Proverbs 3
1 [My] son, forget not my laws; but let your heart keep my words:
My son, don’t forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,
2 for length of existence, and years of life, and peace, shall they add to you.
for they will add to you length of days, years of life, and peace.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you; but bind them about your neck:
Don’t let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around 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.
So you will find favour, and good understanding 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 the LORD with all your heart, and don’t 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.
Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8 Then shall there be health to your body, and good keeping to your bones.
It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.
9 Honour the Lord with your just labours, and give him the first of your fruits of righteousness:
Honour the LORD with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase;
10 that your storehouses may be completely filled with corn, and that your presses may burst forth with wine.
so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 [My] son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; nor faint when you are rebuked of him:
My son, don’t despise the LORD’s discipline, neither be weary of his correction;
12 for whom the Lord loves, he rebukes, and scourges every son whom he receives.
for whom the LORD loves, he corrects, even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.
13 Blessed is the man who has found wisdom, and the mortal who knows prudence.
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding.
14 For it is better to traffic for her, than for treasures of gold and silver.
For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine 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.
She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared 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.
Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honour.
17 Her ways are good ways, and all her paths are peaceful.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness. 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 lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her.
19 God by wisdom founded the earth, and by prudence he prepared the heavens.
By wisdom the LORD 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 were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.
21 [My] son, let [them] not pass from [you], but keep my counsel and understanding:
My son, let them not depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
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:
so they will be life to your soul, and grace for your neck.
23 that you may go confidently in peace in all your ways, and that your foot may not stumble.
Then you shall walk in your way securely. Your foot won’t 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. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.
25 And you shall not be afraid of alarm coming upon you, neither of approaching attacks of ungodly men.
Don’t be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of 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 the LORD will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being taken.
27 Forbear not to do good to the poor, whenever your hand may have [power] to help [him].
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, 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.
Don’t say to your neighbour, “Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you,” when you have it by you.
29 Devise not evil against your friend, living near you and trusting in you.
Don’t devise evil against your neighbour, since he dwells securely by you.
30 Be not ready to quarrel with a man without a cause, lest he do you some harm.
Don’t strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.
31 Procure not the reproaches of bad men, neither do you covet their ways.
Don’t envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways.
32 For every transgressor is unclean before the Lord; neither does he sit amongst the righteous.
For the perverse is an abomination to the LORD, but his friendship is with the upright.
33 The curse of God is in the houses of the ungodly; but the habitations of the just are blessed.
The LORD’s curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.
34 The Lord resists the proud; but he gives grace to the humble.
Surely he mocks the mockers, but he gives grace to the humble.
35 The wise shall inherit glory; but the ungodly have exalted [their own] dishonour.
The wise will inherit glory, but shame will be the promotion of fools.
