Online Bible

The Rewards of Wisdom

My son, ^ado not forget my ¹teaching,But let your heart ^bkeep my commandments;2 For ^alength of days and years of lifeAnd peace they will add to you.3 Do not let ^akindness and truth leave you;^bBind them around your neck,^cWrite them on the tablet of your heart.4 So you will ^afind favor and ^bgood ¹reputeIn the sight of God and man.5 ^aTrust in the LORD with all your heartAnd ^bdo not lean on your own understanding.6 In all your ways ^aacknowledge Him,And He will ^bmake your paths straight.7 ^aDo not be wise in your own eyes;^bFear the LORD and turn away from evil.8 It will be ^ahealing to your ¹bodyAnd ^brefreshment to your bones.9 ^aHonor the LORD from your wealthAnd from the ^bfirst of all your produce;10 So your ^abarns will be filled with plentyAnd your ^bvats will overflow with new wine.11 ^aMy son, do not reject the ¹discipline of the LORDOr loathe His reproof,12 For ^awhom the LORD loves He reproves,Even ^bas a father corrects the son in whom he delights.

13 ^aHow blessed is the man who finds wisdomAnd the man who gains understanding.14 For her ^aprofit is better than the profit of silverAnd her gain better than fine gold.15 She is ^amore precious than ¹jewels;And nothing you desire compares with her.16 ¹^aLong life is in her right hand;In her left hand are ^briches and honor.17 Her ^aways are pleasant waysAnd all her paths are ^bpeace.18 She is a ^atree of life to those who take hold of her,And happy are all who hold her fast.19 The LORD ^aby wisdom founded the earth,By understanding He ^bestablished the heavens.20 By His knowledge the ^adeeps were broken upAnd the ^bskies drip with dew.21 My son, ^alet them not ¹vanish from your sight;Keep sound wisdom and discretion,22 So they will be ^alife to your soulAnd ^badornment to your neck.23 Then you will ^awalk in your way securelyAnd your foot will not ^bstumble.24 When you ^alie down, you will not be afraid;When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.25 ^aDo not be afraid of sudden fearNor of the ¹^bonslaught of the wicked when it comes;26 For the LORD will be ¹your confidenceAnd will ^akeep your foot from being caught.

27 ^aDo not withhold good from ¹those to whom it is due,When it is in your power to do it.28 ^aDo not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back,And tomorrow I will give it,”When you have it with you.29 ^aDo not devise harm against your neighbor,While he lives securely beside you.30 ^aDo not contend with a man without cause,If he has done you no harm.31 ^aDo not envy a man of violenceAnd do not choose any of his ways.32 For the ^adevious are an abomination to the LORD;But ¹He is ^bintimate with the upright.33 The ^acurse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked,But He ^bblesses the dwelling of the righteous.34 Though ^aHe scoffs at the scoffers,Yet ^bHe gives grace to the afflicted.35 ^aThe wise will inherit honor,But fools ¹display dishonor.

Trust, Fear, and Honor Yahweh

My son, ^ado not forget my ¹law,But let your heart ^bguard my commandments;2 For ^alength of days and years of lifeAnd peace they will add to you.3 Do not let ^alovingkindness and truth forsake you;^bBind them around your neck,^cWrite them on the tablet of your heart.4 So you will ^afind favor and ^bgood insightIn the eyes of God and man.5 ^aTrust in Yahweh with all your heartAnd ^bdo not lean on your own understanding.6 In all your ways ¹^aacknowledge Him,And He will ^bmake your paths straight.7 ^aDo not be wise in your own eyes;^bFear Yahweh and turn away from evil.8 It will be ^ahealing to your ¹bodyAnd ^brefreshment to your bones.9 ^aHonor Yahweh from your wealthAnd from the ^bfirst of all your produce;10 So your ^abarns will be filled with plentyAnd your ^bvats will burst with new wine.11 ^aMy son, do not reject the ¹discipline of YahwehOr loathe His reproof,12 For ^awhom Yahweh loves He reproves,Even ^bas a father reproves the son in whom he delights.

13 ^aHow blessed is the man who finds wisdomAnd the man who obtains discernment.14 For her ^aprofit is better than the profit of silverAnd her produce better than fine gold.15 She is ^amore precious than ¹pearls;And nothing you desire compares with her.16 ^aLength of days is in her right hand;In her left hand are ^briches and glory.17 Her ^aways are pleasant waysAnd all her pathways are ^bpeace.18 She is a ^atree of life to those who seize her,And all those who hold her fast are blessed.19 Yahweh ^aby wisdom founded the earth,By discernment He ^bestablished the heavens.20 By His knowledge the ^adeeps were split upAnd the ^bskies drip with dew.21 My son, ^alet them not deviate from your eyes;Guard sound wisdom and discretion,22 So they will be ^alife for your soulAnd ^bgrace for your neck.23 Then you will ^awalk in your way securelyAnd your foot will not ^bstumble.24 When you ^alie down, you will not be in dread;You will lie down, and your sleep will be pleasant.25 ^aDo not be afraid of sudden dreadNor of the ^bstorm of the wicked when it comes;26 For Yahweh will be ¹your confidenceAnd will ^akeep your foot from being caught.

27 ^aDo not withhold good from ¹those to whom it is due,When it is in your hand to do it.28 ^aDo not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back,And tomorrow I will give it,”When it is there with you.29 ^aDo not devise ¹harm against your neighbor,While he lives securely beside you.30 ^aDo not contend with a man without cause,If he has dealt you no ¹harm.31 ^aDo not envy a man of violenceAnd do not choose any of his ways.32 For the ^adevious one is an abomination to Yahweh;But His ^bsecret council is with the upright.33 The ^acurse of Yahweh is on the house of the wicked one,But He ^bblesses the abode of the righteous.34 Though ^aHe scoffs at the scoffers,Yet ^bHe gives grace to the humble.35 ^aThe wise will inherit glory,But ¹fools raise up disgrace.