Proverbs 3
1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,
My son, don’t forget my teaching; but keep my mitzvot ·instructions· in your heart:
2 for they will add to you length of days, years of life, and peace.
for length of days, and years of life, and peace, will they add to you.
3 Do not let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.
Don’t let chesed ·loving-kindness· and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will find favor, and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
So you will find chen ·grace·, and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
Trust in Adonai with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Fear Adonai, and depart from evil.
8 It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.
It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.
9 Honor the LORD with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase;
Honor Adonai with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase:
10 so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline, neither be weary of his correction;
My son, don’t despise Adonai’s discipline, neither be despondent when he corrects you:
12 for whom the LORD loves, he corrects, even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.
for whom Adonai 'ahav ·affectionately loves·, he reproves; even as a father reproves his son in whom he delights.
13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding.
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding.
14 For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold.
For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her teshuvah ·complete return· is better than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you 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 kavod ·weighty glory·.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness. 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 of her. 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 By wisdom the LORD founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens.
By wisdom Adonai 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 your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
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 for your neck.
so they will be life to your soul, and chen ·grace· for your neck.
23 Then you shall walk in your way securely. Your foot will not stumble.
Then you shall walk in your way securely. Your foot won’t stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.
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 fear, neither 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 the LORD will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being taken.
for Adonai 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 your 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 your neighbor, “Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you,” when you have it by you.
Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you,” when you have it by you.
29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor, since he dwells securely by you.
Don’t devise evil against your neighbor, since he dwells securely by you.
30 Do not strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.
Don’t strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.
31 Do not envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways.
Don’t envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways.
32 For the perverse is an abomination to the LORD, but his friendship is with the upright.
For the perverse is an abomination to Adonai, but his friendship is with the upright.
33 The LORD’s curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.
Adonai’s curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the habitation of the upright.
34 Surely he mocks the mockers, but he gives grace to the humble.
Surely he opposes the mockers, but he gives chen ·grace· to the humble.
35 The wise will inherit glory, but shame will be the promotion of fools.
The wise will inherit kavod ·weighty glory·, but shame will be the promotion of fools.
