Chapter 3

  My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:  

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  For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.  

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  Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:  

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

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  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  

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  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.  

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  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.  

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  It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.  

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  Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:  

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  So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.  

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  My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:  

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  For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; 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 merchandise of it [is] better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.  

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  She [is] more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.  

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  Length of days [is] in her right hand; [and] 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 every one] that retaineth her.  

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  The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.  

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  By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.  

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  My son, let not them 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 safely, 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 the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall 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 thine 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 thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.  

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  For the froward [is] abomination to the LORD: but his secret [is] with the righteous.  

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  The curse of the LORD [is] in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.  

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  Surely he 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 fools.  

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