Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. | Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. |
My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands; For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you. | My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart. If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying. |
|
Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man. | Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation. |
Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. | Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones. |
Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase. | Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. |
My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His correction; For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights. | My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights. |
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding. | Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding. |
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so. | Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them. |
Do not envy the oppressor, And choose none of his ways; For the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord, But His secret counsel is with the upright. | Don’t envy violent people or copy their ways. Such wicked people are detestable to the Lord, but he offers his friendship to the godly. |
Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. | Get wisdom; develop good judgment. Don’t forget my words or turn away from them. |
Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. | Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment. |
Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And the years of your life will be many. | My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life. |
I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. | I will teach you wisdom’s ways and lead you in straight paths. |
My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart. | My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart. |
Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. | Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. |
Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. | Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech. |
Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. | Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. |
Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. | Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. |
Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil. | Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil. |
My son, keep your father’s command, And do not forsake the law of your mother. | My son, obey your father’s commands, and don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. |
Can one walk on hot coals, And his feet not be seared? | Can he walk on hot coals and not blister his feet? |
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate. | All who fear the Lord will hate evil. Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech. |
For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the Lord. | For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. |
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. | Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment. |
A wise son makes a glad father, But a foolish son is the grief of his mother. | A wise child brings joy to a father; a foolish child brings grief to a mother. |