Proverbs 3

Using Wisdom

1 My son,do not forget my teachings,and keep my commands in mind,2 because they will bring youlong life, good years, and peace.3 Do not let mercy and truth leave you.Fasten them around your neck.Write them on the tablet of your heart.4 Then you will find favor and much successin the sight of God and humanity.5 Trust the Lord with all your heart,and do not rely on your own understanding.6 In all your ways acknowledge him,and he will make your paths smooth.t7 Do not consider yourself wise.Fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.8 Then your body will be healed,and your bones will have nourishment.9 Honor the Lord with your wealthand with the first and best part of all your income.t10 Then your barns will be full,and your vats will overflow with fresh wine.11 Do not reject the discipline of the Lord, my son,and do not resent his warning,12 because the Lord warns the one he loves,even as a father warns a son with whom he is pleased.13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdomand the one who obtains understanding.14 The profit gained from wisdom is greater thanthe profit gained from silver.Its yield is better than fine gold.15 Wisdom is more precious than jewels,and all your desires cannot equal it.16 Long life is in wisdom’s right hand.In wisdom’s left hand are riches and honor.17 Wisdom’s ways are pleasant ways,and all its paths lead to peace.18 Wisdom is a tree of lifefor those who take firm hold of it.Those who cling to it are blessed.19 By Wisdom the Lord laid the foundation of the earth.By understanding he established the heavens.20 By his knowledge the deep waters were divided,and the skies dropped dew.21 My son,do not lose sight of these things.Use priceless wisdom and foresight.22 Then they will mean life for you,and they will grace your neck.23 Then you will go safely on your way,and you will not hurt your foot.24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid.As you lie there, your sleep will be sweet.25 Do not be afraid of sudden terroror of the destruction of wicked people when it comes.26 The Lord will be your confidence.He will keep your foot from getting caught.27 Do not hold back anything goodfrom those who are entitled to itwhen you have the power to do so.28 When you have the good thing with you, do not tell your neighbor,“Go away!Come back tomorrow.I’ll give you something then.”29 Do not plan to do something wrong to your neighborwhile he is sitting there with you and suspecting nothing.30 Do not quarrel with a person for no reasonif he has not harmed you.31 Do not envy a violent person.Do not choose any of his ways.32 The devious person is disgusting to the Lord.The Lord’s intimate advice is with decent people.33 The Lord curses the house of wicked people,but he blesses the home of righteous people.34 When he mocks the mockers,he is gracious to humble people.35 Wise people will inherit honor,but fools will bear disgrace.

Proverbs 3

1 My son, forget not my law; But let thy heart keep my commandments:

2 For length of days, and years of life, And peace, will they add to thee.

3 Let not kindness and truth forsake thee: Bind them about thy neck; Write them upon the tablet of thy heart:

4 So shalt thou find favor and good understanding In the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, And lean not upon thine own understanding:

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he will direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes; Fear Jehovah, and depart from evil:

8 It will be health to thy navel, And marrow to thy bones.

9 Honor Jehovah with thy substance, And with the first-fruits of all thine increase:

10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, And thy vats shall overflow with new wine.

11 My son, despise not the chastening of Jehovah; Neither be weary of his reproof:

12 For whom Jehovah loveth he reproveth; Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, And the man that getteth understanding.

14 For the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver, And the profit thereof than fine gold.

15 She is more precious than rubies: And none of the things thou canst desire are to be compared unto her.

16 Length of days is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor.

17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace.

18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: And happy is every one that retaineth her.

19 Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding he established the heavens.

20 By his knowledge the depths were broken up, And the skies drop down the dew.

21 My son, let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep sound wisdom and discretion:

22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, And grace to thy neck.

23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, And thy foot shall not stumble.

24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: Yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, Neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh:

26 For Jehovah will be thy confidence, And will keep thy foot from being taken.

27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, When it is in the power of thy hand to do it.

28 Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and come again, And to-morrow I will give; When thou hast it by thee.

29 Devise not evil against thy neighbor, Seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.

30 Strive not with a man without cause, If he have done thee no harm.

31 Envy thou not the man of violence, And choose none of his ways.

32 For the perverse is an abomination to Jehovah; But his friendship is with the upright.

33 The curse of Jehovah is in the house of the wicked; But he blesseth the habitation of the righteous.

34 Surely he scoffeth at the scoffers; But he giveth grace unto the lowly.

35 The wise shall inherit glory; But shame shall be the promotion of fools.