My son, do not forget my teaching,
        but let your heart keep my commandments,
    for length of days and years of life
        and peace they will add to you.
    
    
    Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
        bind them around your neck;
        write them on the tablet of your heart.
    So you will find favor and good success
        in the sight of God and man.
    
    
    Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
        and do not lean on your own understanding.
    In all your ways acknowledge him,
        and he will make straight your paths.
    Be not wise in your own eyes;
        fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
    It will be healing to your flesh
        and refreshment to your bones.
    
    
    Honor the LORD with your wealth
        and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
    then your barns will be filled with plenty,
        and your vats will be bursting with wine.
    
    
    My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline
        or be weary of his reproof,
    for the LORD reproves him whom he loves,
        as a father the son in whom he delights.
    
    
        Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
        and the one who gets understanding,
    for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
        and her profit better than gold.
    She is more precious than jewels,
        and nothing you desire can compare with her.
    Long life is in her right hand;
        in her left hand are riches and honor.
    Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
        and all her paths are peace.
    She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
        those who hold her fast are called blessed.
    
    
    The LORD by wisdom founded the earth;
        by understanding he established the heavens;
    by his knowledge the deeps broke open,
        and the clouds drop down the dew.
    
    
    My son, do not lose sight of these—
        keep sound wisdom and discretion,
    and they will be life for your soul
        and adornment for your neck.
    Then you will walk on your way securely,
        and your foot will not stumble.
    If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
        when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
    Do not be afraid of sudden terror
        or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes,
    for the LORD will be your confidence
        and will keep your foot from being caught.
    Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
        when it is in your power to do it.
    
    
    Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,
        tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.
    Do not plan evil against your neighbor,
        who dwells trustingly beside you.
    Do not contend with a man for no reason,
        when he has done you no harm.
    Do not envy a man of violence
        and do not choose any of his ways,
    for the devious person is an abomination to the LORD,
        but the upright are in his confidence.
    The LORD’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
        but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
    Toward the scorners he is scornful,
        but to the humble he gives favor.
    The wise will inherit honor,
        but fools get disgrace.
    
    
        Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction,
        and be attentive, that you may gain insight,
    for I give you good precepts;
        do not forsake my teaching.
    When I was a son with my father,
        tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,
    he taught me and said to me,
    “Let your heart hold fast my words;
        keep my commandments, and live.
    Get wisdom; get insight;
        do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
    Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
        love her, and she will guard you.
    The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
        and whatever you get, get insight.
    Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
        she will honor you if you embrace her.
    She will place on your head a graceful garland;
        she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”
    
    
    Hear, my son, and accept my words,
        that the years of your life may be many.
    I have taught you the way of wisdom;
        I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
    When you walk, your step will not be hampered,
        and if you run, you will not stumble.
    Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;
        guard her, for she is your life.
    Do not enter the path of the wicked,
        and do not walk in the way of the evil.
    Avoid it; do not go on it;
        turn away from it and pass on.
    For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong;
        they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.
    For they eat the bread of wickedness
        and drink the wine of violence.
    But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
        which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
    The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
        they do not know over what they stumble.
    
    
    My son, be attentive to my words;
        incline your ear to my sayings.
    Let them not escape from your sight;
        keep them within your heart.
    For they are life to those who find them,
        and healing to all their flesh.
    Keep your heart with all vigilance,
        for from it flow the springs of life.
    Put away from you crooked speech,
        and put devious talk far from you.
    Let your eyes look directly forward,
        and your gaze be straight before you.
    Ponder the path of your feet;
        then all your ways will be sure.
    Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
        turn your foot away from evil. (ESV)

But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.

  After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

  Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. (ESV)