³ Don’t ·ever forget kindness and truth [^Llet loyalty and faithfulness abandon you].
    ·Wear [Bind] them ·like a necklace [^Lon your neck].
    Write them on your heart as if on a tablet.
⁴ Then you will ·be respected [find favor]
    and will please both God and people.

⁵ Trust the Lord with all your heart,
    and don’t ·depend [rely] on your own understanding.
⁶ ·Remember the Lord [^LKnow him] ·in all you do [^Lon all your paths],
    and he will ·give you success [^Lkeep your roads straight].

⁷ Don’t ·depend on your own wisdom [^Lbe wise in your own eyes].
    ·Respect [Fear; Hold in awe] the Lord and ·refuse to do wrong [^Lturn away from evil].
⁸ Then your body will be healthy,
    and your bones will be ·strong [refreshed].

⁹ Honor the Lord with your wealth
    and the firstfruits from all your crops.
¹⁰ Then your barns will be full,
    and your wine barrels will ·overflow [burst] with new wine.

¹¹ My ·child [^Lson], do not reject the Lord’s discipline,
    and don’t ·get angry [loathe] when he corrects you.
¹² The Lord corrects those he loves,
    just as ·parents [^Lfathers] correct the child they delight in.

¹³ ·Happy [Blessed] is the person who finds wisdom,
    the one who ·gets [gains] understanding.
¹⁴ ·Wisdom [^LHer profit] is worth more than silver;
    ·it brings more profit [^Lher yield more] than gold.
¹⁵ Wisdom is more precious than ·rubies [or pearls];
    nothing you could want is equal to it.
¹⁶ ·With [In] her right hand ·wisdom offers you a long life [^Lare length of days],
    and ·with [in] her left hand ·she gives you [are] riches and honor.
¹⁷ ·Wisdom will make your life [^LHer paths are] pleasant
    and ·will bring you [^Lher trails are] peace.
¹⁸ As a tree produces fruit, wisdom gives life to those who use it,
    and everyone who uses it will be happy.

¹⁹ The Lord ·made [^Llaid the foundations of] the earth, ·using his wisdom [or with Wisdom; 8:22–31].
    He set the ·sky [heavens] in place, using his ·understanding [competence].
²⁰ With his knowledge, ·he made springs flow into rivers [^Lthe deeps burst open]
    and the clouds drop ·rain on the earth [^Ldew].

²¹ My ·child [^Lson], ·hold on to [protect] ·wisdom [resourcefulness] and ·good sense [discretion].
    Don’t let them ·out of your sight [^Lslip from your eyes].
²² They will give you life
    and ·beauty like a necklace [^Lan ornament] around your neck.
²³ Then you will ·go your way [walk on your path; ^Cof life] in safety,
    and ·you will not get hurt [^Lyour foot will not stumble].
²⁴ When you lie down, you won’t be afraid;
    when you lie down, you will sleep in peace.
²⁵ You won’t be afraid of sudden ·trouble [terror];
    you won’t fear the ruin that comes to the wicked,
²⁶ because the Lord will ·keep you safe [be your confidence].
    He will ·keep you from being trapped [guard your feet from capture].

²⁷ Whenever you are able,
    ·do [^Ldo not withhold] good to people who ·need help [or deserve it].
²⁸ If you have what your neighbor asks for,
    don’t say, “Come back later.
    I will give it to you tomorrow.”
²⁹ Don’t ·make plans to hurt [intend evil toward] your neighbor
    who lives nearby and trusts you.
³⁰ Don’t accuse a person for no good reason;
    don’t accuse someone who has not harmed you.

³¹ Don’t be jealous of those who use violence,
    and don’t ·choose to be like them [^Lprefer their path; ^Cof life].
³² ·The Lord hates those who do wrong [^LThe devious are an abomination to the Lord],
    but he is a ·friend [confidant] to those who are ·honest [virtuous].
³³ The Lord will curse the evil person’s house,
    but he will bless the home of ·those who do right [the righteous].
³⁴ The Lord ·laughs at [mocks] those who ·laugh at [mock] him,
    but he ·gives grace [shows favor] to ·those who are not proud [the humble].
³⁵ Wise people ·will receive honor [possess glory],
    but fools ·will be disgraced [give off/exude shame].

Wisdom Is Important