Chapter 3

  My son, forget not my law, and let thy heart keep my commandments.  

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

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  Let not mercy and truth leave thee, put them about thy neck, and write them in the tables of thy heart:  

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  And thou shalt And grace and good understanding before God and men.  

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  Have confidence in the Lord with all thy heart, and lean not upon thy own prudence.  

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  In all thy ways think on him, and he will direct thy steps.  

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  I Be not wise in thy own conceit: fear God, and depart from evil:  

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  For it shall be health to thy navel, and moistening to thy bones.  

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  Honour the Lord with thy substance, and give him of the first of all thy fruits :  

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  And thy barns shall be filled with abundance, and thy presses shall run over with wine.  

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  My son, reject not the correction of the Lord: and do not faint when thou art chastised by him:  

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  For whom the Lord loveth, he chastiseth: and as a father in the son he pleaseth himself.  

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  Blessed is the man that findeth wisdom and is rich in prudence:  

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  The purchasing thereof is better than the merchandise of silver, and her fruit than the chiefest and purest gold:  

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  She is more precious than all riches : and all the things that are desired, are not to be compared with her.  

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  Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and glory.  

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  Her ways are beautiful ways, and all her paths are peaceable.  

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  She is a tree of life to them that lay hold on her: and he that shall retain her is blessed.  

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  The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth, hath established the heavens by prudence.  

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  By his wisdom the depths have broken out, and the clouds grow thick with dew  

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  My son, let not these things depart from thy eyes: keep the law and counsel:  

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  And there shall be life to thy soul, and grace to thy mouth.  

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  Then shalt thou walk confidently in thy way, and thy foot shall not stumble:  

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  If thou sleep, thou shalt not fear: thou shalt rest, and thy sleep shall be sweet.  

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  Be not afraid of sudden fear, nor of the power of the wicked falling upon thee.  

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  For the Lord will be at thy side, and will keep thy foot that thou be not taken.  

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  Do not withhold him from doing good, who is able: if thou art able, do good thyself also.  

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  Say not to thy friend: Go, and come again: and to morrow I will give to thee: when thou canst give at present.  

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  Practise not evil against thy friend, when he hath confidence in thee.  

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  Strive not against a man without cause, when he hath done thee no evil.  

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  Envy not the unjust man, and do not follow his ways:  

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  For every mocker is an abomination to the Lord, and his communication is with the simple.  

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  Want is from the Lord in the house of the wicked: but the habitations of the just shall be blessed.  

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  He shall scorn the scorners, and to the meek he will give grace.  

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  The wise shall possess glory: the promotion of fools is disgrace.  

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