Proverbs 3
1 My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart guard my precepts.
My son, forget not my law; but let your heart keep my commandments:
2 For they shall set before you length of days, and years of life, and peace.
For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to you.
3 Let not mercy and truth abandon you: encircle them around your throat, and inscribe them on the tablets of your heart.
Let not mercy and truth forsake you: bind them about your neck; write them upon the table of your heart:
4 And so shall you discover grace and good discipline, in the sight of God and men.
So shall you find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5 Have confidence in the Lord with all your heart, and do not depend upon your own prudence.
Trust in the LORD with all of your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding.
6 In all your ways, consider him, and he himself will direct your steps.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.
7 Do not seem wise to yourself. Fear God, and withdraw from evil.
Be not wise in your own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8 Certainly, it shall be health to your navel, and refreshment to your bones.
It shall be health to your navel, and marrow to your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your substance, and give to him from the first of all your fruits,
Honour the LORD with your substance, and with the first-fruits of all of your increase:
10 and then your storehouses will be filled with abundance, and your presses shall overflow with wine.
So shall your barns be filled with plenty, and your presses shall burst out with new wine.
11 My son, do not discard the discipline of the Lord, and do not fall away when you are corrected by him.
My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
12 For whomever the Lord loves, he corrects, and just as a father does with a son, he wins him over.
For whom the LORD loves he corrects; even as a father the son in whom he delights.
13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom and who advances to prudence.
Happy is the man that finds wisdom, and the man that gets understanding.
14 Her acquisition is better than trading in silver, and her fruit is better than the first and purest gold.
For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than all riches, and all that can be desired cannot prevail in comparison to her.
She is more precious than rubies: and all the things you can desire are not to be compared unto her.
16 Length of days is at her right hand, and at her left hand is wealth and glory.
Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
17 Her ways are beautiful ways, and all her paths are peaceful.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who overtake her, and he who shall take hold of her is blessed.
She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retains her.
19 The Lord founded the earth on wisdom. He secured the heavens with prudence.
The LORD by wisdom has founded the earth; by understanding has he established the heavens.
20 By his wisdom, the abyss erupted and the clouds increased with dew.
By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
21 My son, let not these things move away from your eyes. Preserve law as well as counsel.
My son, let not them depart from your eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22 And so shall there be life in your soul and grace in your voice.
So shall they be life unto your soul, and grace to your neck.
23 Then you shall walk confidently in your way, and your feet will not stumble.
Then shall you walk in your way safely, and your foot shall not stumble.
24 When you slumber, you shall not fear. When you rest, your sleep also will be sweet.
When you lie down, you shall not be afraid: yea, you shall lie down, and your sleep shall be sweet.
25 Do not fear unexpected terror, nor the power of the impious falling upon you.
Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes.
26 For the Lord will be at your side, and he will guard your feet, so that you may not be seized.
For the LORD shall be your confidence, and shall keep your foot from being taken.
27 Do not prevent him who is able from doing good. When you are able, do good yourself too.
Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
28 Do not say to your friend: “Go away, and then return. Tomorrow I will give to you.” When you are able to do so, give in the present.
Say not unto your neighbour, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when you have it by you.
29 Do not undertake evil against your friend, even though he has trust in you.
Devise not evil against your neighbour, seeing he dwells securely by you.
30 Do not contend against a man without cause, even though he has done no evil to you.
Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done you no harm.
31 Do not rival an unjust man, and do not imitate his ways.
Envy you not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
32 For everyone who ridicules is an abomination to the Lord, and his communication is for the simple.
For the perverse is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.
33 Destitution in the house of the impious is from the Lord. But the habitations of the just shall be blessed.
The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesses the habitation of the just.
34 He will ridicule those who ridicule, but he will bestow grace upon the mild.
Surely he scorns the scorners: but he gives grace unto the lowly.
35 The wise will possess glory. The exaltation of the foolish is disgraceful.
The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
