Proverbs 3
1 My son, keep my teaching in your memory, and my rules in your heart:
[My] son, forget not my laws; but let your heart keep my words:
2 For they will give you increase of days, years of life, and peace.
for length of existence, and years of life, and peace, shall they add to you.
3 Let not mercy and good faith go from you; let them be hanging round your neck, recorded on your heart;
Let not mercy and truth forsake you; but bind them about your neck:
4 So you will have grace and a good name in the eyes of God and men.
so shall you find favor: and do you provide things honest in the sight of the Lord, and of men.
5 Put all your hope in God, not looking to your reason for support.
Trust in God with all your heart; and be not exalted in your own wisdom.
6 In all your ways give ear to him, and he will make straight your footsteps.
In all your ways acquaint yourself with her, that she may rightly direct your paths.
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 conceit; but fear God, and depart from all evil.
8 This will give strength to your flesh, and new life to your bones.
Then shall there be health to your body, and good keeping 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 just labors, and give him the first of your fruits of righteousness:
10 So your store-houses will be full of grain, and your vessels overflowing with new wine.
that your storehouses may be completely filled with corn, and that your presses may burst forth with 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, despise not the chastening of the Lord; nor faint when you are rebuked of him:
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 whom the Lord loves, he rebukes, and scourges every son whom he receives.
13 Happy is the man who makes discovery of wisdom, and he who gets knowledge.
Blessed is the man who has found wisdom, and the mortal who knows prudence.
14 For trading in it is better than trading in silver, and its profit greater than bright gold.
For it is better to traffic for her, than for treasures of gold and silver.
15 She is of more value than jewels, and nothing for which you may have a desire is fair in comparison with her.
And she is more valuable than precious stones: no evil thing shall resist her: she is well known to all that approach her, and no precious thing is equal to her in value.
16 Long life is in her right hand, and in her left are wealth and honour.
For length of existence and years of life are in her right hand; and in her left hand are wealth and glory: out of her mouth proceeds righteousness, and she carries law and mercy upon her tongue.
17 Her ways are ways of delight, and all her goings are peace.
Her ways are good ways, 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 all that lay hold upon her; and she is [a] secure [help] to all that stay themselves on her, as on the Lord.
19 The Lord by wisdom put in position the bases of the earth; by reason he put the heavens in their place.
God by wisdom founded the earth, and by prudence he prepared the heavens.
20 By his knowledge the deep was parted, and dew came dropping from the skies.
By understanding were the depths broken up, and the clouds dropped water.
21 My son, keep good sense, and do not let wise purpose go from your eyes.
[My] son, let [them] not pass from [you], but keep my counsel and understanding:
22 So they will be life for your soul, and grace for your neck.
that your soul may live, and that there may be grace round your neck; and it shall be health to your flesh, and safety to your bones:
23 Then you will go safely on your way, and your feet will have no cause for slipping.
that you may go confidently in peace in all your ways, and that your foot may not stumble.
24 When you take your rest you will have no fear, and on your bed sleep will be sweet to you.
For if you rest, you shall be undismayed; and if you sleep, you shall slumber sweetly.
25 Have no fear of sudden danger, or of the storm which will come on evil-doers:
And you shall not be afraid of alarm coming upon you, neither of approaching attacks of ungodly men.
26 For the Lord will be your hope, and will keep your foot from being taken in the net.
For the Lord shall be over all your ways, and shall establish your foot that you be not moved.
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.
Forbear not to do good to the poor, whenever your hand may have [power] to help [him].
28 Say not to your neighbour, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when you have it by you at the time.
Say not, Come back another time, to-morrow I will give; while you are able to do [him] good: for you know not what the next day will bring forth.
29 Do not make evil designs against your neighbour, when he is living with you without fear.
Devise not evil against your friend, living near you and trusting in you.
30 Do not take up a cause at law against a man for nothing, if he has done you no wrong.
Be not ready to quarrel with a man without a cause, lest he do you some harm.
31 Have no envy of the violent man, or take any of his ways as an example.
Procure not the reproaches of bad men, neither do you covet their ways.
32 For the wrong-hearted man is hated by the Lord, but he is a friend to the upright.
For every transgressor is unclean before the Lord; neither does he sit among the righteous.
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 God is in the houses of the ungodly; but the habitations of the just are blessed.
34 He makes sport of the men of pride, but he gives grace to the gentle-hearted.
The Lord resists the proud; but he 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 shall inherit glory; but the ungodly have exalted [their own] dishonor.
