plenty

And your bvats will overflow with new wine.

11 aMy son, do not reject the 1discipline of the Lord

Or loathe His reproof,

12 For awhom the Lord loves He reproves,

Even bas a father corrects the son in whom he delights.

13 aHow blessed is the man who finds wisdom

And the man who gains understanding.

14 For her aprofit is better than the profit of silver

And her gain better than fine gold.

15 She is amore precious than 1jewels;

And nothing you desire compares with her.

16 1aLong life is in her right hand;

In her left hand are briches and honor.

17 Her aways are pleasant ways

And all her paths are bpeace.

18 She is a atree of life to those who take hold of her,

And happy are all who hold her fast.

19 The Lord aby wisdom founded the earth,

By understanding He bestablished the heavens.

20 By His knowledge the adeeps were broken up

And the bskies drip with dew.

21 My son, alet them not 1vanish from your sight;

Keep sound wisdom and discretion,

22 So they will be alife to your soul

And badornment to your neck.

23 Then you will awalk in your way securely

And your foot will not bstumble.

24 When you alie down, you will not be afraid;

When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

25 aDo not be afraid of sudden fear

Nor of the 1bonslaught of the wicked when it comes;

26 For the Lord will be 1your confidence

And will akeep your foot from being caught.

27 aDo not withhold good from 1those to whom it is due,

When it is in your power to do it.

28 aDo not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back,

And tomorrow I will give it,”

When you have it with you.

29 aDo not devise harm against your neighbor,

While he lives securely beside you.

30 aDo not contend with a man without cause,

If he has done you no harm.

31 aDo not envy a man of violence

And do not choose any of his ways.

32 For the adevious are an abomination to the Lord;

But 1He is bintimate with the upright.

33 The acurse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked,

But He bblesses the dwelling of the righteous.

34 Though aHe scoffs at the scoffers,

Yet bHe gives grace to the afflicted.

35 aThe wise will inherit honor,

But fools 1display dishonor.