3:1 My son, forget not my teaching, and let thy heart observe my commandments;

3:2 for length of days, and years of life, and peace shall they add to thee.

3:3 Let not loving-kindness and truth forsake thee; bind them about thy neck, write them upon the tablet of thy heart:

3:4 and thou shalt find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

3:5 Confide in Jehovah with all thy heart, and lean not unto thine own intelligence;

3:6 in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will make plain thy paths.

3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes; fear Jehovah, and depart from evil:

3:8 it shall be health for thy navel, and moisture for thy bones.

3:9 Honour Jehovah with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase;

3:10 so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy vats shall overflow with new wine.

3:11 My son, despise not the instruction of Jehovah, neither be weary of his chastisement;

3:12 for whom Jehovah loveth he chasteneth, even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

3:13 Blessed is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

3:14 For the gain thereof is better than the gain of silver, and her revenue than fine gold.

3:15 She is more precious than rubies; and all the things thou canst desire are not equal unto her.

3:16 Length of days is in her right hand; in her left hand riches and honour.

3:17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

3:18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her; and happy is he that retaineth her.

3:19 Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens.

3:20 By his knowledge the deeps were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.

3:21 My son, let them not depart from thine eyes; keep sound wisdom and discretion:

3:22 so shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace unto thy neck.

3:23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, and thy foot shall not stumble;

3:24 when thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid, but thou shalt lie down and thy sleep shall be sweet.

3:25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the destruction of the wicked, when it cometh;

3:26 for Jehovah shall be thy confidence, and he will keep thy foot from being taken.

3:27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thy hand to do it.

3:28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to-morrow I will give, when thou hast it by thee.

3:29 Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.

3:30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

3:31 Envy not the man of violence, and choose none of his ways.

3:32 For the perverse is an abomination to Jehovah; but his secret is with the upright.

3:33 The curse of Jehovah is in the house of the wicked; but he blesseth the habitation of the righteous.

3:34 He indeed scorneth the scorners; but he giveth grace unto the lowly.