Proverbs 3
1 My son, forget not my teaching, and let thy heart keep my commandments;
My son, do not forget what I have taught you. Keep my commands in your inner being,
2 For length of days, and years of life, and peace, will they increase unto thee.
because [if you obey them] you will live a long time and things will go well for you
3 Let kindness and truth not forsake thee; bind them about thy throat; write them upon the table of thy 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 find grace and good favor in the eyes 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 thy heart: and upon thy own understanding do not rely.
Trust in Yahweh completely, and do not rely on what you yourself understand.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will make level thy paths.
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 thy own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
Do not be proud of being wise. [Instead], revere Yahweh and turn away from doing evil.
8 It will be healing to thy body, and marrow to thy bones.
If you do that, your body will be healthy/strong; it will be [like] medicine for you.
9 Honor the Lord with thy wealth, and with the first-fruits of all thy products:
Honor Yahweh by [what you do with] your money; and [by giving him] the first part of your harvest.
10 So shall thy storehouses be filled with plenty, and with new wine shall thy presses overflow.
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 The correction of the Lord, my son, do not despise; and feel no loathing for his admonition;
My son, when Yahweh disciplines/corrects you, do not despise it, and if he rebukes you, do not resent it.
12 Because whomever the Lord loveth he admonisheth; and as a father who delighteth in [his] son.
[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 Happy the man that hath found wisdom, and the man that acquireth understanding.
[Yahweh] is pleased with those who become wise and have good understanding.
14 For the obtaining of her is better than the obtaining of silver, and better than fine gold is her product.
Being wise and having good understanding is worth more than silver, better than gold.
15 She is more precious than pearls; and all the things thou valuest are not equal unto 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 days is in her right hand: in her left are riches and honor.
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 ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
If [you] are wise, [your] life will be pleasant, and things will go well [for you].
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.
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 hath through wisdom founded the earth: he hath established the heavens through understanding.
By his wisdom Yahweh created the earth, and by his understanding he put everything in the skies.
20 By his knowledge were the depths split open, and the skies drop down the dew.
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 son, let them not be removed from thy eyes; keep [before thee] sound wisdom and discretion:
My son, [always] keep doing things that are right and things that are smart. If you do that,
22 And they will be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy throat.
you will live [many years] and be honored and respected {people will honor and respect you}.
23 Then wilt thou walk in safety on thy way, and thy foot will not strike [against aught]:
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 When thou layest thyself down, thou shalt feel no dread; and as thou liest down, thy sleep shall be pleasant.
You will [be able to] lie down [at night] and not be afraid [of anything], and you will sleep peacefully.
25 Thou needest not to be afraid of sudden dread, neither of the [unlooked-for] tempest over the wicked, when it cometh.
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 will be thy confidence, and he will guard thy foot from being caught.
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 a benefit from him who is deserving it, when it is in the power of thy hand to do it.
If you are able to help people who deserve it, do not refuse to help them.
28 Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and return, and tomorrow will I give: when thou hast it by thee.
If you are able to help someone you interact with, do not say, “Come back later; [perhaps] I can help you tomorrow.”
29 Contrive not against thy neighbor any evil, when he dwelleth in safety with thee.
Do not make plans to harm those you interact with regularly, [because] they live near you, and they trust you.
30 Quarrel not with any man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
If someone has not harmed you, do not accuse him [by saying that he has harmed you].
31 Envy not the man of violence, and choose none of his ways.
Do not envy people who [obtain things by] violent actions, and do not imitate/do what they do.
32 For the froward is an abomination to the Lord; but with the upright is his good-will.
[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 the habitation of the righteous will he bless.
Yahweh curses the families [MTY] of those who are wicked, but he blesses the families of those who are good/righteous.
34 If [it concern] the scornful he will himself render them a scorn; but unto the lowly doth he give grace.
Yahweh makes fun of those who make fun [of others], but he kindly helps those who are humble.
35 The wise shall inherit glory; but fools shall obtain disgrace as their portion.
Wise [people] will be honored {people will honor wise people}, but foolish people will be dishonored/disgraced.
