1) My son! do not forget my instructions, and let your heart keep my commandments;
2) for the length of days, years of life and peace they will add to you.
3) Do not let mercy and truth leave you: tie them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart,
4) and you will find mercy and favor in the eyes of God and people.
5) Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
6) In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.
7) Do not be a wise man in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil:
8) This will be health for your body and nourishment for your bones.
9) Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your increase,
10) and your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your winepresses will overflow with new wine.
11) Do not reject the Lord’s punishment, my son, and do not be burdened by His reproof;
12) For whom the Lord loves, He punishes and favors, like a father towards his son.
13) Blessed is the man who has gained wisdom, and the man who has gained understanding -
14) because the acquisition of it is better than the acquisition of silver, and the profit from it is greater than from gold:
15) it is more expensive than precious stones; [no evil can resist her; she is well known to everyone who approaches her,] and nothing you desire can compare with her.
16) Longevity is in her right hand, and in her left are wealth and glory; [the truth comes out of her mouth; she carries law and mercy on her tongue;]
17) Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peaceful.
18) She is a tree of life for those who acquire her, and blessed are those who keep her!
19) The Lord founded the earth with wisdom, established the heavens with understanding;
20) Through His wisdom the deeps were opened, and the clouds sprinkled with dew.
21) My son! do not let them out of your sight; keep your sanity and prudence,
22) and they will be life for your soul and an ornament for your neck.
23) Then you will walk safely along your path, and your foot will not stumble.
24) When you go to bed, you will not be afraid; and when you fall asleep, your sleep will be pleasant.
25) You will not be afraid of sudden fear and destruction from the wicked when it comes;
26) For the Lord will be your trust and will keep your foot from being caught.
27) Do not refuse a benefit to someone in need when your hand has the power to do it.
28) Do not say to your friend: “Go and come again, and tomorrow I will give” when you have it with you. [For you do not know what the coming day will bring forth.]
29) Do not plot evil against your neighbor when he lives with you without fear.
30) Do not quarrel with a person for no reason when he has not done you any harm.
31) Do not compete with a person who acts violently, and do not choose any of his paths;
32) because the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but He has fellowship with the righteous.
33) The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the pious.
34) If He laughs at the blasphemers, He gives grace to the humble.
35) The wise will inherit glory, and the foolish will inherit dishonor.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru