Proverbs 3

1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.s3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.s

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.ss9 Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

11 My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:12 For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.s14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.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 The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.s20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

21 My son, let not them 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 safely, 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 the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.s28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.29 Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.s

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

31 Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.s32 For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous.

33 The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.34 Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.35 The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.s

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