Honor Yahweh with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase:

so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.

She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her.

Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor.

Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace.

By his knowledge, the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.

My son, let them not depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion:

so they will be life to your soul, and grace for your neck.

Then you shall walk in your way securely. Your foot won't stumble.

When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.

for Yahweh will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being taken.

Don't withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.

Don't say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you," when you have it by you.

Don't devise evil against your neighbor, since he dwells securely by you.

He taught me, and said to me: "Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.

Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.

She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendor to you."

Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.

When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.

Take firm hold of instruction. Don't let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.

My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.

Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the midst of your heart.

For they are life to those who find them, and health to their whole body.

Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.

Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.

Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.

Don't turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.

My son, pay attention to my wisdom. Turn your ear to my understanding:

that you may maintain discretion, that your lips may preserve knowledge.

She gives no thought to the way of life. Her ways are crooked, and she doesn't know it.

Remove your way far from her. Don't come near the door of her house,

lest you give your honor to others, and your years to the cruel one;

lest strangers feast on your wealth, and your labors enrich another man's house.

You will groan at your latter end, when your flesh and your body are consumed,

neither have I obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor turned my ear to those who instructed me!

Drink water out of your own cistern, running water out of your own well.

Should your springs overflow in the streets, streams of water in the public squares?

Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.

For the ways of man are before the eyes of Yahweh. He examines all his paths.

My son, if you have become collateral for your neighbor, if you have struck your hands in pledge for a stranger;

You are trapped by the words of your mouth. You are ensnared with the words of your mouth.

Do this now, my son, and deliver yourself, since you have come into the hand of your neighbor. Go, humble yourself. Press your plea with your neighbor.

Give no sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids.

which having no chief, overseer, or ruler,

How long will you sleep, sluggard? When will you arise out of your sleep?

so your poverty will come as a robber, and your scarcity as an armed man.

There are six things which Yahweh hates; yes, seven which are an abomination to him:

a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are swift in running to mischief,

My son, keep your father's commandment, and don't forsake your mother's teaching.

Bind them continually on your heart. Tie them around your neck.

For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light. Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,

Don't lust after her beauty in your heart, neither let her captivate you with her eyelids.

For a prostitute reduces you to a piece of bread. The adulteress hunts for your precious life.

Or can one walk on hot coals, and his feet not be scorched?

Keep my commandments and live! Guard my teaching as the apple of your eye.

Bind them on your fingers. Write them on the tablet of your heart.

Tell wisdom, "You are my sister." Call understanding your relative,

"Sacrifices of peace offerings are with me. This day I have paid my vows.

Therefore I came out to meet you, to diligently seek your face, and I have found you.

Come, let's take our fill of loving until the morning. Let's solace ourselves with loving.

Until an arrow strikes through his liver, as a bird hurries to the snare, and doesn't know that it will cost his life.

Don't let your heart turn to her ways. Don't go astray in her paths,

for she has thrown down many wounded. Yes, all her slain are a mighty army.

On the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she stands.

All the words of my mouth are in righteousness. There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.

They are all plain to him who understands, right to those who find knowledge.

Counsel and sound knowledge are mine. I have understanding and power.

With me are riches, honor, enduring wealth, and prosperity.

When there were no depths, I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.

Before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was brought forth;

"Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.

Leave your simple ways, and live. Walk in the way of understanding."

For by me your days will be multiplied. The years of your life will be increased.

If you are wise, you are wise for yourself. If you mock, you alone will bear it.

But he doesn't know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

A false balance is an abomination to Yahweh, but accurate weights are his delight.

Where there is no wise guidance, the nation falls, but in the multitude of counselors there is victory.

Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to Yahweh, but those whose ways are blameless are his delight.

The thoughts of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.

The words of the wicked are about lying in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them.

The wicked are overthrown, and are no more, but the house of the righteous shall stand.

A righteous man respects the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

Lying lips are an abomination to Yahweh, but those who do the truth are his delight.

The slothful man doesn't roast his game, but the possessions of diligent men are prized.

There are some who pretend to be rich, yet have nothing. There are some who pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth.

Where no oxen are, the crib is clean, but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

Yahweh's eyes are everywhere, keeping watch on the evil and the good.

Sheol and Abaddon are before Yahweh -- how much more then the hearts of the children of men!

All the days of the afflicted are wretched, but one who has a cheerful heart enjoys a continual feast.

Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, than a fattened calf with hatred.

Where there is no counsel, plans fail; but in a multitude of counselors they are established.

Yahweh detests the thoughts of the wicked, but the thoughts of the pure are pleasing.

The ear that listens to reproof lives, and will be at home among the wise.

All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but Yahweh weighs the motives.

Commit your deeds to Yahweh, and your plans shall succeed.

Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king. He shall not betray his mouth.

Honest balances and scales are Yahweh's; all the weights in the bag are his work.

Righteous lips are the delight of kings. They value one who speaks the truth.