Proverbs 3
1 My son, do not forget my law, but let thy heart keep my commandments.
My son, don’t forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,
2 For length of days, and years of life, and peace, they will add to thee.
for they will add to you length of days, years of life, and peace.
3 Let not kindness and truth forsake thee. Bind them about thy neck, write them upon the tablet of thy heart,
Don’t let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 so thou shall find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
So you will find favour, and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, and lean not upon thine own understanding.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will direct thy paths.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes. Fear Jehovah, and depart from evil.
Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8 It will be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.
9 Honor Jehovah with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase,
Honour the LORD with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase;
10 so thy barns shall be filled with plenty, and thy vats shall overflow with new wine.
so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 My son, despise not the chastening of Jehovah, nor be weary of his reproof.
My son, don’t despise the LORD’s discipline, neither be weary of his correction;
12 For whom Jehovah loves he reproves, and he whips every son whom he receives.
for whom the LORD loves, he corrects, even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.
13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gets understanding.
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding.
14 For the gain of it is better than the gain of silver, and the profit of it than fine gold.
For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies, and none of the things thou can desire are to be compared to her.
She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand, in her left hand are riches and honor.
Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honour.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold upon her. And happy is everyone who retains her.
She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her.
19 Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth. By understanding he established the heavens.
By wisdom the LORD founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens.
20 By his knowledge the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.
By his knowledge, the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.
21 My son, let them not depart from thine eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
My son, let them not depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 so they shall be life to thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
so they will be life to your soul, and grace for your neck.
23 Then thou shall walk in thy way securely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
Then you shall walk in your way securely. Your foot won’t stumble.
24 When thou lie down, thou shall not be afraid. Yea, thou shall lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.
25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, nor of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes.
Don’t be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes;
26 For Jehovah will be thy confidence, and will keep thy foot from being taken.
for the LORD will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being taken.
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thy hand to do it.
Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
28 Do not say to thy neighbor, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give, when thou have it by thee.
Don’t say to your neighbour, “Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you,” when you have it by you.
29 Do not devise evil against thy neighbor, since he dwells securely by thee.
Don’t devise evil against your neighbour, since he dwells securely by you.
30 Do not strive with a man without cause, if he has done thee no harm.
Don’t strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.
31 Do not envy thou the man of violence, and choose none of his ways.
Don’t envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways.
32 For the perverse man is an abomination to Jehovah, but his friendship is with the upright.
For the perverse is an abomination to the LORD, but his friendship is with the upright.
33 The curse of Jehovah is in the house of a wicked man, but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.
The LORD’s curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.
34 Surely the Lord is opposed to the arrogant, but he gives grace to the lowly.
Surely he mocks the mockers, but he gives grace to the humble.
35 The wise shall inherit glory, but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
The wise will inherit glory, but shame will be the promotion of fools.
