Filling Up Our Buckets

9Honor the Lord with your wealth,

with the firstfruits of all your crops;

10then your barns will be filled to overflowing,

and your vats will brim over with new wine.


11My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline,

and do not resent his rebuke,

12because the Lord disciplines those he loves,

as a father the son he delights in.b


13Blessed are those who find wisdom,

those who gain understanding,

14for she is more profitable than silver

and yields better returns than gold.

15She is more precious than rubies;

nothing you desire can compare with her.

16Long life is in her right hand;

in her left hand are riches and honor.

17Her ways are pleasant ways,

and all her paths are peace.

18She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;

those who hold her fast will be blessed.


19By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,

by understanding he set the heavens in place;

20by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
and the clouds let drop the dew.