Proverbs 3
Don't Assume You Know It All
1-2 Good friend, don't forget all I've taught you; take to heart my commands. They'll help you live a long, long time, a long life lived full and well.
3-4 Don't lose your grip on Love and Loyalty. Tie them around your neck; carve their initials on your heart. Earn a reputation for living well in God's eyes and the eyes of the people.
5-12 Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. Don't assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over. But don't, dear friend, resent God's discipline; don't sulk under his loving correction. It's the child he loves that God corrects; a father's delight is behind all this.
The Very Tree of Life
13-18 You're blessed when you meet Lady Wisdom, when you make friends with Madame Insight. She's worth far more than money in the bank; her friendship is better than a big salary. Her value exceeds all the trappings of wealth; nothing you could wish for holds a candle to her. With one hand she gives long life, with the other she confers recognition. Her manner is beautiful, her life wonderfully complete. She's the very Tree of Life to those who embrace her. Hold her tight—and be blessed!
19-20 With Lady Wisdom, God formed Earth; with Madame Insight, he raised Heaven. They knew when to signal rivers and springs to the surface, and dew to descend from the night skies.
Never Walk Away
21-26 Dear friend, guard Clear Thinking and Common Sense with your life; don't for a minute lose sight of them. They'll keep your soul alive and well, they'll keep you fit and attractive. You'll travel safely, you'll neither tire nor trip. You'll take afternoon naps without a worry, you'll enjoy a good night's sleep. No need to panic over alarms or surprises, or predictions that doomsday's just around the corner, Because God will be right there with you; he'll keep you safe and sound.
27-29 Never walk away from someone who deserves help; your hand is God's hand for that person. Don't tell your neighbor "Maybe some other time" or "Try me tomorrow" when the money's right there in your pocket. Don't figure ways of taking advantage of your neighbor when he's sitting there trusting and unsuspecting.
30-32 Don't walk around with a chip on your shoulder, always spoiling for a fight. Don't try to be like those who shoulder their way through life. Why be a bully? "Why not?" you say. Because God can't stand twisted souls. It's the straightforward who get his respect.
33-35 God's curse blights the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous. He gives proud skeptics a cold shoulder, but if you're down on your luck, he's right there to help. Wise living gets rewarded with honor; stupid living gets the booby prize.
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