Proverbs 3
1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;
My son, forget not my law; but let your heart keep my commandments:
2 for they will add length to your days, years and peace to your life.
For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to you.
3 Never let loving devotion or faithfulness leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
Let not mercy and truth forsake you: bind them about your neck; write them on the table of your heart:
4 Then you will find favor and high regard in the sight of God and man.
So shall you find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not to 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 shall direct your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
Be not wise in your own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8 This will bring healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.
It shall be health to your navel, and marrow to your bones.
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your harvest;
Honor the LORD with your substance, and with the first fruits of all your increase:
10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
So shall your barns be filled with plenty, and your presses shall burst out with new wine.
11 My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, and do not loathe His rebuke;
My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
12 for the LORD disciplines the one He loves, as does a father the son in whom he delights.
For whom the LORD loves he corrects; even as a father the son in whom he delights.
13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding,
Happy is the man that finds wisdom, and the man that gets understanding.
14 for she is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than fine gold.
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; nothing you desire compares with her.
She is more precious than rubies: and all the things you can desire are not to be compared to her.
16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honor.
17 All her ways are pleasant, and all her paths are peaceful.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who lay hold of her are blessed.
She is a tree of life to them that lay hold on her: and happy is every one that retains her.
19 The LORD founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding.
The LORD by wisdom has founded the earth; by understanding has he established the heavens.
20 By His knowledge the watery depths were broken open, and the clouds dripped with dew.
By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
21 My son, do not lose sight of this: Preserve sound judgment and discernment.
My son, let not them depart from your eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22 They will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck.
So shall they be life to your soul, and grace to your neck.
23 Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.
Then shall you walk in your way safely, and your foot shall not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you rest, your sleep will be sweet.
When you lie down, you shall not be afraid: yes, you shall lie down, and your sleep shall be sweet.
25 Do not fear sudden danger or the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
Be not 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 the snare.
For the LORD shall be your confidence, and shall keep your foot from being taken.
27 Do not withhold good from the deserving when it is within your power to act.
Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
28 Do not tell your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I will provide”— when you already have the means.
Say not to your neighbor, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when you have it by you.
29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor, for he trustfully dwells beside you.
Devise not evil against your neighbor, seeing he dwells securely by you.
30 Do not accuse a man without cause, when he has done you no harm.
Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done you no harm.
31 Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways;
Envy you not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
32 for the LORD detests the perverse, but He is a friend to the upright.
For the fraudulent is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.
33 The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the righteous.
The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesses the habitation of the just.
34 He mocks the mockers, but gives grace to the humble.
Surely he scorns the scorners: but he gives grace to the lowly.
35 The wise will inherit honor, but fools are held up to shame.
The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
