3 ¹ My son, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments;
3 ² for length of days and years of life
and abundant welfare will they give you.

3 ³ Let not loyalty and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them about your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
3 ⁴ So you will find favour and good repute
in the sight of God and man.

3 ⁵ Trust in Yahweh with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own insight.
3 ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
3 ⁷ Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear Yahweh, and turn away from evil.
3 ⁸ It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.

3 ⁹ Honour Yahweh with your substance
and with the first fruits of all your produce;
3 ¹⁰ then your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine.
3 ¹¹ My son, do not despise Yahweh's discipline
or be weary of his reproof,
3 ¹² for Yahweh reproves him whom he loves,
as a father the son in whom he delights.

3 ¹³ Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
and the man who gets understanding,
3 ¹⁴ for the gain from it is better than gain from silver
and its profit better than gold.
3 ¹⁵ She is more precious than jewels,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.
3 ¹⁶ Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are 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 those who lay hold of her;
those who hold her fast are called happy.

3 ¹⁹ Yahweh by wisdom founded the earth;
by understanding he established the heavens;
3 ²⁰ by his knowledge the deeps broke forth,
and the clouds drop down the dew.

3 ²¹ My son, keep sound wisdom and discretion;
let them not escape from your sight,
3 ²² and they will be life for your soul
and adornment for your neck.
3 ²³ Then you will walk on your way securely
and your foot will not stumble.
3 ²⁴ If you sit down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
3 ²⁵ Do not be afraid of sudden panic,
or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes;
3 ²⁶ for Yahweh will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from being caught.
3 ²⁷ Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to do it.

3 ²⁸ Do not say to your neighbour,
"Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it" -
when you have it with you.
3 ²⁹ Do not plan evil against your neighbour
who dwells trustingly beside you.
3 ³⁰ Do not contend with a man for no reason,
when he has done you no harm.
3 ³¹ Do not envy a man of violence
and do not choose any of his ways;
3 ³² for the perverse man is an abomination to Yahweh,
but the upright are in his confidence.
3 ³³ Yahweh's curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the abode of the righteous.
3 ³⁴ Toward the scorners he is scornful,
but to the humble he shows favour.
3 ³⁵ The wise will inherit honour,
but fools get disgrace.