My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my
commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you
peace and prosperity.
Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around
your neck,
write them on the
tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of
God and man.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on
your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make
your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and
shun evil.
This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to
your bones.
Honor the Lord with your wealth,
with the first fruits
of all your crops;
then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will
brim over with new wine.
My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline,
and do not resent
his rebuke,
because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
as a father the
son he delights in.
Blessed are those who find wisdom,
those who gain
understanding,
for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better
returns than gold.
She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire
can compare with her.
Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand
are riches and honor.
Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths
are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;
those who hold her
fast will be blessed.
By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,
by understanding
he set the heavens in place;
by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
and the clouds let
drop the dew.
My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your
sight,
preserve sound
judgment and discretion;
they will be life for you,
an ornament to
grace your neck. Proverbs 3:1-22