Chapter 3

  My son, forget not my teaching, and let thy heart observe my commandments;  

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  for length of days, and years of life, and peace shall they add to thee.  

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  Let not loving-kindness and truth forsake thee; bind them about thy neck, write them upon the tablet of thy heart:  

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  and thou shalt find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.  

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  Confide in Jehovah with all thy heart, and lean not unto thine own intelligence;  

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  in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will make plain thy paths.  

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

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  it shall be health for thy navel, and moisture for thy bones.  

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  Honour 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 instruction of Jehovah, neither be weary of his chastisement;  

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  for whom Jehovah loveth he chasteneth, even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.  

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  Blessed is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.  

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  For the gain thereof is better than the gain of silver, and her revenue than fine gold.  

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  She is more precious than rubies; and all the things thou canst desire are not equal unto her.  

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  Length of days is in her right hand; in her left hand riches and honour.  

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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 he 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 deeps 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 unto 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, but thou shalt lie down and thy sleep shall be sweet.  

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  Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the destruction of the wicked, when it cometh;  

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  for Jehovah shall be thy confidence, and he 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 neighbour, 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 neighbour, 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 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 secret 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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  He indeed scorneth the scorners; but he giveth grace unto the lowly.  

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  The wise shall inherit glory; but shame shall be the promotion of the foolish.  

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