Proverbs 3
Trust the Lord
1 My son, don't forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commands;
2 for they will bring you
many days, a full life, and well-being.
3 Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you.
Tie them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will find favor and high regard
in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own understanding;
6 think about Him in all your ways,
and He will guide you on the right paths.
7 Don't consider yourself to be wise;
fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 This will be healing for your body
and strengthening for your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your possessions
and with the first produce of your entire harvest;
10 then your barns will be completely filled,
and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 Do not despise the Lord's instruction, my son,
and do not loathe His discipline;
12 for the Lord disciplines the one He loves,
just as a father, the son he delights in.
Wisdom Brings Happiness
13 Happy is a man who finds wisdom
and who acquires understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver,
and her revenue is better than gold.
15 She is more precious than jewels;
nothing you desire compares with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
in her left, riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant,
and all her paths, peaceful.
18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her,
and those who hold on to her are happy.
19 The Lord founded the earth by wisdom
and established the heavens by understanding.
20 By His knowledge the watery depths broke open,
and the clouds dripped with dew.
21 Maintain [your] competence and discretion.
My son, don't lose sight of them.
22 They will be life for you
and adornment for your neck.
23 Then you will go safely on your way;
your foot will not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
you will lie down, and your sleep will be pleasant.
25 Don't fear sudden danger
or the ruin of the wicked when it comes,
26 for the Lord will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from a snare.
Treat Others Fairly
27 When it is in your power,
don't withhold good from the one it belongs to.
28 Don't say to your neighbor, "Go away! Come back later.
I'll give it tomorrow"-when it is there with you.
29 Don't plan any harm against your neighbor,
for he trusts you and lives near you.
30 Don't accuse anyone without cause,
when he has done you no harm.
31 Don't envy a violent man
or choose any of his ways;
32 for the devious are detestable to the Lord,
but He is a friend to the upright.
33 The Lord's curse is on the household of the wicked,
but He blesses the home of the righteous;
34 He mocks those who mock,
but gives grace to the humble.
35 The wise will inherit honor,
but He holds up fools to dishonor.
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