Proverbs 3
1 [My] son, forget not my laws; but let your heart keep my words:
My son, do not forget my commands and keep my teachings in your heart,
2 for length of existence, and years of life, and peace, shall they add to you.
for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you; but bind them about your neck:
Do not let covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness ever leave you, tie them together about your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 so shall you find favour: and do you provide things honest in the sight of the Lord, and of men.
Then you will find favor and a good reputation in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in God with all your heart; and be not exalted in your own wisdom.
Trust in Yahweh with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acquaint yourself with her, that she may rightly direct your paths.
in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.
7 Be not wise in your own conceit; but fear God, and depart from all evil.
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear Yahweh and turn away from evil.
8 Then shall there be health to your body, and good keeping to your bones.
It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment for your body.
9 Honour the Lord with your just labours, and give him the first of your fruits of righteousness:
Honor Yahweh with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce,
10 that your storehouses may be completely filled with corn, and that your presses may burst forth with wine.
and your storehouses will be filled up and your vats will be bursting, full of new wine.
11 [My] son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; nor faint when you are rebuked of him:
My son, do not despise Yahweh's instruction and do not hate his rebuke,
12 for whom the Lord loves, he rebukes, and scourges every son whom he receives.
for Yahweh disciplines those he loves, as a father deals with a son who pleases him.
13 Blessed is the man who has found wisdom, and the mortal who knows prudence.
The one who finds wisdom is blessed; he also gets understanding.
14 For it is better to traffic for her, than for treasures of gold and silver.
What you gain from wisdom is better than what silver will give in return and its profit is 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.
Wisdom is more precious than jewels and nothing you desire can compare to her.
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.
She has length of days in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are good ways, and all her paths are peaceful.
Her ways are ways of kindness and all her paths are peace.
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.
She is a tree of life to those who take hold of it, those who hold on to it are happy.
19 God by wisdom founded the earth, and by prudence he prepared the heavens.
By wisdom Yahweh founded the earth, by understanding he established the heavens.
20 By understanding were the depths broken up, and the clouds dropped water.
By his knowledge the depths broke open and the clouds dropped their dew.
21 [My] son, let [them] not pass from [you], but keep my counsel and understanding:
My son, keep sound judgment and discernment, and do not lose sight of them.
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:
They will be life to your soul and an adornment of favor to wear around your neck.
23 that you may go confidently in peace in all your ways, and that your foot may not stumble.
Then you will walk on your way in safety and your foot will not stumble;
24 For if you rest, you shall be undismayed; and if you sleep, you shall slumber sweetly.
when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 And you shall not be afraid of alarm coming upon you, neither of approaching attacks of ungodly men.
Do not be afraid of sudden terror or devastation caused by the wicked, when it comes,
26 For the Lord shall be over all your ways, and shall establish your foot that you be not moved.
for Yahweh will be on your side and will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.
27 Forbear not to do good to the poor, whenever your hand may have [power] to help [him].
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.
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.
Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give it,” when you have the money with you.
29 Devise not evil against your friend, living near you and trusting in you.
Do not make a plan to harm your neighbor— the one who lives close and trusts you.
30 Be not ready to quarrel with a man without a cause, lest he do you some harm.
Do not argue with a person without a reason, when he has done nothing to harm you.
31 Procure not the reproaches of bad men, neither do you covet their ways.
Do not envy a violent person or choose any of his ways.
32 For every transgressor is unclean before the Lord; neither does he sit amongst the righteous.
For the devious person is detestable to Yahweh, but he brings the upright person into his confidence.
33 The curse of God is in the houses of the ungodly; but the habitations of the just are blessed.
The curse of Yahweh is on the house of the wicked person, but he blesses the home of righteous people.
34 The Lord resists the proud; but he gives grace to the humble.
He mocks mockers, but he gives his favor to humble people.
35 The wise shall inherit glory; but the ungodly have exalted [their own] dishonour.
Wise people inherit honor, but fools will be lifted up in their shame.
