< Proverbs 3 >
1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;
My son! Do not forget my law, And let your heart keep my commands,
2 for they will add length to your days, years and peace to your life.
For [the] length of [your] days and years, Life and peace 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.
Do not let kindness and truth forsake you, Bind them on your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,
4 Then you will find favor and high regard in the sight of God and man.
And find grace and good understanding In the eyes of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
Trust to YHWH with all your heart, And do not lean to your own understanding.
6 in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
In all your ways know Him, And He makes your paths straight.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
Do not be wise in your own eyes, Fear YHWH, and turn aside from evil.
8 This will bring healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.
It is healing to your navel, And moistening to your bones.
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your harvest;
Honor YHWH from your substance, And from the beginning of all your increase;
10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
And your barns are filled [with] plenty, And your presses break forth [with] new wine.
11 My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, and do not loathe His rebuke;
Discipline of YHWH, my son, do not despise, And do not be distressed with His reproof,
12 for the LORD disciplines the one He loves, as does a father the son in whom he delights.
For whom YHWH loves He reproves, Even as a father the son He is pleased with.
13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding,
O the blessedness of a man [who] has found wisdom, And of a man [who] brings forth understanding.
14 for she is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than fine gold.
For better [is] her merchandise Than the merchandise of silver, And than gold—her increase.
15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire compares with her.
She [is] precious above rubies, And all your pleasures are not comparable 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, In her left [are] wealth 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 those laying hold on her, And whoever is retaining her [is] blessed.
19 The LORD founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding.
YHWH founded the earth by wisdom, He prepared the heavens by understanding.
20 By His knowledge the watery depths were broken open, and the clouds dripped with dew.
By His knowledge depths have been broken, And clouds drop dew.
21 My son, do not lose sight of this: Preserve sound judgment and discernment.
My son! Do not let them turn from your eyes, Keep wisdom and thoughtfulness,
22 They will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck.
And they are 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 you go your way confidently, And your foot does not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you rest, your sleep will be sweet.
If you lie down, you are not afraid, Indeed, you have lain down, And your sleep has been sweet.
25 Do not fear sudden danger or the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
Do not be afraid of sudden fear, And 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 YHWH is at your side, And He has kept your foot from capture.
27 Do not withhold good from the deserving when it is within your power to act.
Do not withhold good from its owners, When your hand [is] toward God to do [it].
28 Do not tell your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I will provide”— when you already have the means.
Do not say to your friend, “Go, and return, and tomorrow I give,” When substance [is] with you.
29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor, for he trustfully dwells beside you.
Do not devise evil against your neighbor, And he sitting confidently with you.
30 Do not accuse a man without cause, when he has done you no harm.
Do not strive with a man without cause, If he has not done you evil.
31 Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways;
Do not be envious of a man of violence, Nor fix on any of his ways.
32 for the LORD detests the perverse, but He is a friend to the upright.
For the perverted [is] an abomination to YHWH, And 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 righteous.
The curse of YHWH [is] in the house of the wicked. And He blesses the habitation of the righteous.
34 He mocks the mockers, but gives grace to the humble.
If He scorns the scorners, Yet He gives grace to the humble.
35 The wise will inherit honor, but fools are held up to shame.
The wise inherit glory, And fools are bearing away shame!