Proverbs 3
1 My son, forget not my law, and let thy heart keep my commandments.
My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;
2 For they shall add to thee length of days, and years of life and peace.
for they will add length to your days, years and peace to your life.
3 Let not mercy and truth leave thee, put them about thy neck, and write them in the tables 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 And grace and good understanding before God and men.
Then you will find favor and high regard in the sight of God and man.
5 Have confidence in the Lord with all thy heart, and lean not upon thy own prudence.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all thy ways think on him, and he will direct thy steps.
in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
7 I Be not wise in thy own conceit: fear God, and depart from evil:
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
8 For it shall be health to thy navel, and moistening to thy bones.
This will bring healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.
9 Honour the Lord with thy substance, and give him of the first of all thy fruits:
Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your harvest;
10 And thy barns shall be filled with abundance, and thy presses shall run over with wine.
then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 My son, reject not the correction of the Lord: and do not faint when thou art chastised by him:
My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, and do not loathe His rebuke;
12 For whom the Lord loveth, he chastiseth: and as a father in the son he pleaseth himself.
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 is rich in prudence:
Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding,
14 The purchasing thereof is better than the merchandise of silver, and her fruit than the chiefest and purest gold:
for she is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than all riches: and all the things that are desired, are not to be compared with her.
She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire compares with her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and glory.
Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are beautiful ways, and all her paths are peaceable.
All her ways are pleasant, and all her paths are peaceful.
18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold on her: and he that shall retain her is blessed.
She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who lay hold of her are blessed.
19 The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth, hath established the heavens by prudence.
The LORD founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding.
20 By his wisdom the depths have broken out, and the clouds grow thick with dew.
By His knowledge the watery depths were broken open, and the clouds dripped with dew.
21 My son, let not these things depart from thy eyes: keep the law and counsel:
My son, do not lose sight of this: Preserve sound judgment and discernment.
22 And there shall be life to thy soul, and grace to thy mouth.
They will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck.
23 Then shalt thou walk confidently in thy way, and thy foot shall not stumble:
Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.
24 If thou sleep, thou shalt not fear: thou shalt rest, 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, nor of the power of the wicked falling upon thee.
Do not fear sudden danger or the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 For the Lord will be at thy side, and will keep thy foot that thou be not taken.
for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from the snare.
27 Do not withhold him from doing good, who is able: if thou art able, do good thyself also.
Do not withhold good from the deserving when it is within your power to act.
28 Say not to thy friend: Go, and come again: and tomorrow I will give to thee: when thou canst give at present.
Do not tell your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I will provide”— when you already have the means.
29 Practise not evil against thy friend, when he hath confidence in thee.
Do not devise evil against your neighbor, for he trustfully dwells beside you.
30 Strive not against a man without cause, when he hath done thee no evil.
Do not accuse a man without cause, when he has done you no harm.
31 Envy not the unjust man, and do not follow his ways:
Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways;
32 For every mocker is an abomination to the Lord, and his communication is with the simple.
for the LORD detests the perverse, but He is a friend to the upright.
33 Want is from the Lord in the house of the wicked: but the habitations of the just shall be blessed.
The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the righteous.
34 He shall scorn the scorners, and to the meek he will give grace.
He mocks the mockers, but gives grace to the humble.
35 The wise shall possess glory: the promotion of fools is disgrace.
The wise will inherit honor, but fools are held up to shame.
