Proverbs 31 ¹My son, don't forget my teaching, keep my in your ; ² for they will add to you many days, years of life and . ³ Do not let grace and leave you- bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. ⁴ Then you will win and esteem in the sight of God and of . ⁵ Trust in ADONAI with all your heart; do not rely on your own understanding. ⁶ In your acknowledge ; then he will make your paths lawful and straight. ⁷ Don't be conceited about your own wisdom; but ADONAI, and . ⁸ This will bring to your body and give strength to your bones. ⁹ Honor ADONAI with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your income. ¹⁰ Then your granaries will be filled and your vats overflow with new wine. ¹¹ My son, don't despise ADONAI's discipline or resent his reproof; ¹² for ADONAI corrects those he loves like a father who delights in his son. ¹³ is the person who finds wisdom, the person who acquires understanding; ¹⁴ for her profit exceeds that of silver, gaining her is better than gold, ¹⁵ she is more precious than pearls- nothing you want can compare with her. ¹⁶ Long life is in her right hand, and in her left. ¹⁷ Her ways are pleasant ways, and . ¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who grasp her; whoever holds fast to her will be made . ¹⁹ ADONAI by wisdom founded the earth, by understanding he established the heavens, ²⁰ by his knowledge the deep [springs] burst open and the dew condenses from the sky. ²¹ My son, don't let these slip from your sight; preserve common sense and ; ²² they will be life for your being and grace for your neck. ²³ Then you will walk your way securely, without hurting your foot. ²⁴ When you lie down, you will not be ; when you lie down, your sleep will be . ²⁵ Don't be afraid of sudden terror or destruction caused by the wicked, when it comes; ²⁶ for you can on ADONAI; he will keep your foot from being caught in a trap. ²⁷ Don't withhold good from someone entitled to it when you have in hand the power to do it. ²⁸ Don't tell your neighbor, "Go away! Come another time; I'll give it to you tomorrow," when you have it now. ²⁹ Don't plan harm against your neighbor who lives beside you trustingly. ³⁰ Don't quarrel with someone for no reason, if he has done you no harm. ³¹ Don't envy a man of , don't choose any of his ways; ³² for the is an abomination to ADONAI, but he shares his secret counsel with the upright. ³³ ADONAI's is in the house of the wicked, but he the home of the . ³⁴ The scornful he scorns, but gives grace to the humble. ³⁵ The wise win honor, but fools win shame.

Read the text above. Paraphrase below what this portion of scripture speaks to your mind and heart.