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[1]My son, forget not my teaching, and let thy heart observe my commandments;
[2]for length of days, and years of life, and peace shall they add to thee.
[3]Let not loving-kindness and truth forsake thee; bind them about thy neck, write them upon the tablet of thy heart:
[4]and thou shalt find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
[5]Confide in Jehovah with all thy heart, and lean not unto thine own intelligence;
[6]in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will make plain thy paths.
[7]Be not wise in thine own eyes; fear Jehovah, and depart from evil:
[8]it shall be health for thy navel, and moisture for thy bones.
[9]Honour Jehovah with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase;
[10]so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy vats shall overflow with new wine.
[11]My son, despise not the instruction of Jehovah, neither be weary of his chastisement;
[12]for whom Jehovah loveth he chasteneth, even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
[13]Blessed is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
[14]For the gain thereof is better than the gain of silver, and her revenue than fine gold.
[15]She is more precious than rubies; and all the things thou canst desire are not equal unto her.
[16]Length of days is in her right hand; in her left hand riches and honour.
[17]Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
[18]She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her; and happy is he that retaineth her.
[19]Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens.
[20]By his knowledge the deeps were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.
[21]My son, let them not depart from thine eyes; keep sound wisdom and discretion:
[22]so shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace unto thy neck.
[23]Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, and thy foot shall not stumble;
[24]when thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid, but thou shalt lie down and thy sleep shall be sweet.
[25]Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the destruction of the wicked, when it cometh;
[26]for Jehovah shall be thy confidence, and he will keep thy foot from being taken.
[27]Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thy hand to do it.
[28]Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to-morrow I will give, when thou hast it by thee.
[29]Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
[30]Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
[31]Envy not the man of violence, and choose none of his ways.
[32]For the perverse is an abomination to Jehovah; but his secret is with the upright.
[33]The curse of Jehovah is in the house of the wicked; but he blesseth the habitation of the righteous.
[34]He indeed scorneth the scorners; but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
[35]The wise shall inherit glory; but shame shall be the promotion of the foolish.
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