Proverbs 3
1 My son, forget not my teaching, and let thy heart keep my commandments;
[My] son, forget not my laws; but let your heart keep my words:
2 For length of days, and years of life, and peace, will they increase unto thee.
for length of existence, and years of life, and peace, shall they add to you.
3 Let kindness and truth not forsake thee; bind them about thy throat; write them upon the table of thy heart:
Let not mercy and truth forsake you; but bind them about your neck:
4 So shalt thou find grace and good favor in the eyes of God and man.
so shall you find favour: and do you provide things honest in the sight of the Lord, and of men.
5 Trust in the Lord with all thy heart: and upon thy own understanding do not rely.
Trust in God with all your heart; and be not exalted in your own wisdom.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will make level thy paths.
In all your ways acquaint yourself with her, that she may rightly direct your paths.
7 Be not wise in thy own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
Be not wise in your own conceit; but fear God, and depart from all evil.
8 It will be healing to thy body, and marrow to thy bones.
Then shall there be health to your body, and good keeping to your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with thy wealth, and with the first-fruits of all thy products:
Honour the Lord with your just labours, and give him the first of your fruits of righteousness:
10 So shall thy storehouses be filled with plenty, and with new wine shall thy presses overflow.
that your storehouses may be completely filled with corn, and that your presses may burst forth with wine.
11 The correction of the Lord, my son, do not despise; and feel no loathing for his admonition;
[My] son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; nor faint when you are rebuked of him:
12 Because whomever the Lord loveth he admonisheth; and as a father who delighteth in [his] son.
for whom the Lord loves, he rebukes, and scourges every son whom he receives.
13 Happy the man that hath found wisdom, and the man that acquireth understanding.
Blessed is the man who has found wisdom, and the mortal who knows prudence.
14 For the obtaining of her is better than the obtaining of silver, and better than fine gold is her product.
For it is better to traffic for her, than for treasures of gold and silver.
15 She is more precious than pearls; and all the things thou valuest are not equal unto her.
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.
16 Length of days is in her right hand: in her left are riches and honor.
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.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
Her ways are good ways, and all her paths are peaceful.
18 A tree of life is she to those that lay hold on her: and every one that firmly graspeth her will be made happy.
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.
19 The Lord hath through wisdom founded the earth: he hath established the heavens through understanding.
God by wisdom founded the earth, and by prudence he prepared the heavens.
20 By his knowledge were the depths split open, and the skies drop down the dew.
By understanding were the depths broken up, and the clouds dropped water.
21 My son, let them not be removed from thy eyes; keep [before thee] sound wisdom and discretion:
[My] son, let [them] not pass from [you], but keep my counsel and understanding:
22 And they will be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy throat.
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:
23 Then wilt thou walk in safety on thy way, and thy foot will not strike [against aught]:
that you may go confidently in peace in all your ways, and that your foot may not stumble.
24 When thou layest thyself down, thou shalt feel no dread; and as thou liest down, thy sleep shall be pleasant.
For if you rest, you shall be undismayed; and if you sleep, you shall slumber sweetly.
25 Thou needest not to be afraid of sudden dread, neither of the [unlooked-for] tempest over the wicked, when it cometh.
And you shall not be afraid of alarm coming upon you, neither of approaching attacks of ungodly men.
26 For the Lord will be thy confidence, and he will guard thy foot from being caught.
For the Lord shall be over all your ways, and shall establish your foot that you be not moved.
27 Withhold not a benefit from him who is deserving it, when it is in the power of thy hand to do it.
Forbear not to do good to the poor, whenever your hand may have [power] to help [him].
28 Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and return, and tomorrow will I give: when thou hast it by thee.
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.
29 Contrive not against thy neighbor any evil, when he dwelleth in safety with thee.
Devise not evil against your friend, living near you and trusting in you.
30 Quarrel not with any man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
Be not ready to quarrel with a man without a cause, lest he do you some harm.
31 Envy not the man of violence, and choose none of his ways.
Procure not the reproaches of bad men, neither do you covet their ways.
32 For the froward is an abomination to the Lord; but with the upright is his good-will.
For every transgressor is unclean before the Lord; neither does he sit amongst the righteous.
33 The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked; but the habitation of the righteous will he bless.
The curse of God is in the houses of the ungodly; but the habitations of the just are blessed.
34 If [it concern] the scornful he will himself render them a scorn; but unto the lowly doth he give grace.
The Lord resists the proud; but he gives grace to the humble.
35 The wise shall inherit glory; but fools shall obtain disgrace as their portion.
The wise shall inherit glory; but the ungodly have exalted [their own] dishonour.
