Holman Christian Standard Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

1My son, don't forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commands;

1My son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep my commandments;

2for they will bring you many days, a full life, and well-being.

2For length of days and years of life And peace they will add to you.

3Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you. Tie them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.

3Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.

4Then you will find favor and high regard in the sight of God and man.

4So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man.

5Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding;

5Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.

6think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.

6In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

7Don't consider yourself to be wise; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

7Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

8This will be healing for your body and strengthening for your bones.

8It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones.

9Honor the LORD with your possessions and with the first produce of your entire harvest;

9Honor the LORD from your wealth And from the first of all your produce;

10then your barns will be completely filled, and your vats will overflow with new wine.

10So your barns will be filled with plenty And your vats will overflow with new wine.

11Do not despise the LORD's instruction, my son, and do not loathe His discipline;

11My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD Or loathe His reproof,

12for the LORD disciplines the one He loves, just as a father, the son he delights in.

12For whom the LORD loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.

13Happy is a man who finds wisdom and who acquires understanding,

13How blessed is the man who finds wisdom And the man who gains understanding.

14for she is more profitable than silver, and her revenue is better than gold.

14For her profit is better than the profit of silver And her gain better than fine gold.

15She is more precious than jewels; nothing you desire compares with her.

15She is more precious than jewels; And nothing you desire compares with her.

16Long life is in her right hand; in her left, riches and honor.

16Long life is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor.

17Her ways are pleasant, and all her paths, peaceful.

17Her ways are pleasant ways And all her paths are peace.

18She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who hold on to her are happy.

18She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who hold her fast.

19The LORD founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding.

19The LORD by wisdom founded the earth, By understanding He established the heavens.

20By His knowledge the watery depths broke open, and the clouds dripped with dew.

20By His knowledge the deeps were broken up And the skies drip with dew.

21Maintain your competence and discretion. My son, don't lose sight of them.

21My son, let them not vanish from your sight; Keep sound wisdom and discretion,

22They will be life for you and adornment for your neck.

22So they will be life to your soul And adornment to your neck.

23Then you will go safely on your way; your foot will not stumble.

23Then you will walk in your way securely And your foot will not stumble.

24When you lie down, you will not be afraid; you will lie down, and your sleep will be pleasant.

24When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

25Don't fear sudden danger or the ruin of the wicked when it comes,

25Do not be afraid of sudden fear Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes;

26for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from a snare.

26For the LORD will be your confidence And will keep your foot from being caught.

27When it is in your power, don't withhold good from the one it belongs to.

27Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in your power to do it.

28Don't say to your neighbor, "Go away! Come back later. I'll give it tomorrow"--when it is there with you.

28Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it," When you have it with you.

29Don't plan any harm against your neighbor, for he trusts you and lives near you.

29Do not devise harm against your neighbor, While he lives securely beside you.

30Don't accuse anyone without cause, when he has done you no harm.

30Do not contend with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm.

31Don't envy a violent man or choose any of his ways;

31Do not envy a man of violence And do not choose any of his ways.

32for the devious are detestable to the LORD, but He is a friend to the upright.

32For the devious are an abomination to the LORD; But He is intimate with the upright.

33The LORD's curse is on the household of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the righteous;

33The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the dwelling of the righteous.

34He mocks those who mock, but gives grace to the humble.

34Though He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet He gives grace to the afflicted.

35The wise will inherit honor, but He holds up fools to dishonor.

35The wise will inherit honor, But fools display dishonor.

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org