< 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 observe my precepts!
2 For they will give you increase of days, years of life, and peace.
For length of days, and years of life, And peace shall they multiply to thee.
3 Let not mercy and good faith go from you; let them be hanging round your neck, recorded on your heart;
Let not kindness and truth forsake thee; Bind them around thy neck, Write them upon the tablet of thy heart:
4 So you will have grace and a good name in the eyes of God and men.
Then shalt thou find favor and good success 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 thy heart, And lean not on thine own understanding;
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 thy paths plain.
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 thine own eyes; Fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8 This will give strength to your flesh, and new life to your bones.
It shall be health to thy muscles, And moisture 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 substance, And with the first-fruits of all thy increase;
10 So your store-houses will be full of grain, and your vessels overflowing with new wine.
So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, And thy vats 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, despise not the correction of the LORD, Nor be impatient under his chastisement!
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 loveth he chasteneth, Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
13 Happy is the man who makes discovery of wisdom, and he who gets knowledge.
Happy the man who findeth wisdom; Yea, the man who getteth understanding!
14 For trading in it is better than trading in silver, and its profit greater than bright gold.
For the profit thereof is greater than that of silver, And the gain thereof than that of 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.
More precious is she than pearls, And none of thy jewels is to be compared with 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 hand 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.
She is a tree of life to them that lay hold of her, And happy is every one who hath her in his grasp.
19 The Lord by wisdom put in position the bases of the earth; by reason he put the heavens in their place.
The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding he framed the heavens.
20 By his knowledge the deep was parted, and dew came dropping from the skies.
By his knowledge the deep waters were cleft, And the clouds 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 depart from thine eyes; Keep sound wisdom and discretion!
22 So they will be life for your soul, and grace for your neck.
For they shall be life to thy soul, And grace to thy neck.
23 Then you will go safely on your way, and your feet will have no cause for slipping.
Then shalt thou go on thy way securely, And thy foot shall not stumble;
24 When you take your rest you will have no fear, and on your bed sleep will be sweet to you.
When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid, Yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25 Have no fear of sudden danger, or of the storm which will come on evil-doers:
Be not thou afraid of sudden alarm, Nor of the storm that is for 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 shall be thy confidence; Yea, he will keep thy foot from being taken.
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 kindness from those who need 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 to thy neighbor, “Go, and come again, And to-morrow I will give to thee,” when thou hast it by thee.
29 Do not make evil designs against your neighbour, when he is living with you without fear.
Devise not evil against thy neighbor, While he dwelleth securely by thee.
30 Do not take up a cause at law against a man for nothing, if he has done you no wrong.
Contend not with a man without cause, When he hath done thee no harm.
31 Have no envy of the violent man, or take any of his ways as an example.
Envy not the oppressor, 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 perverse man is the abomination of the LORD, But he is in friendship with 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 upon the house of the wicked, But he blesseth the dwelling of the righteous.
34 He makes sport of the men of pride, but he gives grace to the gentle-hearted.
Surely the scorners he treadeth scornfully, But giveth favor to the lowly.
35 The wise will have glory for their heritage, but shame will be the reward of the foolish.
The wise shall obtain honor, But fools shall bear off shame.