Proverbs 3
1 My son, don't forget my instructions. Always keep my commands in mind.
My son, forget not my teaching; but let thy heart keep my commandments;
2 Then you will live a long time, and have a full life.
For length of days, and years of life, and peace, will they add to thee.
3 Hold on to kindness and truth. Tie them around your neck; write them in your mind.
Let not kindness and truth forsake thee; bind them about thy neck, write them upon the table of thy heart;
4 That way you'll gain a good reputation and be appreciated by both God and people.
So shalt thou find grace and good favour in the sight of God and man.
5 Put your trust totally in the Lord—don't rely on what you think you know!
Trust in the LORD with all thy heart, and lean not upon thine own understanding.
6 Remember him in everything you do, and he'll show you the right way.
In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct thy paths.
7 Don't think you're wise—respect God and avoid evil.
Be not wise in thine own eyes; fear the LORD, and depart from evil;
8 Then you will have healed and be made strong.
It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all the crops you grow.
Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase;
10 Then your barns will be filled with produce, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy vats shall overflow with new 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, neither spurn thou His correction;
12 for the Lord corrects those he loves, as a father corrects a son who pleases him.
For whom the LORD loveth He correcteth, even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
13 Happy are those who find wisdom and gain understanding,
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that obtaineth understanding.
14 for wisdom is worth more than silver, and pays better than gold.
For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
15 She is more valuable than rubies—everything you could ever want just doesn't compare!
She is more precious than rubies; and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
16 She offers long life in one hand, and riches and honor in the other.
Length of days is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honour.
17 She brings true happiness, and leads to peaceful prosperity.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18 Wisdom is a tree of life to everyone who embraces her, blessing those who accept her.
She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her, and happy is every one that holdest her fast.
19 It was through wisdom that the Lord created the earth, and through understanding he set the heavens in place.
The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens.
20 It was through his knowledge the waters of the deep were broken open, and the clouds sent down the dew.
By His knowledge the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.
21 My son, hold on to good judgment and wise decisions—don't let them out of your sight,
My son, let not them depart from thine eyes; keep sound wisdom and discretion;
22 for they will be life to you, and an ornament for your neck.
So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
23 You will be able to walk confidently on your way, and you won't trip up.
Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, and thou shalt not dash thy foot.
24 When you rest, you won't be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid; yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25 You won't be afraid of a sudden panic, or of disasters that hit the wicked,
Be not afraid of sudden terror, neither of the destruction of the wicked, when it cometh;
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 will be thy confidence, and will keep thy foot from being caught.
27 Don't hold back good from those who deserve it when it's something you have the power to do.
Withhold not good from him to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thy hand to do it.
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 unto thy neighbour: 'Go, and come again, and to-morrow I will give'; when thou hast it by thee.
29 Don't plan to harm your neighbor who lives nearby and trusts you.
Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
30 Don't quarrel with anybody for no reason, when they haven't done anything to hurt you.
Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
31 Don't be jealous of violent people—don't choose to follow their example!
Envy thou not the man of violence, and choose none of his ways.
32 For the Lord hates deceitful people, but he is a friend to those who do what is good.
For the perverse is an abomination to the LORD; but His counsel is with the upright.
33 The houses of the wicked are cursed by the Lord, but he blesses the homes of those who live right.
The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked; but He blesseth the habitation of the righteous.
34 He mocks those who mock, but he is kind to the humble.
If it concerneth the scorners, He scorneth them, but unto the humble He giveth grace.
35 The wise will receive honor, but fools are held up in disgrace.
The wise shall inherit honour; but as for the fools, they carry away shame.
