The Wisdom of Piety
1My son, do not forget my teaching
But let your mind retain my commandments;
2For they will bestow on you length of days,
Years of life and well-being.
3Let fidelity and steadfastness not leave you;
Bind them about your throat,
Write them on the tablet of your mind,
4And you will find favor and approbation
In the eyes of God and man.
5Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And do not rely on your own understanding.
6In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths smooth.
7Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and shun evil.
8It will be a cure for your body,
A tonic for your bones.
9Honor the Lord with your wealth,
With the best of all your income,
10And your barns will be filled with grain,
Your vats will burst with new wine.
11Do not reject the discipline of the Lord, my son;
Do not abhor His rebuke.
12For whom the Lord loves, He rebukes,
As a father the son whom he favors.
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Credits
Reprinted from Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures by permission of the University of Nebraska Press. Copyright 1985 by the Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia.
Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 1.
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Related Guide
Writings: The Third Section of the Jewish Bible
10th–2nd Century BCE
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