The Beneficence of Wisdom

41 Hear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding. 2 For good learning I have given to you, My law forsake not. 3 For, a son I have been to my father—tender, And an only one before my mother. 4 And he directeth me, and he saith to me: 'Let thy heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live. 5 Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth. 6 Forsake her not, and she doth preserve thee, Love her, and she doth keep thee. 7 The first thing 'is' wisdom—get wisdom, And with all thy getting get understanding. 8 Exalt her, and she doth lift thee up, She honoureth thee, when thou dost embrace her. 9 She giveth to thy head a wreath of grace, A crown of beauty she doth give thee freely. 10 Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life 'are' multiplied to thee. 11 In a way of wisdom I have directed thee, I have caused thee to tread in paths of uprightness. 12 In thy walking thy step is not straitened, And if thou runnest, thou stumblest not. 13 Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she 'is' thy life.

14 Into the path of the wicked enter not, And be not happy in a way of evil doers. 15 Avoid it, pass not over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on. 16 For they sleep not if they do not evil, And their sleep hath been taken violently away, If they cause not 'some' to stumble. 17 For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And wine of violence they drink. 18 And the path of the righteous 'is' as a shining light, Going and brightening till the day is established, 19 The way of the wicked 'is' as darkness, They have not known at what they stumble.

20 My son, to my words give attention, To my sayings incline thine ear, 21 Let them not turn aside from thine eyes, Preserve them in the midst of thy heart. 22 For life they 'are' to those finding them, And to all their flesh healing. 23 Above every charge keep thy heart, For out of it 'are' the outgoings of life. 24 Turn aside from thee a froward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee, 25 Thine eyes do look straightforward, And thine eyelids look straight before thee. 26 Ponder thou the path of thy feet, And all thy ways 'are' established. 27 Incline not 'to' the right or to the left, Turn aside thy foot from evil!

Exhortations to Obedience

31 My son! my law forget not, And my commands let thy heart keep, 2 For length of days and years, Life and peace they do add to thee. 3 Let not kindness and truth forsake thee, Bind them on thy neck, Write them on the tablet of thy heart, 4 And find grace and good understanding In the eyes of God and man. 5 Trust unto Jehovah with all thy heart, And unto thine own understanding lean not. 6 In all thy ways know thou Him, And He doth make straight thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes, Fear Jehovah, and turn aside from evil. 8 Healing it is to thy navel, And moistening to thy bones. 9 Honour Jehovah from thy substance, And from the beginning of all thine increase; 10 And filled are thy barns 'with' plenty, And 'with' new wine thy presses break forth. 11 Chastisement of Jehovah, my son, despise not, And be not vexed with His reproof, 12 For whom Jehovah loveth He reproveth, Even as a father the son He is pleased with.

13 O the happiness of a man 'who' hath found wisdom, And of a man 'who' bringeth forth understanding. 14 For better 'is' her merchandise Than the merchandise of silver, And than gold—her increase. 15 Precious she 'is' above rubies, And all thy pleasures are not comparable to her. 16 Length of days 'is' in her right hand, In her left 'are' wealth and honour. 17 Her ways 'are' ways of pleasantness, And all her paths 'are' peace. 18 A tree of life she 'is' to those laying hold on her, And whoso is retaining her 'is' happy. 19 Jehovah by wisdom did found the earth, He prepared the heavens by understanding. 20 By His knowledge depths have been rent, And clouds do drop dew.

21 My son! let them not turn from thine eyes, Keep thou wisdom and thoughtfulness, 22 And they are life to thy soul, and grace to thy neck. 23 Then thou goest thy way confidently, And thy foot doth not stumble. 24 If thou liest down, thou art not afraid, Yea, thou hast lain down, And sweet hath been thy sleep. 25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, And of the desolation of the wicked when it cometh. 26 For Jehovah is at thy side, And He hath kept thy foot from capture.

27 Withhold not good from its owners, When thy hand 'is' toward God to do 'it'. 28 Say not thou to thy friend, 'Go, and return, and to-morrow I give,' And substance with thee. 29 Devise not against thy neighbour evil, And he sitting confidently with thee. 30 Strive not with a man without cause, If he have not done thee evil. 31 Be not envious of a man of violence, Nor fix thou on any of his ways. 32 For an abomination to Jehovah 'is' the perverted, And with the upright 'is' His secret counsel. 33 The curse of Jehovah 'is' in the house of the wicked. And the habitation of the righteous He blesseth. 34 If the scorners He doth scorn, Yet to the humble He doth give grace. 35 Honour do the wise inherit, And fools are bearing away shame!