Proverbs 3

1 [My] son, forget not my laws; but let your heart keep my words:

My son, do not forget what I have taught you. Keep my commands in your inner being,

2 for length of existence, and years of life, and peace, shall they add to you.

because [if you obey them] you will live a long time and things will go well for you

3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you; but bind them about your neck:

Always faithfully love others and (be faithful/do what you say that you will do); doing those things [will cause others to be pleased with you]; it will be as though you are wearing a beautiful necklace. Keep those things in your mind/inner being.

4 so shall you find favour: and do you provide things honest in the sight of the Lord, and of men.

If you do, God and people will approve of you and think highly of you [MTY].

5 Trust in God with all your heart; and be not exalted in your own wisdom.

Trust in Yahweh completely, and do not rely on what you yourself understand.

6 In all your ways acquaint yourself with her, that she may rightly direct your paths.

Always allow him to lead you. If you do that, he will (show you the right path/direct your life).

7 Be not wise in your own conceit; but fear God, and depart from all evil.

Do not be proud of being wise. [Instead], revere Yahweh and turn away from doing evil.

8 Then shall there be health to your body, and good keeping to your bones.

If you do that, your body will be healthy/strong; it will be [like] medicine for you.

9 Honour the Lord with your just labours, and give him the first of your fruits of righteousness:

Honor Yahweh by [what you do with] your money; and [by giving him] the first part of your harvest.

10 that your storehouses may be completely filled with corn, and that your presses may burst forth with wine.

If you do that, [you will have a good harvest]. Yahweh will fill your barns [with grain], and your vats/containers will be overflowing with [grape juice for making] wine.

11 [My] son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; nor faint when you are rebuked of him:

My son, when Yahweh disciplines/corrects you, do not despise it, and if he rebukes you, do not resent it.

12 for whom the Lord loves, he rebukes, and scourges every son whom he receives.

[I say that] because it is the people whom Yahweh loves that he corrects/reproves, [just] like parents correct/reprove their sons whom they love.

13 Blessed is the man who has found wisdom, and the mortal who knows prudence.

[Yahweh] is pleased with those who become wise and have good understanding.

14 For it is better to traffic for her, than for treasures of gold and silver.

Being wise and having good understanding is worth more than silver, better than gold.

15 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.

Being wise is more precious than (jewels/precious stones); there is nothing that you could desire [that would be as valuable] as wisdom.

16 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.

On the one hand, wisdom [PRS] enables [you] to live a long life, and on the other hand, wisdom enables [you] to become rich and to be honored.

17 Her ways are good ways, and all her paths are peaceful.

If [you] are wise, [your] life will be pleasant, and things will go well [for you].

18 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.

Wisdom is [like] a tree that gives long life to those who [eagerly] take hold of it, and [Yahweh] is pleased with those who hold onto it tightly.

19 God by wisdom founded the earth, and by prudence he prepared the heavens.

By his wisdom Yahweh created the earth, and by his understanding he put everything in the skies.

20 By understanding were the depths broken up, and the clouds dropped water.

By his knowledge [he caused] the water that was beneath the earth to burst forth, and he caused rain to fall from the clouds.

21 [My] son, let [them] not pass from [you], but keep my counsel and understanding:

My son, [always] keep doing things that are right and things that are smart. If you do that,

22 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:

you will live [many years] and be honored and respected {people will honor and respect you}.

23 that you may go confidently in peace in all your ways, and that your foot may not stumble.

If you do what is right and wise, you will [be able to] walk safely, and you will not (stumble/do things that are wrong) [MET].

24 For if you rest, you shall be undismayed; and if you sleep, you shall slumber sweetly.

You will [be able to] lie down [at night] and not be afraid [of anything], and you will sleep peacefully.

25 And you shall not be afraid of alarm coming upon you, neither of approaching attacks of ungodly men.

You will not be afraid that something disastrous will happen to you or that storms that strike the wicked will strike you,

26 For the Lord shall be over all your ways, and shall establish your foot that you be not moved.

because you will be confident that Yahweh [will take care of you]. He will not let your foot be caught in a trap/snare.

27 Forbear not to do good to the poor, whenever your hand may have [power] to help [him].

If you are able to help people who deserve it, do not refuse to help them.

28 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.

If you are able to help someone you interact with, do not say, “Come back later; [perhaps] I can help you tomorrow.”

29 Devise not evil against your friend, living near you and trusting in you.

Do not make plans to harm those you interact with regularly, [because] they live near you, and they trust you.

30 Be not ready to quarrel with a man without a cause, lest he do you some harm.

If someone has not harmed you, do not accuse him [by saying that he has harmed you].

31 Procure not the reproaches of bad men, neither do you covet their ways.

Do not envy people who [obtain things by] violent actions, and do not imitate/do what they do.

32 For every transgressor is unclean before the Lord; neither does he sit amongst the righteous.

[I say that] because Yahweh considers such people to be abominable/detestable; but he is a friend to [all] those who do what is right.

33 The curse of God is in the houses of the ungodly; but the habitations of the just are blessed.

Yahweh curses the families [MTY] of those who are wicked, but he blesses the families of those who are good/righteous.

34 The Lord resists the proud; but he gives grace to the humble.

Yahweh makes fun of those who make fun [of others], but he kindly helps those who are humble.

35 The wise shall inherit glory; but the ungodly have exalted [their own] dishonour.

Wise [people] will be honored {people will honor wise people}, but foolish people will be dishonored/disgraced.