King James Bible

New Living Translation

1My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

1My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart.

2For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

2If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying.

3Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

3Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart.

4So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

4Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation.

5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

5Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.

6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

6Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

7Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

7Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

8It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

8Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.

9Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

9Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce.

10So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

10Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine.

11My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:

11My child, don’t reject the LORD’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you.

12For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

12For the LORD corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.

13Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

13Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding.

14For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

14For wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold.

15She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

15Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.

16Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

16She offers you long life in her right hand, and riches and honor in her left.

17Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

17She will guide you down delightful paths; all her ways are satisfying.

18She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

18Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly.

19The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

19By wisdom the LORD founded the earth; by understanding he created the heavens.

20By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

20By his knowledge the deep fountains of the earth burst forth, and the dew settles beneath the night sky.

21My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:

21My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment. Hang on to them,

22So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

22for they will refresh your soul. They are like jewels on a necklace.

23Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.

23They keep you safe on your way, and your feet will not stumble.

24When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

24You can go to bed without fear; you will lie down and sleep soundly.

25Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.

25You need not be afraid of sudden disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked,

26For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

26for the LORD is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.

27Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

27Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them.

28Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.

28If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say, “Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.”

29Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.

29Don’t plot harm against your neighbor, for those who live nearby trust you.

30Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

30Don’t pick a fight without reason, when no one has done you harm.

31Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.

31Don’t envy violent people or copy their ways.

32For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.

32Such wicked people are detestable to the LORD, but he offers his friendship to the godly.

33The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.

33The LORD curses the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the upright.

34Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.

34The LORD mocks the mockers but is gracious to the humble.

35The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

35The wise inherit honor, but fools are put to shame!

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.