Proverbs 3
1 My son, forget not my teaching, and let thy heart observe my commandments;
My son, do not forget my commands and keep my teachings in your heart,
2 for length of days, and years of life, and peace shall they add to thee.
for length of days and years of life and peace they will 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:
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 and thou shalt find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
Then you will find favor and a good reputation in the sight of God and man.
5 Confide in Jehovah with all thy heart, and lean not unto thine own intelligence;
Trust in Yahweh with all your heart and do not lean 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:
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear Yahweh and turn away from evil.
8 it shall be health for thy navel, and moisture for thy bones.
It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment for your body.
9 Honour Jehovah with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase;
Honor Yahweh with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce,
10 so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy vats shall overflow with new wine.
and your storehouses will be filled up and your vats will be bursting, full of new wine.
11 My son, despise not the instruction of Jehovah, neither be weary of his chastisement;
My son, do not despise Yahweh's instruction and do not hate his rebuke,
12 for whom Jehovah loveth he chasteneth, even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
for Yahweh disciplines those he loves, as a father deals with a son who pleases him.
13 Blessed is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
The one who finds wisdom is blessed; he also gets understanding.
14 For the gain thereof is better than the gain of silver, and her revenue than fine gold.
What you gain from wisdom is better than what silver will give in return and its profit is better than gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies; and all the things thou canst desire are not equal unto her.
Wisdom is more precious than jewels and nothing you desire can compare to her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand; in her left hand riches and honour.
She has length of days 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.
Her ways are ways of kindness 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 those who take hold of it, those who hold on to it are happy.
19 Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens.
By wisdom Yahweh founded the earth, by understanding 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 broke open and the clouds dropped their dew.
21 My son, let them not depart from thine eyes; keep sound wisdom and discretion:
My son, keep sound judgment and discernment, and do not lose sight of them.
22 so shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace unto thy neck.
They will be life to your soul and an adornment of favor to wear around your neck.
23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, and thy foot shall not stumble;
Then you will walk 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 lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the destruction of the wicked, when it cometh;
Do not be afraid of sudden terror or devastation caused by the wicked, when it comes,
26 for Jehovah shall be thy confidence, and he will keep thy foot from being taken.
for Yahweh will be on your side and will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.
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 those who deserve it, when it is in 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 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 thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
Do not make a plan to harm your neighbor— the one who lives close and trusts you.
30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
Do not argue with a person without a reason, when he has done nothing to harm you.
31 Envy not the man of violence, and choose none of his ways.
Do not envy a violent person or choose any of his ways.
32 For the perverse is an abomination to Jehovah; but his secret is with the upright.
For the devious person is detestable to Yahweh, but he brings the upright person into his confidence.
33 The curse of Jehovah is in the house of the wicked; but he blesseth the habitation of the righteous.
The curse of Yahweh is on the house of the wicked person, but he blesses the home of righteous people.
34 He indeed scorneth the scorners; but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
He mocks mockers, but he gives his favor to humble people.
35 The wise shall inherit glory; but shame shall be the promotion of the foolish.
Wise people inherit honor, but fools will be lifted up in their shame.
