New International Version NIV
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,
1
My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;
2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.
2
for length of days and years of life and abundant welfare will they give you.
3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
3
Let not loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them about your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
4
So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
5
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.
6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
6
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.
7
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
8
It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;
9
Honor the LORD with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
10
then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.
11 My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke,
11
My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline or be weary of his reproof,
12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
12
for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.
13 Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding,
13
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gets understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.
14
for the gain from it is better than gain from silver and its profit better than gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.
15
She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
16
Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.
17
Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.
18
She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called happy.
19 By wisdom the LORD laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place;
19
The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens;
20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.
20
by his knowledge the deeps broke forth, and the clouds drop down the dew.
21 My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion;
21
My son, keep sound wisdom and discretion; let them not escape from your sight,
22 they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck.
22
and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck.
23 Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.
23
Then you will walk on your way securely and your foot will not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
24
If you sit down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
25
Do not be afraid of sudden panic, or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes;
26 for the LORD will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.
26
for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.
27
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.
28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”— when you already have it with you.
28
Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it" --when you have it with you.
29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you.
29
Do not plan evil against your neighbor who dwells trustingly beside you.
30 Do not accuse anyone for no reason— when they have done you no harm.
30
Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm.
31 Do not envy the violent or choose any of their ways.
31
Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways;
32 For the LORD detests the perverse but takes the upright into his confidence.
32
for the perverse man is an abomination to the LORD, but the upright are in his confidence.
33 The LORD’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous.
33
The LORD's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the abode of the righteous.
34 He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.
34
Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he shows favor.
35 The wise inherit honor, but fools get only shame.
35
The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.