3
The Rewards of Wisdom
My son, Ado not forget my 1teaching,
But let your heart Bkeep my commandments;
For Alength of days and years of life
And peace they will add to you.
Do not let Akindness and truth leave you;
BBind them around your neck,
CWrite them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will Afind favor and Bgood 1repute
In the sight of God and man.
ATrust in the Loʀᴅ with all your heart
And Bdo not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways Aacknowledge Him,
And He will Bmake your paths straight.
ADo not be wise in your own eyes;
BFear the Loʀᴅ and turn away from evil.
It will be Ahealing to your 1body
And Brefreshment to your bones.
AHonor the Loʀᴅ 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 Loʀᴅ
Or loathe His reproof,
12 For Awhom the Loʀᴅ 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 Loʀᴅ 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 Loʀᴅ 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 Loʀᴅ;
But 1He is Bintimate with the upright.
33 The Acurse of the Loʀᴅ 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.
A 3:1 Ps 119:61; Prov 4:5 1 3:1 Or law B 3:1 Ex 20:6; Deut 30:16 A 3:2 Ps 91:16; Prov 3:16; 4:10; 9:11; 10:27 A 3:3 2 Sam 15:20; Prov 14:22 B 3:3 Deut 6:8; 11:18; Prov 1:9; 6:21 C 3:3 Prov 7:3; Jer 17:1; 2 Cor 3:3 A 3:4 1 Sam 2:26; Prov 8:35; Luke 2:52 B 3:4 Ps 111:10 1 3:4 Lit understanding A 3:5 Ps 37:3, 5; Prov 22:19 B 3:5 Prov 23:4; Jer 9:23 A 3:6 1 Chr 28:9; Prov 16:3; Phil 4:6; James 1:5 B 3:6 Is 45:13; Jer 10:23 A 3:7 Rom 12:16 B 3:7 Job 1:1; 28:28; Prov 8:13; 16:6 A 3:8 Prov 4:22 1 3:8 Lit navel B 3:8 Job 21:24 A 3:9 Is 43:23 B 3:9 Ex 23:19; Deut 26:2; Mal 3:10 A 3:10 Deut 28:8 B 3:10 Joel 2:24 A 3:11 Job 5:17; Heb 12:5, 6 1 3:11 Or instruction A 3:12 Rev 3:19 B 3:12 Deut 8:5; Prov 13:24 A 3:13 Prov 8:32, 34 A 3:14 Job 28:15-19; Prov 8:10, 19; 16:16 A 3:15 Job 28:18; Prov 8:11 1 3:15 Lit corals 1 3:16 Lit Length of days A 3:16 Prov 3:2 B 3:16 Prov 8:18; 22:4 A 3:17 Matt 11:29 B 3:17 Ps 119:165; Prov 16:7 A 3:18 Gen 2:9; Prov 11:30; 13:12; 15:4; Rev 2:7 A 3:19 Ps 104:24; Prov 8:27 B 3:19 Prov 8:27, 28 A 3:20 Gen 7:11 B 3:20 Deut 33:28; Job 36:28 A 3:21 Prov 4:21 1 3:21 Lit depart A 3:22 Deut 32:47; Prov 4:22; 8:35; 16:22; 21:21 B 3:22 Prov 1:9 A 3:23 Prov 4:12; 10:9 B 3:23 Ps 91:12; Is 5:27; 63:13 A 3:24 Job 11:19; Ps 3:5; Prov 1:33; 6:22 A 3:25 Ps 91:5; 1 Pet 3:14 1 3:25 Lit storm B 3:25 Job 5:21 1 3:26 Or at your side A 3:26 1 Sam 2:9 A 3:27 Rom 13:7; Gal 6:10 1 3:27 Lit its owners A 3:28 Lev 19:13; Deut 24:15 A 3:29 Prov 6:14; 14:22 A 3:30 Prov 26:17; Rom 12:18 A 3:31 Ps 37:1; Prov 24:1 A 3:32 Prov 11:20 1 3:32 Lit His private counsel is B 3:32 Job 29:4; Ps 25:14 A 3:33 Lev 26:14, 16; Deut 11:28; Zech 5:3, 4; Mal 2:2 B 3:33 Job 8:6; Ps 1:3 A 3:34 James 4:6 B 3:34 1 Pet 5:5 A 3:35 Dan 12:3 1 3:35 Lit raise high