Proverbs 3
1 My son, keep my teaching in your memory, and my rules in your heart:
My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;
2 For they will give you increase of days, years of life, and peace.
for they will add length to your days, years and peace to your life.
3 Let not mercy and good faith go from you; let them be hanging round your neck, recorded on your heart;
Never let loving devotion or faithfulness leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will have grace and a good name in the eyes of God and men.
Then you will find favor and high regard in the sight of God and man.
5 Put all your hope in God, not looking to your reason for support.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways give ear to him, and he will make straight your footsteps.
in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
7 Put no high value on your wisdom: let the fear of the Lord be before you, and keep yourself from evil:
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
8 This will give strength to your flesh, and new life to your bones.
This will bring healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.
9 Give honour to the Lord with your wealth, and with the first-fruits of all your increase:
Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your harvest;
10 So your store-houses will be full of grain, and your vessels overflowing with new wine.
then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 My son, do not make your heart hard against the Lord's teaching; do not be made angry by his training:
My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, and do not loathe His rebuke;
12 For to those who are dear to him the Lord says sharp words, and makes the son in whom he has delight undergo pain.
for the LORD disciplines the one He loves, as does a father the son in whom he delights.
13 Happy is the man who makes discovery of wisdom, and he who gets knowledge.
Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding,
14 For trading in it is better than trading in silver, and its profit greater than bright gold.
for she is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than fine gold.
15 She is of more value than jewels, and nothing for which you may have a desire is fair in comparison with her.
She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire compares with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand, and in her left are wealth and honour.
Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of delight, and all her goings are peace.
All her ways are pleasant, and all her paths are peaceful.
18 She is a tree of life to all who take her in their hands, and happy is everyone who keeps her.
She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who lay hold of her are blessed.
19 The Lord by wisdom put in position the bases of the earth; by reason he put the heavens in their place.
The LORD founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding.
20 By his knowledge the deep was parted, and dew came dropping from the skies.
By His knowledge the watery depths were broken open, and the clouds dripped with dew.
21 My son, keep good sense, and do not let wise purpose go from your eyes.
My son, do not lose sight of this: Preserve sound judgment and discernment.
22 So they will be life for your soul, and grace for your neck.
They will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck.
23 Then you will go safely on your way, and your feet will have no cause for slipping.
Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.
24 When you take your rest you will have no fear, and on your bed sleep will be sweet to you.
When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you rest, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Have no fear of sudden danger, or of the storm which will come on evil-doers:
Do not fear sudden danger or the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 For the Lord will be your hope, and will keep your foot from being taken in the net.
for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from the snare.
27 Do not keep back good from those who have a right to it, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
Do not withhold good from the deserving when it is within your power to act.
28 Say not to your neighbour, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when you have it by you at the time.
Do not tell your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I will provide”— when you already have the means.
29 Do not make evil designs against your neighbour, when he is living with you without fear.
Do not devise evil against your neighbor, for he trustfully dwells beside you.
30 Do not take up a cause at law against a man for nothing, if he has done you no wrong.
Do not accuse a man without cause, when he has done you no harm.
31 Have no envy of the violent man, or take any of his ways as an example.
Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways;
32 For the wrong-hearted man is hated by the Lord, but he is a friend to the upright.
for the LORD detests the perverse, but He is a friend to the upright.
33 The curse of the Lord is on the house of the evil-doer, but his blessing is on the tent of the upright.
The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the righteous.
34 He makes sport of the men of pride, but he gives grace to the gentle-hearted.
He mocks the mockers, but gives grace to the humble.
35 The wise will have glory for their heritage, but shame will be the reward of the foolish.
The wise will inherit honor, but fools are held up to shame.
