Proverbs 3
1 My sonne, forget not thou my Lawe, but let thine heart keepe my commandements.
My son, do not forget what I have taught you. Keep my commands in your inner being,
2 For they shall increase the length of thy dayes and the yeeres of life, and thy prosperitie.
because [if you obey them] you will live a long time and things will go well for you
3 Let not mercie and trueth forsake thee: binde them on thy necke, and write them vpon the table of thine heart.
Always faithfully love others and (be faithful/do what you say that you will do); doing those things [will cause others to be pleased with you]; it will be as though you are wearing a beautiful necklace. Keep those things in your mind/inner being.
4 So shalt thou finde fauour and good vnderstanding in the sight of God and man.
If you do, God and people will approve of you and think highly of you [MTY].
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and leane not vnto thine owne wisdome.
Trust in Yahweh completely, and do not rely on what you yourself understand.
6 In all thy wayes acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy wayes.
Always allow him to lead you. If you do that, he will (show you the right path/direct your life).
7 Be not wise in thine owne eyes: but feare the Lord, and depart from euill.
Do not be proud of being wise. [Instead], revere Yahweh and turn away from doing evil.
8 So health shalbe vnto thy nauel, and marowe vnto thy bones.
If you do that, your body will be healthy/strong; it will be [like] medicine for you.
9 Honour the Lord with thy riches, and with the first fruites of all thine increase.
Honor Yahweh by [what you do with] your money; and [by giving him] the first part of your harvest.
10 So shall thy barnes be filled with abundance, and thy presses shall burst with newe wine.
If you do that, [you will have a good harvest]. Yahweh will fill your barns [with grain], and your vats/containers will be overflowing with [grape juice for making] wine.
11 My sonne, refuse not the chastening of the Lord, neither be grieued with his correction.
My son, when Yahweh disciplines/corrects you, do not despise it, and if he rebukes you, do not resent it.
12 For the Lord correcteth him, whome he loueth, euen as the father doeth the childe in whom he deliteth.
[I say that] because it is the people whom Yahweh loves that he corrects/reproves, [just] like parents correct/reprove their sons whom they love.
13 Blessed is the man that findeth wisedome, and the man that getteth vnderstanding.
[Yahweh] is pleased with those who become wise and have good understanding.
14 For the marchandise thereof is better then the marchandise of siluer, and the gaine thereof is better then golde.
Being wise and having good understanding is worth more than silver, better than gold.
15 It is more precious then pearles: and all things that thou canst desire, are not to be compared vnto her.
Being wise is more precious than (jewels/precious stones); there is nothing that you could desire [that would be as valuable] as wisdom.
16 Length of dayes is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and glory.
On the one hand, wisdom [PRS] enables [you] to live a long life, and on the other hand, wisdom enables [you] to become rich and to be honored.
17 Her wayes are wayes of pleasure, and all her pathes prosperitie.
If [you] are wise, [your] life will be pleasant, and things will go well [for you].
18 She is a tree of life to them that lay holde on her, and blessed is he that retaineth her.
Wisdom is [like] a tree that gives long life to those who [eagerly] take hold of it, and [Yahweh] is pleased with those who hold onto it tightly.
19 The Lord by wisdome hath layde the foundation of the earth, and hath stablished the heauens through vnderstanding.
By his wisdom Yahweh created the earth, and by his understanding he put everything in the skies.
20 By his knowledge the depthes are broken vp, and the cloudes droppe downe the dewe.
By his knowledge [he caused] the water that was beneath the earth to burst forth, and he caused rain to fall from the clouds.
21 My sonne, let not these things depart from thine eyes, but obserue wisdome, and counsell.
My son, [always] keep doing things that are right and things that are smart. If you do that,
22 So they shalbe life to thy soule, and grace vnto thy necke.
you will live [many years] and be honored and respected {people will honor and respect you}.
23 Then shalt thou walke safely by thy way: and thy foote shall not stumble.
If you do what is right and wise, you will [be able to] walk safely, and you will not (stumble/do things that are wrong) [MET].
24 If thou sleepest, thou shalt not bee afraide, and when thou sleepest, thy sleepe shalbe sweete.
You will [be able to] lie down [at night] and not be afraid [of anything], and you will sleep peacefully.
25 Thou shalt not feare for any sudden feare, neither for the destruction of the wicked, when it commeth.
You will not be afraid that something disastrous will happen to you or that storms that strike the wicked will strike you,
26 For the Lord shall be for thine assurance, and shall preserue thy foote from taking.
because you will be confident that Yahweh [will take care of you]. He will not let your foot be caught in a trap/snare.
27 Withhold not the good from the owners thereof, though there be power in thine hand to doe it.
If you are able to help people who deserve it, do not refuse to help them.
28 Say not vnto thy neighbour, Go and come againe, and to morow wil I giue thee, if thou now haue it.
If you are able to help someone you interact with, do not say, “Come back later; [perhaps] I can help you tomorrow.”
29 Intend none hurt against thy neighbour, seeing he doeth dwell without feare by thee.
Do not make plans to harm those you interact with regularly, [because] they live near you, and they trust you.
30 Striue not with a man causelesse, when he hath done thee no harme.
If someone has not harmed you, do not accuse him [by saying that he has harmed you].
31 Bee not enuious for the wicked man, neither chuse any of his wayes.
Do not envy people who [obtain things by] violent actions, and do not imitate/do what they do.
32 For the frowarde is abomination vnto the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous.
[I say that] because Yahweh considers such people to be abominable/detestable; but he is a friend to [all] those who do what is right.
33 The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the righteous.
Yahweh curses the families [MTY] of those who are wicked, but he blesses the families of those who are good/righteous.
34 With the scornefull he scorneth, but hee giueth grace vnto the humble.
Yahweh makes fun of those who make fun [of others], but he kindly helps those who are humble.
35 The wise shall inherite glorie: but fooles dishonour, though they be exalted.
Wise [people] will be honored {people will honor wise people}, but foolish people will be dishonored/disgraced.
