Proverbs 3
1 My son, forget not my teaching, and let thy heart observe my commandments;
My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;
2 for length of days, and years of life, and peace shall they add to thee.
for they will add length to your days, years and peace to your life.
3 Let not loving-kindness and truth forsake thee; bind them about thy neck, write them upon the tablet of thy heart:
Never let loving devotion or faithfulness leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 and thou shalt find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
Then you will find favor and high regard in the sight of God and man.
5 Confide in Jehovah with all thy heart, and lean not unto thine own intelligence;
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will make plain thy paths.
in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes; fear Jehovah, and depart from evil:
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
8 it shall be health for thy navel, and moisture for thy bones.
This will bring healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.
9 Honour Jehovah with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase;
Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your harvest;
10 so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy vats shall overflow with new wine.
then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 My son, despise not the instruction of Jehovah, neither be weary of his chastisement;
My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, and do not loathe His rebuke;
12 for whom Jehovah loveth he chasteneth, even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
for the LORD disciplines the one He loves, as does a father the son in whom he delights.
13 Blessed is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding,
14 For the gain thereof is better than the gain of silver, and her revenue than fine gold.
for she is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies; and all the things thou canst desire are not equal unto her.
She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire compares with her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand; in her left hand riches and honour.
Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
All her ways are pleasant, and all her paths are peaceful.
18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her; and happy is he that retaineth her.
She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who lay hold of her are blessed.
19 Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens.
The LORD founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding.
20 By his knowledge the deeps were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.
By His knowledge the watery depths were broken open, and the clouds dripped with dew.
21 My son, let them not depart from thine eyes; keep sound wisdom and discretion:
My son, do not lose sight of this: Preserve sound judgment and discernment.
22 so shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace unto thy neck.
They will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck.
23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, and thy foot shall not stumble;
Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.
24 when thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid, but thou shalt lie down and thy sleep shall be sweet.
When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you rest, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the destruction of the wicked, when it cometh;
Do not fear sudden danger or the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for Jehovah shall be thy confidence, and he will keep thy foot from being taken.
for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from the snare.
27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thy hand to do it.
Do not withhold good from the deserving when it is within your power to act.
28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to-morrow I will give, when thou hast it by thee.
Do not tell your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I will provide”— when you already have the means.
29 Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
Do not devise evil against your neighbor, for he trustfully dwells beside you.
30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
Do not accuse a man without cause, when he has done you no harm.
31 Envy not the man of violence, and choose none of his ways.
Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways;
32 For the perverse is an abomination to Jehovah; but his secret is with the upright.
for the LORD detests the perverse, but He is a friend to the upright.
33 The curse of Jehovah is in the house of the wicked; but he blesseth the habitation of the righteous.
The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the righteous.
34 He indeed scorneth the scorners; but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
He mocks the mockers, but gives grace to the humble.
35 The wise shall inherit glory; but shame shall be the promotion of the foolish.
The wise will inherit honor, but fools are held up to shame.
