Proverbs 3
Guidance for the Young
1 My son, do not forget my law, My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands;2 For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you.3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,4 And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.8 It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.9 Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase;10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.11 My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His correction;12 For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding;14 For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold.15 She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.16 Length of days is in her right hand, In her left hand riches and honor.17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace.18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who retain her.19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding He established the heavens;20 By His knowledge the depths were broken up, And clouds drop down the dew.21 My son, let them not depart from your eyes Keep sound wisdom and discretion;22 So they will be life to your soul And grace to your neck.23 Then you will walk safely in your way, And your foot will not stumble.24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;26 For the Lord will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught.27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so. 28 Do not say to your neighbor, Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it, When you have it with you.29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor, For he dwells by you for safetys sake.30 Do not strive with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm.31 Do not envy the oppressor, And choose none of his ways;32 For the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord, But His secret counsel is with the upright.33 The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the home of the just.34 Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble.35 The wise shall inherit glory, But shame shall be the legacy of fools.
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