Proverbs 3
1 My son, forget not my law; but let your heart keep my commandments:
My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;
2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to you.
for they will add length to your days, years and peace to your life.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you: bind them about your neck; write them upon the table of your heart:
Never let loving devotion or faithfulness leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So shall you find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
Then you will find favor and high regard in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all of your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.
in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
8 It shall be health to your navel, and marrow to your bones.
This will bring healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.
9 Honour the LORD with your substance, and with the first-fruits of all of your increase:
Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your harvest;
10 So shall your barns be filled with plenty, and your presses shall burst out with new wine.
then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, and do not loathe His rebuke;
12 For whom the LORD loves he corrects; even as a father the son in whom he delights.
for the LORD disciplines the one He loves, as does a father the son in whom he delights.
13 Happy is the man that finds wisdom, and the man that gets understanding.
Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding,
14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
for she is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things you can desire are not to be compared unto 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 honour.
Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
All her ways are pleasant, and all her paths are peaceful.
18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retains her.
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 has founded the earth; by understanding has he established the heavens.
The LORD founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding.
20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
By His knowledge the watery depths were broken open, and the clouds dripped with dew.
21 My son, let not them depart from your eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
My son, do not lose sight of this: Preserve sound judgment and discernment.
22 So shall they be life unto your soul, and grace to your neck.
They will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck.
23 Then shall you walk in your way safely, and your foot shall not stumble.
Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you shall not be afraid: yea, you shall lie down, and your 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, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes.
Do not fear sudden danger or the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 For the LORD shall be your confidence, and shall keep your foot from being taken.
for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from the snare.
27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
Do not withhold good from the deserving when it is within your power to act.
28 Say not unto your neighbour, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when you have it by you.
Do not tell your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I will provide”— when you already have the means.
29 Devise not evil against your neighbour, seeing he dwells securely by you.
Do not devise evil against your neighbor, for he trustfully dwells beside you.
30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done you no harm.
Do not accuse a man without cause, when he has done you no harm.
31 Envy you not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways;
32 For the perverse is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.
for the LORD detests the perverse, but He is a friend to the upright.
33 The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesses the habitation of the just.
The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the righteous.
34 Surely he scorns the scorners: but he gives grace unto the lowly.
He mocks the mockers, but gives grace to the humble.
35 The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
The wise will inherit honor, but fools are held up to shame.
