Proverbs 3
1 My son, forget not my teaching, and let thy heart observe my commandments;
My son, forget not my law; but let your heart keep my commandments:
2 for length of days, and years of life, and peace shall they add to thee.
For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to you.
3 Let not loving-kindness and truth forsake thee; bind them about thy neck, write them upon the tablet of thy heart:
Let not mercy and truth forsake you: bind them about your neck; write them upon the table of your heart:
4 and thou shalt find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
So shall you find favour and good understanding 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 of your heart; and lean not unto 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 shall direct your paths.
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 depart from evil.
8 it shall be health for thy navel, and moisture for thy bones.
It shall be health to your navel, and marrow to your bones.
9 Honour Jehovah with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase;
Honour the LORD with your substance, and with the first-fruits of all of your increase:
10 so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy vats shall overflow with new wine.
So shall your barns be filled with plenty, and your presses shall burst out with new wine.
11 My son, despise not the instruction of Jehovah, neither be weary of his chastisement;
My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
12 for whom Jehovah loveth he chasteneth, even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
For whom the LORD loves he corrects; even as a father the son in whom he delights.
13 Blessed is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
Happy is the man that finds wisdom, and the man that gets understanding.
14 For the gain thereof is better than the gain of silver, and her revenue than fine 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 rubies; and all the things thou canst desire are not equal unto 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 in her right hand; in her left hand riches and honour.
Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
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 them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retains her.
19 Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens.
The LORD by wisdom has founded the earth; by understanding has he established the heavens.
20 By his knowledge the deeps were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.
By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
21 My son, let them not depart from thine eyes; keep sound wisdom and discretion:
My son, let not them depart from your eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22 so shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace unto thy neck.
So shall they be life unto your soul, and grace to your neck.
23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, and thy foot shall not stumble;
Then shall you walk in your way safely, and your foot shall 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 shall not be afraid: yea, you shall lie down, and your sleep shall be sweet.
25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the destruction of the wicked, when it cometh;
Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes.
26 for Jehovah shall be thy confidence, and he will keep thy foot from being taken.
For the LORD shall be your confidence, and shall keep your foot from being taken.
27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thy hand to do it.
Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to-morrow I will give, when thou hast it by thee.
Say not unto your neighbour, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when you have it by you.
29 Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
Devise not evil against your neighbour, seeing he dwells securely by you.
30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done you no harm.
31 Envy not the man of violence, and choose none of his ways.
Envy you not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
32 For the perverse is an abomination to Jehovah; but his secret is with the upright.
For the perverse is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.
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 in the house of the wicked: but he blesses the habitation of the just.
34 He indeed scorneth the scorners; but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
Surely he scorns the scorners: but he gives grace unto the lowly.
35 The wise shall inherit glory; but shame shall be the promotion of the foolish.
The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
