Proverbs 3
1 My sonne, forget not thou my Lawe, but let thine heart keepe my commandements.
My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart guard my precepts.
2 For they shall increase the length of thy dayes and the yeeres of life, and thy prosperitie.
For they shall set before you length of days, and years of life, and peace.
3 Let not mercie and trueth forsake thee: binde them on thy necke, and write them vpon the table of thine heart.
Let not mercy and truth abandon you: encircle them around your throat, and inscribe them on the tablets of your heart.
4 So shalt thou finde fauour and good vnderstanding in the sight of God and man.
And so shall you discover grace and good discipline, in the sight of God and men.
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and leane not vnto thine owne wisdome.
Have confidence in the Lord with all your heart, and do not depend upon your own prudence.
6 In all thy wayes acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy wayes.
In all your ways, consider him, and he himself will direct your steps.
7 Be not wise in thine owne eyes: but feare the Lord, and depart from euill.
Do not seem wise to yourself. Fear God, and withdraw from evil.
8 So health shalbe vnto thy nauel, and marowe vnto thy bones.
Certainly, it shall be health to your navel, and refreshment to your bones.
9 Honour the Lord with thy riches, and with the first fruites of all thine increase.
Honor the Lord with your substance, and give to him from the first of all your fruits,
10 So shall thy barnes be filled with abundance, and thy presses shall burst with newe wine.
and then your storehouses will be filled with abundance, and your presses shall overflow with wine.
11 My sonne, refuse not the chastening of the Lord, neither be grieued with his correction.
My son, do not discard the discipline of the Lord, and do not fall away when you are corrected by him.
12 For the Lord correcteth him, whome he loueth, euen as the father doeth the childe in whom he deliteth.
For whomever the Lord loves, he corrects, and just as a father does with a son, he wins him over.
13 Blessed is the man that findeth wisedome, and the man that getteth vnderstanding.
Blessed is the man who finds wisdom and who advances to prudence.
14 For the marchandise thereof is better then the marchandise of siluer, and the gaine thereof is better then golde.
Her acquisition is better than trading in silver, and her fruit is better than the first and purest gold.
15 It is more precious then pearles: and all things that thou canst desire, are not to be compared vnto her.
She is more precious than all riches, and all that can be desired cannot prevail in comparison to her.
16 Length of dayes is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and glory.
Length of days is at her right hand, and at her left hand is wealth and glory.
17 Her wayes are wayes of pleasure, and all her pathes prosperitie.
Her ways are beautiful ways, and all her paths are peaceful.
18 She is a tree of life to them that lay holde on her, and blessed is he that retaineth her.
She is a tree of life to those who overtake her, and he who shall take hold of her is blessed.
19 The Lord by wisdome hath layde the foundation of the earth, and hath stablished the heauens through vnderstanding.
The Lord founded the earth on wisdom. He secured the heavens with prudence.
20 By his knowledge the depthes are broken vp, and the cloudes droppe downe the dewe.
By his wisdom, the abyss erupted and the clouds increased with dew.
21 My sonne, let not these things depart from thine eyes, but obserue wisdome, and counsell.
My son, let not these things move away from your eyes. Preserve law as well as counsel.
22 So they shalbe life to thy soule, and grace vnto thy necke.
And so shall there be life in your soul and grace in your voice.
23 Then shalt thou walke safely by thy way: and thy foote shall not stumble.
Then you shall walk confidently in your way, and your feet will not stumble.
24 If thou sleepest, thou shalt not bee afraide, and when thou sleepest, thy sleepe shalbe sweete.
When you slumber, you shall not fear. When you rest, your sleep also will be sweet.
25 Thou shalt not feare for any sudden feare, neither for the destruction of the wicked, when it commeth.
Do not fear unexpected terror, nor the power of the impious falling upon you.
26 For the Lord shall be for thine assurance, and shall preserue thy foote from taking.
For the Lord will be at your side, and he will guard your feet, so that you may not be seized.
27 Withhold not the good from the owners thereof, though there be power in thine hand to doe it.
Do not prevent him who is able from doing good. When you are able, do good yourself too.
28 Say not vnto thy neighbour, Go and come againe, and to morow wil I giue thee, if thou now haue it.
Do not say to your friend: “Go away, and then return. Tomorrow I will give to you.” When you are able to do so, give in the present.
29 Intend none hurt against thy neighbour, seeing he doeth dwell without feare by thee.
Do not undertake evil against your friend, even though he has trust in you.
30 Striue not with a man causelesse, when he hath done thee no harme.
Do not contend against a man without cause, even though he has done no evil to you.
31 Bee not enuious for the wicked man, neither chuse any of his wayes.
Do not rival an unjust man, and do not imitate his ways.
32 For the frowarde is abomination vnto the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous.
For everyone who ridicules is an abomination to the Lord, and his communication is for the simple.
33 The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the righteous.
Destitution in the house of the impious is from the Lord. But the habitations of the just shall be blessed.
34 With the scornefull he scorneth, but hee giueth grace vnto the humble.
He will ridicule those who ridicule, but he will bestow grace upon the mild.
35 The wise shall inherite glorie: but fooles dishonour, though they be exalted.
The wise will possess glory. The exaltation of the foolish is disgraceful.
