3.1 My son, forget not my law; but let your heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to you.

Let not mercy and truth forsake you: bind them about your neck; write them upon the table of your heart. So shall you find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

Walking in harmony with God’s laws and actively avoiding evil can prolong your life, says Solomon. Notice the promise of peace of mind – which is also described by Paul, when he says: "The peace of God that passes all understanding will guard your hearts and minds" (Philippians 4:7).

Commit yourself to being honest and kind, and you will win friends and influence people. Make it a top priority, and you will obtain favor with God and man alike. To some people, however, these suggestions make no sense at all, because the wisdom of God is foolishness to them. "It’s a jungle out there" they say, "It’s the survival of the fittest!" But God is greater than the jungle.

3.2 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.

Be not wise in your own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to your navel, and marrow to your bones.

Wisdom alone is not enough to cope with the complexities and potential hazards of life. So trust in the Lord with all your heart, says Solomon. Never be self-sufficient and wise in your own eyes. Never think you know it all. Never rely on your own very limited understanding of life’s complexities -- which was the mistake made by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden when they ignored God’s specific warning and took and ate the forbidden fruit – it looked good, it tasted good, and the devil agreed, but it ended up killing them.

Here is another important promise: If we do acknowledge and trust in God in all we do, he will direct our paths. He will be our personal coach, our trainer, our guru.

The New Testament word for "trust" is "faith", and Paul says: "Without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him (Hebrews 11:6).

Here is yet another important promise. God has the power bless us financially, and if we honor him with our income, by giving generously to the poor and starving of the world, for example, he will reward us generously.

The potential size of a harvest is clearly limited by the amount of seed the farmer sows in the field in the first place. Applying this principle to giving, Paul says: "Whosoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whosoever sows generously will also reap generously" (2 Corinthians 9:6). It has been said that your cannot out-give God.

Effective parents correct their children for their future benefit – in speech, hygiene habits, manners and so on. Likewise, God corrects us – for our benefit, not because he is peeved in some way, but to make us more happy and successful people, in whose words and actions he can delight.

Paul quotes this same section, saying: "The Lord disciplines those whom he loves, and chastises every son he receives"(Hebrews 12:6-7). As with a parent, that correction begins with words, but action may follow if there is no response, which is why Paul also says: "If we judged ourselves, we would not be judged" (1Corinthians 11:31).

Wisdom and understanding are the real keys to health, wealth, happiness and quality of life, says Solomon. Make them your goal, not silver and gold, and everything else will fall into place as a result. Money alone, even in vast amounts, cannot guarantee happiness, as endless newspaper reports on the lives of rich and famous people make very clear.

To find happiness, make pleasantness a top priority, says Solomon, and be a peace-maker, as Jesus also enjoins us. Embrace wisdom, never let her go.

By wisdom the Lord created the heavens and the earth, and that same wisdom has the power to change your life.

The wise man values Thoughtfulness very highly and makes it a habit. He quietly meditates on information in order to understand its implications and so arrive at sound Judgments and decisions. His is neither passive nor impulsive, casual or careless.

However, the wise man also seeks the guidance and protection of God by whose infinite wisdom, knowledge and understanding the whole universe was created. That way lies real security.

Wisdom is not an inward-looking, self-centred thing. If we want God to bless us, we should be a blessing to other people. If we have the power to help someone in need, we should do so – and do it today, if possible, rather than making them wait until tomorrow.

In the New Testament, John says: "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth" (1 John 3:17-18).

Here Solomon continues to encourage us to examine our existing attitudes and actions. If we want to be wise and sort out our lives, what is the point of creating problems for ourselves instead by stirring up strife with our neighbors, for no good reason at all? Be nice. Be kind. Be helpful. Be pleasant.

With regard to evil attitudes, Paul says: "At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another" (Titus 3:3).

3.8 The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesses the habitation of the just. Surely he scorns the scorners: but he gives grace unto the lowly.

The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

In summary of this section, we see that God treats us the way we treat other people -- which is why his laws are summed up in one simple statement: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". He is scornful to the approach of the scornful, but totally amenable to the humble minded.

Speaking of the eternal glory the wise shall inherit, and putting the problems of this present life in proper perspective, Paul says; "I consider that our present sufferings are not worthy to be compared to the glory that will be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18).