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
Exhortations to Seek Wisdom and Walk with the Lord
1 My child,t do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keept my commandments,
2 for they will providet a long and full life,t
and they will add well-beingt to you.
3 Do not let truth and mercyt leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.s
4 Then you will findt favor and good understanding,t
in the sight of God and people.t
5 Trusts in the Lord with all your heart,s
and do not relyt on your own understanding.t
6 Acknowledget him in all your ways,t
and he will make your paths straight.t
7 Do not be wise in your own estimation;t
fear the Lord and turn away from evil.s
8 This will bringt healing to your body,s
and refreshmentt to your inner self.t
9 Honort the Lord from your wealth
and from the first fruits of all your crops;t
10 then your barns will be filled completely,t
and your vatss will overflowt with new wine.
11 My child, do not despise discipline from the Lord,t
and do not loathet his rebuke.
12 For the Lord disciplinest those he loves,
just as a fathers disciplinest the son in whom he delights.
Blessings of Obtaining Wisdom
13 Blessedt is the onet who findst wisdom,
and the one who obtainst understanding.
14 For hert benefitt is more profitablet than silver,
and hert gaint is bettert than gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies,
and none of the thingst you desiret can comparet with her.t
16 Long lifet is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are very pleasant,t
and all her paths are peaceful.
18 She is liket a tree of lifes to those who obtain her,t
and everyone who grasps hold of her will be blessed.t
19 By wisdom the Lord laid the foundation of the earth;t
he established the heavens by understanding.s
20 By his knowledge the primordial seas was broken open,s
and the clouds drip down dew.s
21 My child, do not let themt escape from your sight;
safeguard sound wisdom and discretion.t
22 Sot they will givet life to you,t
and grace to adornt your neck.t
23 Then you will walk on your wayt with security,
and yout will not stumble.s
24 Whent you lie down you will not be filled with fear;t
whent you lie down your sleep will be pleasant.t
25 You will not be afraidt of suddent disaster,t
or when destruction overtakest the wicked;t
26 for the Lord will bett the source of your confidence,t
and he will guard your foots from being caught in a trap.t
Wisdom Demonstrated in Relationships with People
27 Do not withhold good from those who need it,t
whent youst have the abilityt to help.t
28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go! Return tomorrow
and I will give it,” whent you have it with you at the time.t
29 Do not plots evil against your neighbor
whent he dwells by you unsuspectingly.
30 Do not accuses anyonet without legitimate cause,t
if he has not treated you wrongly.
31 Do not envy a violent man,t
and do not choose to imitatet any of his ways;
32 for one who goes astrayt is an abominationt to the Lord,
but he revealst his intimate counselt to the upright.
33 The Lord’s curset is on the householdt of the wicked,s
but he blessess the homet of the righteous.t
34 Althought he is scornful to arrogant scoffers,t
yett he shows favor to the humble.t
35 The wise inherit honor,
but he holds fools ups to public contempt.t