Proverbs 3
1 [My] son, forget not my laws; but let your heart keep my words:
My son, do not forget my teaching; but let your heart keep my commandments:
2 for length of existence, and years of life, and peace, shall they add to you.
for length of days, and years of life, and peace, will they add to you.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you; but bind them about your neck:
Do not let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 so shall you find favor: and do you provide things honest in the sight of the Lord, and of men.
So you will find favor, and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in God with all your heart; and be not exalted in your own wisdom.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acquaint yourself with her, that she may rightly direct your paths.
In all your ways remember him, and he will make your paths straight.
7 Be not wise in your own conceit; but fear God, and depart from all evil.
Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8 Then shall there be health to your body, and good keeping to your bones.
It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your just labors, and give him the first of your fruits of righteousness:
Honor the LORD with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase:
10 that your storehouses may be completely filled with corn, and that your presses may burst forth with wine.
so your storehouses will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 [My] son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; nor faint when you are rebuked of him:
My son, do not despise the discipline of the LORD, nor resent his correction.
12 for whom the Lord loves, he rebukes, and scourges every son whom he receives.
For whom the LORD loves he disciplines, and punishes every son he accepts.
13 Blessed is the man who has found wisdom, and the mortal who knows prudence.
Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding.
14 For it is better to traffic for her, than for treasures of gold and silver.
For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold.
15 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.
She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her.
16 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.
Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are good ways, and all her paths are peaceful.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace.
18 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.
She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her, and those who hold on to her are blessed
19 God by wisdom founded the earth, and by prudence he prepared the heavens.
By wisdom the LORD founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens.
20 By understanding were the depths broken up, and the clouds dropped water.
By his knowledge, the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.
21 [My] son, let [them] not pass from [you], but keep my counsel and understanding:
My son, let them not depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22 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:
so they will be life to your soul, and grace for your neck.
23 that you may go confidently in peace in all your ways, and that your foot may not stumble.
Then you shall walk in your way securely, and your foot won't stumble.
24 For if you rest, you shall be undismayed; and if you sleep, you shall slumber sweetly.
When you lie down, you will not be afraid; you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.
25 And you shall not be afraid of alarm coming upon you, neither of approaching attacks of ungodly men.
Do not be afraid of sudden fear, or of the storm of the wicked when it comes:
26 For the Lord shall be over all your ways, and shall establish your foot that you be not moved.
for the LORD will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being taken.
27 Forbear not to do good to the poor, whenever your hand may have [power] to help [him].
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
28 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.
Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you," when you have it by you.
29 Devise not evil against your friend, living near you and trusting in you.
Do not devise evil against your neighbor, seeing he dwells securely by you.
30 Be not ready to quarrel with a man without a cause, lest he do you some harm.
Do not strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.
31 Procure not the reproaches of bad men, neither do you covet their ways.
Do not envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways.
32 For every transgressor is unclean before the Lord; neither does he sit among the righteous.
For the perverse is an abomination to the LORD, but his friendship is with the upright.
33 The curse of God is in the houses of the ungodly; but the habitations of the just are blessed.
The LORD's curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.
34 The Lord resists the proud; but he gives grace to the humble.
Surely he is scornful to scoffers, but he gives grace to the humble.
35 The wise shall inherit glory; but the ungodly have exalted [their own] dishonor.
The wise will inherit glory, but shame will be the promotion of fools.
