A blessing of wisdom
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My son! Do not forget my law, || And let your heart keep my commands,
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For [the] length of [your] days and years, || Life and peace they add to you.
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Do not let kindness and truth forsake you, || Bind them on your neck, || Write them on the tablet of your heart,
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And find grace and good understanding || In the eyes of God and man.
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Trust to YHWH with all your heart, || And do not lean to your own understanding.
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In all your ways know Him, || And He makes your paths straight.
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Do not be wise in your own eyes, || Fear YHWH, and turn aside from evil.
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It is healing to your navel, || And moistening to your bones.
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Honor YHWH from your substance, || And from the beginning of all your increase;
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And your barns are filled [with] plenty, || And your presses break forth [with] new wine.
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Discipline of YHWH, my son, do not despise, || And do not be distressed with His reproof,
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For whom YHWH loves He reproves, || Even as a father the son He is pleased with.
Wisdom is more valuable than riches
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O the blessedness of a man [who] has found wisdom, || And of a man [who] brings forth understanding.
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For better [is] her merchandise || Than the merchandise of silver, || And than gold—her increase.
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She [is] precious above rubies, || And all your pleasures are not comparable to her.
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Length of days [is] in her right hand, || In her left [are] wealth and honor.
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Her ways [are] ways of pleasantness, || And all her paths [are] peace.
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She [is] a tree of life to those laying hold on her, || And whoever is retaining her [is] blessed.
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YHWH founded the earth by wisdom, || He prepared the heavens by understanding.
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By His knowledge depths have been broken, || And clouds drop dew.
The ways of the wise
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My son! Do not let them turn from your eyes, || Keep wisdom and thoughtfulness,
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And they are life to your soul, and grace to your neck.
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Then you go your way confidently, || And your foot does not stumble.
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If you lie down, you are not afraid, || Indeed, you have lain down, || And your sleep has been sweet.
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Do not be afraid of sudden fear, || And of the desolation of the wicked when it comes.
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For YHWH is at your side, || And He has kept your foot from capture.
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Do not withhold good from its owners, || When your hand [is] toward God to do [it].
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Do not say to your friend, || “Go, and return, and tomorrow I give,” || When substance [is] with you.
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Do not devise evil against your neighbor, || And he sitting confidently with you.
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Do not strive with a man without cause, || If he has not done you evil.
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Do not be envious of a man of violence, || Nor fix on any of his ways.
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For the perverted [is] an abomination to YHWH, || And His secret counsel [is] with the upright.
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The curse of YHWH [is] in the house of the wicked. And He blesses the habitation of the righteous.
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If He scorns the scorners, || Yet He gives grace to the humble.
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The wise inherit glory, || And fools are bearing away shame!
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