Proverbs 3
1 My son, don't forget my instructions. Always keep my commands in mind.
[My] son, forget not my laws; but let your heart keep my words:
2 Then you will live a long time, and have a full life.
for length of existence, and years of life, and peace, shall they add to you.
3 Hold on to kindness and truth. Tie them around your neck; write them in your mind.
Let not mercy and truth forsake you; but bind them about your neck:
4 That way you'll gain a good reputation and be appreciated by both God and people.
so shall you find favour: and do you provide things honest in the sight of the Lord, and of men.
5 Put your trust totally in the Lord—don't rely on what you think you know!
Trust in God with all your heart; and be not exalted in your own wisdom.
6 Remember him in everything you do, and he'll show you the right way.
In all your ways acquaint yourself with her, that she may rightly direct your paths.
7 Don't think you're wise—respect God and avoid evil.
Be not wise in your own conceit; but fear God, and depart from all evil.
8 Then you will have healed and be made strong.
Then shall there be health to your body, and good keeping to your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all the crops you grow.
Honour the Lord with your just labours, and give him the first of your fruits of righteousness:
10 Then your barns will be filled with produce, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
that your storehouses may be completely filled with corn, and that your presses may burst forth with wine.
11 My son, don't reject the Lord's discipline or resent it when he corrects you,
[My] son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; nor faint when you are rebuked of him:
12 for the Lord corrects those he loves, as a father corrects a son who pleases him.
for whom the Lord loves, he rebukes, and scourges every son whom he receives.
13 Happy are those who find wisdom and gain understanding,
Blessed is the man who has found wisdom, and the mortal who knows prudence.
14 for wisdom is worth more than silver, and pays better than gold.
For it is better to traffic for her, than for treasures of gold and silver.
15 She is more valuable than rubies—everything you could ever want just doesn't compare!
And she is more valuable than precious stones: no evil thing shall resist her: she is well known to all that approach her, and no precious thing is equal to her in value.
16 She offers long life in one hand, and riches and honor in the other.
For length of existence and years of life are in her right hand; and in her left hand are wealth and glory: out of her mouth proceeds righteousness, and she carries law and mercy upon her tongue.
17 She brings true happiness, and leads to peaceful prosperity.
Her ways are good ways, and all her paths are peaceful.
18 Wisdom is a tree of life to everyone who embraces her, blessing those who accept her.
She is a tree of life to all that lay hold upon her; and she is [a] secure [help] to all that stay themselves on her, as on the Lord.
19 It was through wisdom that the Lord created the earth, and through understanding he set the heavens in place.
God by wisdom founded the earth, and by prudence he prepared the heavens.
20 It was through his knowledge the waters of the deep were broken open, and the clouds sent down the dew.
By understanding were the depths broken up, and the clouds dropped water.
21 My son, hold on to good judgment and wise decisions—don't let them out of your sight,
[My] son, let [them] not pass from [you], but keep my counsel and understanding:
22 for they will be life to you, and an ornament for your neck.
that your soul may live, and that there may be grace round your neck; and it shall be health to your flesh, and safety to your bones:
23 You will be able to walk confidently on your way, and you won't trip up.
that you may go confidently in peace in all your ways, and that your foot may not stumble.
24 When you rest, you won't be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
For if you rest, you shall be undismayed; and if you sleep, you shall slumber sweetly.
25 You won't be afraid of a sudden panic, or of disasters that hit the wicked,
And you shall not be afraid of alarm coming upon you, neither of approaching attacks of ungodly men.
26 for the Lord will be the one you can trust in, and he will prevent you being caught in a trap.
For the Lord shall be over all your ways, and shall establish your foot that you be not moved.
27 Don't hold back good from those who deserve it when it's something you have the power to do.
Forbear not to do good to the poor, whenever your hand may have [power] to help [him].
28 Don't tell your neighbor, “Go away. Come back tomorrow and then I'll give it to you,” when you've already got it.
Say not, Come back another time, to-morrow I will give; while you are able to do [him] good: for you know not what the next day will bring forth.
29 Don't plan to harm your neighbor who lives nearby and trusts you.
Devise not evil against your friend, living near you and trusting in you.
30 Don't quarrel with anybody for no reason, when they haven't done anything to hurt you.
Be not ready to quarrel with a man without a cause, lest he do you some harm.
31 Don't be jealous of violent people—don't choose to follow their example!
Procure not the reproaches of bad men, neither do you covet their ways.
32 For the Lord hates deceitful people, but he is a friend to those who do what is good.
For every transgressor is unclean before the Lord; neither does he sit amongst the righteous.
33 The houses of the wicked are cursed by the Lord, but he blesses the homes of those who live right.
The curse of God is in the houses of the ungodly; but the habitations of the just are blessed.
34 He mocks those who mock, but he is kind to the humble.
The Lord resists the proud; but he gives grace to the humble.
35 The wise will receive honor, but fools are held up in disgrace.
The wise shall inherit glory; but the ungodly have exalted [their own] dishonour.
