Trust in Yahweh with All Your Heart

1My son, do not forget my instruction,

and let your heart keep my commands.

2For length of days and years of life and peace

they will add to you.

3And do not let loving devotion† and faithfulness forsake you;

bind them around your neck;

write them on the tablet of your heart.

4And you will find favor and good understanding

in the eyes of God and man.

5Put your trust unto YHWH with all your heart,

and lean not unto your own understanding.

6In all your ways acknowledge Him,

and He will make straight your paths.

7Do not be wise in your own eyes,

fear YHWH and turn away from evil.

8Healing it will be to your navel,

and refreshment to your bones.

9Honor YHWH from your wealth,

and from the first of all your produce,

10and your barns will be filled with plenty,

and your vats will overflow with new wine.

11My son, do not despise the discipline of YHWH,

and do not be grieved by His reproof,†

12for whom YHWH loves, He reproves,

even as a father the son he is pleased with.†

The Blessings of Wisdom

13Blessed is the man who has found wisdom,

and the man who brings forth understanding,

14for better is the profit from her than profits of silver,

and her produce than fine gold.

15Precious she is above rubies,

and all your delights do not compare with her.

16Length of days is in her right hand,

and in her left hand are wealth and honor.

17Her ways are ways of pleasantness,

and all her paths are peace.

18A tree of life she is to those taking hold on her,

and those grasping her are blessed.

19YHWH by wisdom founded the earth;

He established the heavens by understanding;

20by His knowledge the depths have been broken up,

and the clouds dripped dew.

21My son, do not do let them depart from your eyes;

keep watch over wisdom and discretion,

22and they will be life for your soul,

and grace for your neck.

23Then you will walk your way in safety,

and your foot will not stumble.

24If you lie down, you will not dread;

and you have lain down, and your sleep shall be pleasant.

25Do not be afraid from sudden dread,

and from the desolation of the wicked when it comes.

26For YHWH is at your flank,

and He will guard your foot from capture.

27Do not withhold good from its owners,†

with it being in the power of your hand to act.

28You must not say to your neighbor,

“Go and return, and tomorrow I will give”—

and it is with you.

29Do not devise evil against your neighbor,

for he is dwelling in trust with you.

30Do not strive with a man without cause,

if he has not dealt with you for evil.

31Do not be envious of a man of violence,

and do not choose any of his ways.

32For a perverse one is an abomination to YHWH, and with

the upright is His secret counsel.

33The curse of YHWH is on the house of the wicked one,

but the abode of the righteous He blesses.

34If He mocks at those mocking,

then He gives favor to the humble.†

35The wise will inherit honor,

and fools are held up to disgrace.

Footnotes:

3 Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant.
11 LXX and do not lose heart when He rebukes; cited in Hebrews 12:5
12 LXX For whom the Lord loves, he rebukes, and He flogs every son He receives; cited in Hebrews 12:6
27 Or from the deserving
34 LXX The Lord opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble; cited in James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5