International Standard Version

King James Bible

1My son, don't forget my instruction, and keep my commandments carefully in mind.

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

2For they will add length to your days, years to your life, and abundant peace to you.

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

3Do not let gracious love and truth leave you. Bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart,

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

4and find favor and a good reputation with God and men.

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

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

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

6In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

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

7Do not be wise in your own opinion. Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

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

8This will bring healing to your body, and refreshment to your bones.

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

9Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the first of all your produce,

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

10so your barns will be filled with abundance, and your vats will burst open with new wine.

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

11My son, do not reject the LORD's discipline, and do not despise his correction,

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

12because the LORD corrects the person he loves, just as a father corrects the son he delights in.

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

13How joyful is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding,

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

14because her profit is better than the profit of silver, and her yield than fine gold.

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

15She is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.

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

16Long life is in her right hand, and in her left are riches and honor.

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

17Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peaceful.

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

18She is a tree of life for those who embrace her, and whoever clutches her tightly will be joyful.

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

19By wisdom the LORD laid the earth's foundations, and by understanding he set the heavens in place.

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

20By his knowledge the depths broke open, and the clouds drip with dew.

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

21My son, do not let wisdom leave your sight. Carefully observe sound judgment and discernment,

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

22and they will be life to you and a graceful ornament for your neck.

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

23Then you will travel safely on your way, and your foot will not stumble.

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

24When you sit down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be pleasant.

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

25Do not be afraid of sudden disaster, or the devastation that comes to the wicked.

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

26Indeed, the LORD will be your confidence, and he will keep your foot from being caught.

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

27Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.

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

28Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come back. I will pay you tomorrow," when you have cash with you.

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

29Do not plan to harm your neighbor, when he is living peacefully beside you.

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

30Do not bring a lawsuit against a person for no reason, when he has done you no harm.

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

31Do not envy a violent man, and do not emulate his lifestyle.

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

32Indeed, a perverse man is utterly disgusting to the LORD, but he takes the upright into his confidence.

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

33The LORD's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous.

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

34Though God scoffs at scoffers, he gives grace to the humble.

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

35The wise will inherit honor, but he holds fools up for ridicule.

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

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.