Proverbs 3
1 My son, forget not my teaching, and let thy heart keep my commandments;
My son, don’t forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,
2 For length of days, and years of life, and peace, will they increase unto thee.
for they will add to you length of days, years of life, and peace.
3 Let kindness and truth not forsake thee; bind them about thy throat; write them upon the table of thy heart:
Don’t let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So shalt thou find grace and good favor in the eyes of God and man.
So you will find favour, and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the Lord with all thy heart: and upon thy own understanding do not rely.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will make level thy paths.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
7 Be not wise in thy own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8 It will be healing to thy body, and marrow to thy bones.
It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with thy wealth, and with the first-fruits of all thy products:
Honour the LORD with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase;
10 So shall thy storehouses be filled with plenty, and with new wine shall thy presses overflow.
so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 The correction of the Lord, my son, do not despise; and feel no loathing for his admonition;
My son, don’t despise the LORD’s discipline, neither be weary of his correction;
12 Because whomever the Lord loveth he admonisheth; and as a father who delighteth in [his] son.
for whom the LORD loves, he corrects, even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.
13 Happy the man that hath found wisdom, and the man that acquireth understanding.
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding.
14 For the obtaining of her is better than the obtaining of silver, and better than fine gold is her product.
For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than pearls; and all the things thou valuest are not equal unto her.
She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand: in her left are riches and honor.
Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honour.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace.
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 those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her.
19 The Lord hath through wisdom founded the earth: he hath established the heavens through understanding.
By wisdom the LORD founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens.
20 By his knowledge were the depths split open, and the skies drop down the dew.
By his knowledge, the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.
21 My son, let them not be removed from thy eyes; keep [before thee] sound wisdom and discretion:
My son, let them not depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 And they will be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy throat.
so they will be life to your soul, and grace for your neck.
23 Then wilt thou walk in safety on thy way, and thy foot will not strike [against aught]:
Then you shall walk in your way securely. Your foot won’t stumble.
24 When thou layest thyself down, thou shalt feel no dread; and as thou liest down, thy sleep shall be pleasant.
When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.
25 Thou needest not to be afraid of sudden dread, neither of the [unlooked-for] tempest over the wicked, when it cometh.
Don’t be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes;
26 For the Lord will be thy confidence, and he will guard thy foot from being caught.
for the LORD will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being taken.
27 Withhold not a benefit from him who is deserving it, when it is in the power of thy hand to do it.
Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
28 Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and return, and tomorrow will I give: when thou hast it by thee.
Don’t say to your neighbour, “Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you,” when you have it by you.
29 Contrive not against thy neighbor any evil, when he dwelleth in safety with thee.
Don’t devise evil against your neighbour, since he dwells securely by you.
30 Quarrel not with any man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
Don’t strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.
31 Envy not the man of violence, and choose none of his ways.
Don’t envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways.
32 For the froward is an abomination to the Lord; but with the upright is his good-will.
For the perverse is an abomination to the LORD, but his friendship is with the upright.
33 The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked; but the habitation of the righteous will he bless.
The LORD’s curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.
34 If [it concern] the scornful he will himself render them a scorn; but unto the lowly doth he give grace.
Surely he mocks the mockers, but he gives grace to the humble.
35 The wise shall inherit glory; but fools shall obtain disgrace as their portion.
The wise will inherit glory, but shame will be the promotion of fools.
