1My sonne, forget not my lawe; but let thine heart keepe my commaundements:2For length of dayes, and long life, and peace shall they adde to thee.3Let not mercy and trueth forsake thee: bind them about thy necke, write them vpon the table of thine heart.4So shalt thou find fauour, and good vnderstanding in the sight of God, and man.5¶ Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and leaue not vnto thine owne vnderstanding.6In all thy wayes acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy pathes.7¶ Be not wise in thine owne eyes: feare the Lord, and depart from euill.8It shalbe health to thy nauill, and marrow to thy bones.9Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase.10So shall thy barnes be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.11¶ My sonne, despise not the chastening of the Lord: neither be weary of his correction.12For whom the Lord loueth, he correcteth, euen as a father the sonne, in whom he delighteth.13¶ Happy is the man that findeth wisedome, and the man that getteth vnderstanding.14For the merchandise of it is better then the merchandise of siluer, and the gaine thereof, then fine gold.15She is more precious then Rubies: and all the things thou canst desire, are not to be compared vnto her.16Length of dayes is in her right hand: and in her left hand, riches and honour.17Her wayes are wayes of plesantnesse: and all her pathes are peace.18She is a tree of life, to them that lay hold vpon her: and happy is euery one that retaineth her.19The Lord by wisedome hath founded the earth; by vnderstanding hath he established the heauens.20By his knowledge the depthes are broken vp; and the cloudes droppe downe the dew.21¶ My sonne, let not them depart from thine eyes: keepe sound wisedome and discretion.22So shall they bee life vnto thy soule, and grace to thy necke.23Then shalt thou walke in thy way safely, & thy foot shall not stumble.24When thou lyest downe, thou shalt not be afraide: yea, thou shalt lye downe, and thy sleepe shalbe sweet.25Be not afraid of sudden feare, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it commeth.26For the Lord shalbe thy confidence, and shall keepe thy foote from being taken.27¶ Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to doe it.28Say not vnto thy neighbour, Goe, and come againe, and to morrow I will giue, when thou hast it by thee.29Deuise not euil against thy neighbour, seeing hee dwelleth securely by thee.30¶ Striue not with a man without cause, if hee haue done thee no harme.31¶ Enuie thou not the oppressour, and choose none of his wayes.32For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous.33¶ The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the iust.34Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giueth grace vnto the lowly.35The wise shall inherite glory, but shame shalbe the promotion of fooles.
