Chapter 3

  My son, forget not my law; But let thy heart keep my commandments:  

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  For length of days, and years of life, And peace, will they add to thee.  

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  Let not kindness and truth forsake thee: Bind them about thy neck; Write them upon the tablet of thy heart:  

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  So shalt thou find favor and good understanding In the sight of God and man.  

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  Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, And lean not upon thine own understanding:  

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  In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he will direct thy paths.  

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  Be not wise in thine own eyes; Fear Jehovah, and depart from evil:  

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  It will be health to thy navel, And marrow to thy bones.  

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  Honor Jehovah with thy substance, And with the first-fruits of all thine increase:  

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  So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, And thy vats shall overflow with new wine.  

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  My son, despise not the chastening of Jehovah; Neither be weary of his reproof:  

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  For whom Jehovah loveth he reproveth; Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.  

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  Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, And the man that getteth understanding.  

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  For the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver, And the profit thereof than fine gold.  

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  She is more precious than rubies: And none of the things thou canst desire are to be compared unto her.  

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  Length of days is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches 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 them that lay hold upon her: And happy is every one that retaineth her.  

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  Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding he established the heavens.  

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  By his knowledge the depths were broken up, And the skies drop down the dew.  

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  My son, let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep sound wisdom and discretion:  

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  So shall they be life unto thy soul, And grace to thy neck.  

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  Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, And thy foot shall not stumble.  

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  When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: Yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.  

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  Be not afraid of sudden fear, Neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh:  

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  For Jehovah will be thy confidence, And will keep thy foot from being taken.  

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  Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, When it is in the power of thy hand to do it.  

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  Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and come again, And to-morrow I will give; When thou hast it by thee.  

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  Devise not evil against thy neighbor, Seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.  

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  Strive not with a man without cause, If he have done thee no harm.  

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  Envy thou not the man of violence, And choose none of his ways.  

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  For the perverse is an abomination to Jehovah; But his friendship is with the upright.  

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  The curse of Jehovah is in the house of the wicked; But he blesseth the habitation of the righteous.  

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  Surely he scoffeth at the scoffers; But he giveth grace unto the lowly.  

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  The wise shall inherit glory; But shame shall be the promotion of fools.  

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