Proverbs 3
1 My son, keep my teaching in your memory, and my rules in your heart:
My son, don’t 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 to you length of days, years of life, and peace.
3 Let not mercy and good faith go from you; let them be hanging round your neck, recorded on your heart;
Don’t let kindness and truth forsake 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.
So you will find favour, and good understanding 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 don’t lean 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:
Don’t be wise in your 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 health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.
9 Give honour to the Lord with your wealth, and with the first-fruits of all your increase:
Honour the LORD with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase;
10 So your store-houses will be full of grain, and your vessels overflowing with new wine.
so 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, don’t despise the LORD’s discipline, neither be weary of his correction;
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 corrects, even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.
13 Happy is the man who makes discovery of wisdom, and he who gets knowledge.
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding.
14 For trading in it is better than trading in silver, and its profit greater than bright gold.
For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return 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. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to 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 honour.
17 Her ways are ways of delight, and all her goings are peace.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness. 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 those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her.
19 The Lord by wisdom put in position the bases of the earth; by reason he put the heavens in their place.
By wisdom the LORD founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens.
20 By his knowledge the deep was parted, and dew came dropping from the skies.
By his knowledge, the depths were broken up, 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 depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 So they will be life for your soul, and grace for your neck.
so they will be life to your soul, and grace for your neck.
23 Then you will go safely on your way, and your feet will have no cause for slipping.
Then you shall walk in your way securely. Your foot won’t 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. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.
25 Have no fear of sudden danger, or of the storm which will come on evil-doers:
Don’t be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes;
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 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.
Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your 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.
Don’t say to your neighbour, “Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you,” when you have it by you.
29 Do not make evil designs against your neighbour, when he is living with you without fear.
Don’t devise evil against your neighbour, since he dwells securely by you.
30 Do not take up a cause at law against a man for nothing, if he has done you no wrong.
Don’t strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.
31 Have no envy of the violent man, or take any of his ways as an example.
Don’t envy the man of violence. 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 is an abomination to the LORD, but his friendship is 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 LORD’s curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.
34 He makes sport of the men of pride, but he gives grace to the gentle-hearted.
Surely he mocks the mockers, 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 will inherit glory, but shame will be the promotion of fools.
