My son, do not forget my teaching;
But let your heart keep my commandments:
2For length of days, and years of life,
And peace, will they add to you.
3Do not let kindness and truth forsake you.
Bind them around your neck.
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4So you will find favour,
And good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5Trust in Allah with all your heart,
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6In all your ways acknowledge him,
And he will direct your paths.
7Do not be wise in your own eyes.
Fear Allah, and depart from evil.
8It will be health to your body,
And nourishment to your bones.
9Honour Allah with your substance,
With the first fruits of all your increase:
10So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine.
11My son, do not despise Allah’s discipline,
And do not grow weary of his reproof:
12For whom Allah loves, he disciplines;
Just as a father the son in whom he delights.[1]
13Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
The man who gets understanding.
14For her good profit is better than getting silver,
And her return is better than fine gold.
15She is more precious than rubies.
None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her.
16Length of days is in her right hand.
In her left hand are riches and honour.
17Her ways are ways of pleasantness.
All her paths are peace.
18She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her.
Happy is everyone who retains her.
19By wisdom Allah founded the earth.
By understanding, he established the heavens.
20By his knowledge, the depths were broken up,
And the skies drop down the dew.
21My son, let them not depart from your eyes.
Keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22So they will be life to your soul,
And grace for your neck.
23Then you shall walk in your way securely.
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.
25Do not be afraid of sudden fear,
Neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes:
26For Allah will be your confidence,
And will keep your foot from being taken.
27Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
When it is in the power of your hand to do it.
28Do not say to your neighbour, “Go, and come again,
Tomorrow I will give it to you,“
When you have it by you.
29Do not devise evil against your neighbour,
Seeing he dwells securely by you.
30Do not strive with a man without cause,
If he has done you no harm.
31Do not envy the man of violence.
Choose none of his ways.
32For the perverse is an abomination to Allah,
But his friendship is with the upright.
33Allah’s curse is in the house of the wicked,
But he blesses the home of the righteous.
34Surely Allah opposes the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.[2]
35The wise will inherit glory,
But shame will be the promotion of fools.
[1] 3:11-12 Quoted in the Injil in Hebrews 12:5-6.
[2] 3:34 Quoted in the Injil in James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5.