| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands; | 1My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; |
| 2For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you. | 2for they will add length to your days, years and peace to your life. |
| 3Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, | 3Never let loving devotion or faithfulness leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. |
| 4And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man. | 4Then you will find favor and high regard in the sight of God and man. |
| 5Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; | 5Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; |
| 6In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. | 6in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. |
| 7Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. | 7Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil. |
| 8It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. | 8This will bring healing to your body and refreshment to your bones. |
| 9Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; | 9Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your harvest; |
| 10So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine. | 10then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine. |
| 11My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor detest His correction; | 11My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, and do not loathe His rebuke; |
| 12For whom the LORD loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights. | 12for the LORD disciplines the one He loves, as does a father the son in whom he delights. |
| 13Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding; | 13Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding, |
| 14For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold. | 14for she is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than fine gold. |
| 15She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. | 15She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire compares with her. |
| 16Length of days is in her right hand, In her left hand riches and honor. | 16Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. |
| 17Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace. | 17All her ways are pleasant, and all her paths are peaceful. |
| 18She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who retain her. | 18She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who lay hold of her are blessed. |
| 19The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding He established the heavens; | 19The LORD founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding. |
| 20By His knowledge the depths were broken up, And clouds drop down the dew. | 20By His knowledge the watery depths were broken open, and the clouds dripped with dew. |
| 21My son, let them not depart from your eyes— Keep sound wisdom and discretion; | 21My son, do not lose sight of this: Preserve sound judgment and discernment. |
| 22So they will be life to your soul And grace to your neck. | 22They will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck. |
| 23Then you will walk safely in your way, And your foot will not stumble. | 23Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. |
| 24When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. | 24When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you rest, your sleep will be sweet. |
| 25Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; | 25Do not fear sudden danger or the ruin that overtakes the wicked, |
| 26For the LORD will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught. | 26for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from the snare. |
| 27Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so. | 27Do not withhold good from the deserving when it is within your power to act. |
| 28Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it,” When you have it with you. | 28Do not tell your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I will provide”—when you already have the means. |
| 29Do not devise evil against your neighbor, For he dwells by you for safety’s sake. | 29Do not devise evil against your neighbor, for he trustfully dwells beside you. |
| 30Do not strive with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm. | 30Do not accuse a man without cause, when he has done you no harm. |
| 31Do not envy the oppressor, And choose none of his ways; | 31Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways; |
| 32For the perverse person is an abomination to the LORD, But His secret counsel is with the upright. | 32for the LORD detests the perverse, but He is a friend to the upright. |
| 33The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the home of the just. | 33The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the righteous. |
| 34Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble. | 34He mocks the mockers, but gives grace to the humble. |
| 35The wise shall inherit glory, But shame shall be the legacy of fools. | 35The wise will inherit honor, but fools are held up to shame. |
|
