So that your ear is attentive to [skillful and godly] wisdom,
And apply your heart to understanding [seeking it conscientiously and striving for it eagerly];

For [skillful and godly] wisdom will enter your heart
And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

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

Do not let mercy and kindness and truth leave you [instead let these qualities define you];
Bind them [securely] around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart.

Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart
And do not rely on your own insight or understanding.

He taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart hold fast my words;
Keep my commandments and live.

Do not let them escape from your sight;
Keep them in the center of your heart.

Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life.

And you say, “How I hated instruction and discipline,
And my heart despised correction and reproof!

Who perversely in his heart plots trouble and evil continually;
Who spreads discord and strife.

A heart that creates wicked plans,
Feet that run swiftly to evil,

Bind them continually upon your heart (in your thoughts),
And tie them around your neck.

Do not desire (lust after) her beauty in your heart,
Nor let her capture you with her eyelashes.

But whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks common sense and sound judgment and an understanding [of moral principles];
He who would destroy his soul does it.

Bind them [securely] on your fingers;
Write them on the tablet of your heart.

And there a woman met him,
Dressed as a prostitute and sly and cunning of heart.

Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways,
Do not stray into her [evil, immoral] paths.

“O you naive or inexperienced [who are easily misled], understand prudence and seek astute common sense;
And, O you [closed-minded, self-confident] fools, understand wisdom [seek the insight and self-discipline that leads to godly living].

“They are all straightforward to him who understands [with an open and willing mind],
And right to those who find knowledge and live by it.

The wise in heart [are willing to learn so they] will accept and obey commands (instruction),
But the babbling fool [who is arrogant and thinks himself wise] will come to ruin.

Wise men store up and treasure knowledge [in mind and heart],
But with the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand.

The lips of the righteous feed and guide many,
But fools [who reject God and His wisdom] die for lack of understanding.

The perverse in heart are repulsive and shamefully vile to the Lord,
But those who are blameless and above reproach in their walk are His delight!

He who troubles (mismanages) his own house will inherit the wind (nothing),
And the foolish will be a servant to the wise-hearted.

A man will be commended according to his insight and sound judgment,
But the one who is of a perverse mind will be despised.

A shrewd man is reluctant to display his knowledge [until the proper time],
But the heart of [over-confident] fools proclaims foolishness.

Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down,
But a good (encouraging) word makes it glad.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But when desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.

Good understanding wins favor [from others],
But the way of the unfaithful is hard [like barren, dry soil].

The heart knows its own bitterness,
And no stranger shares its joy.

Even in laughter the heart may be in pain,
And the end of joy may be grief.

The backslider in heart will have his fill with his own [rotten] ways,
But a good man will be satisfied with his ways [the godly thought and action which his heart pursues and in which he delights].

A calm and peaceful and tranquil heart is life and health to the body,
But passion and envy are like rottenness to the bones.

Wisdom rests [silently] in the heart of one who has understanding,
But what is in the heart of [shortsighted] fools is made known.

A heart full of joy and goodness makes a cheerful face,
But when a heart is full of sadness the spirit is crushed.

All the days of the afflicted are bad,
But a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of the circumstances].

Foolishness is joy to him who is without heart and lacks [intelligent, common] sense,
But a man of understanding walks uprightly [making his course straight].

The light of the eyes rejoices the hearts of others,
And good news puts fat on the bones.

All the ways of a man are clean and innocent in his own eyes [and he may see nothing wrong with his actions],
But the Lord weighs and examines the motives and intents [of the heart and knows the truth].

Everyone who is proud and arrogant in heart is disgusting and exceedingly offensive to the Lord;
Be assured he will not go unpunished.

By mercy and lovingkindness and truth [not superficial ritual] wickedness is cleansed from the heart,
And by the fear of the Lord one avoids evil.

The wise in heart will be called understanding,
And sweet speech increases persuasiveness and learning [in both speaker and listener].

Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom,
When he has no common sense or even a heart for it?

A happy heart is good medicine and a joyful mind causes healing,
But a broken spirit dries up the bones.

The foolishness of man undermines his way [ruining whatever he undertakes];
Then his heart is resentful and rages against the Lord [for, being a fool, he blames the Lord instead of himself].

A plan (motive, wise counsel) in the heart of a man is like water in a deep well,
But a man of understanding draws it out.

Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart,
I am pure from my sin?”

The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord;
He turns it whichever way He wishes.

Haughty and arrogant eyes and a proud heart,
The lamp of the wicked [their self-centered pride], is sin [in the eyes of God].

Whoever shuts his ears at the cry of the poor
Will cry out himself and not be answered.

He who loves purity of heart
And whose speech is gracious will have the king as his friend.

Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
The rod of discipline [correction administered with godly wisdom and lovingkindness] will remove it far from him.

Do not eat the bread of a selfish man,
Or desire his delicacies;

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he [in behavior—one who manipulates].
He says to you, “Eat and drink,”
Yet his heart is not with you [but it is begrudging the cost].

My son, if your heart is wise,
My heart will also be glad;

Yes, my heart will rejoice
When your lips speak right things.

Do not let your heart envy sinners [who live godless lives and have no hope of salvation],
But [continue to] live in the [reverent, worshipful] fear of the Lord day by day.

My son, give me your heart
And let your eyes delight in my ways,

“They struck me, but I was not hurt!
They beat me, but I did not feel it!
When will I wake up?
I will seek more wine.”

If you [claim ignorance and] say, “See, we did not know this,”
Does He not consider it who weighs and examines the hearts and their motives?
And does He not know it who guards your life and keeps your soul?
And will He not repay [you and] every man according to his works?

Do not rejoice and gloat when your enemy falls,
And do not let your heart be glad [in self-righteousness] when he stumbles,

Like one who takes off a garment in cold weather, or like [a reactive, useless mixture of] vinegar on soda,
Is he who [thoughtlessly] sings [joyful] songs to a heavy heart.

Like a [common] clay vessel covered with the silver dross [making it appear silver when it has no real value]
Are burning lips [murmuring manipulative words] and a wicked heart.

When he speaks graciously and kindly [to conceal his malice], do not trust him,
For seven abominations are in his heart.

Oil and perfume make the heart glad;
So does the sweetness of a friend’s counsel that comes from the heart.

Do not abandon your own friend and your father’s friend,
And do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your disaster.
Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away.

My son, be wise, and make my heart glad,
That I may reply to him who reproaches (reprimands, criticizes) me.

As in water face reflects face,
So the heart of man reflects man.

Blessed and favored by God is the man who fears [sin and its consequence] at all times,
But he who hardens his heart [and is determined to sin] will fall into disaster.

He who trusts confidently in his own heart is a [dull, thickheaded] fool,
But he who walks in [skillful and godly] wisdom will be rescued.

Correct your son, and he will give you comfort;
Yes, he will delight your soul.

Do not slander or malign a servant before his master [stay out of another’s personal life],
Or he will curse you [for your interference], and you will be found guilty.

Give strong drink [as medicine] to him who is ready to pass away,
And wine to him whose life is bitter.

The heart of her husband trusts in her [with secure confidence],
And he will have no lack of gain.