Proverbs 3
1 My son, keep my teaching in your memory, and my rules in your heart:
My son, forget not my teaching, and let thy heart keep my commandments;
2 For they will give you increase of days, years of life, and peace.
For length of days, and years of life, and peace, will they increase unto thee.
3 Let not mercy and good faith go from you; let them be hanging round your neck, recorded on your heart;
Let kindness and truth not forsake thee; bind them about thy throat; write them upon the table of thy heart:
4 So you will have grace and a good name in the eyes of God and men.
So shalt thou find grace and good favor in the eyes of God and man.
5 Put all your hope in God, not looking to your reason for support.
Trust in the Lord with all thy heart: and upon thy own understanding do not rely.
6 In all your ways give ear to him, and he will make straight your footsteps.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will make level thy 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 thy own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
8 This will give strength to your flesh, and new life to your bones.
It will be healing to thy body, and marrow to thy bones.
9 Give honour to the Lord with your wealth, and with the first-fruits of all your increase:
Honor the Lord with thy wealth, and with the first-fruits of all thy products:
10 So your store-houses will be full of grain, and your vessels overflowing with new wine.
So shall thy storehouses be filled with plenty, and with new wine shall thy presses overflow.
11 My son, do not make your heart hard against the Lord's teaching; do not be made angry by his training:
The correction of the Lord, my son, do not despise; and feel no loathing for his admonition;
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.
Because whomever the Lord loveth he admonisheth; and as a father who delighteth in [his] son.
13 Happy is the man who makes discovery of wisdom, and he who gets knowledge.
Happy the man that hath found wisdom, and the man that acquireth understanding.
14 For trading in it is better than trading in silver, and its profit greater than bright gold.
For the obtaining of her is better than the obtaining of silver, and better than fine gold is her product.
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 pearls; and all the things thou valuest are not equal unto her.
16 Long life is in her right hand, and in her left are wealth and honour.
Length of days is in her right hand: in her left are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of delight, and all her goings are peace.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to all who take her in their hands, and happy is everyone who keeps her.
A tree of life is she to those that lay hold on her: and every one that firmly graspeth her will be made happy.
19 The Lord by wisdom put in position the bases of the earth; by reason he put the heavens in their place.
The Lord hath through wisdom founded the earth: he hath established the heavens through understanding.
20 By his knowledge the deep was parted, and dew came dropping from the skies.
By his knowledge were the depths split open, and the skies drop down the dew.
21 My son, keep good sense, and do not let wise purpose go from your eyes.
My son, let them not be removed from thy eyes; keep [before thee] sound wisdom and discretion:
22 So they will be life for your soul, and grace for your neck.
And they will be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy throat.
23 Then you will go safely on your way, and your feet will have no cause for slipping.
Then wilt thou walk in safety on thy way, and thy foot will not strike [against aught]:
24 When you take your rest you will have no fear, and on your bed sleep will be sweet to you.
When thou layest thyself down, thou shalt feel no dread; and as thou liest down, thy sleep shall be pleasant.
25 Have no fear of sudden danger, or of the storm which will come on evil-doers:
Thou needest not to be afraid of sudden dread, neither of the [unlooked-for] tempest over the wicked, when it cometh.
26 For the Lord will be your hope, and will keep your foot from being taken in the net.
For the Lord will be thy confidence, and he will guard thy foot from being caught.
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.
Withhold not a benefit from him who is deserving it, when it is in the power of thy hand to do it.
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 unto thy neighbor, Go, and return, and tomorrow will I give: when thou hast it by thee.
29 Do not make evil designs against your neighbour, when he is living with you without fear.
Contrive not against thy neighbor any evil, when he dwelleth in safety with thee.
30 Do not take up a cause at law against a man for nothing, if he has done you no wrong.
Quarrel not with any man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
31 Have no envy of the violent man, or take any of his ways as an example.
Envy not the man of violence, and choose none of his ways.
32 For the wrong-hearted man is hated by the Lord, but he is a friend to the upright.
For the froward is an abomination to the Lord; but with the upright is his good-will.
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 in the house of the wicked; but the habitation of the righteous will he bless.
34 He makes sport of the men of pride, but he gives grace to the gentle-hearted.
If [it concern] the scornful he will himself render them a scorn; but unto the lowly doth he give grace.
35 The wise will have glory for their heritage, but shame will be the reward of the foolish.
The wise shall inherit glory; but fools shall obtain disgrace as their portion.
