Proverbs 3
1 My son! Do not forget my law, And let your heart keep my commands,
My son, do not forget what I have taught you. Keep my commands in your inner being,
2 For [the] length of [your] days and years, Life and peace they add to you.
because [if you obey them] you will live a long time and things will go well for you
3 Do not let kindness and truth forsake you, Bind them on your neck, Write them on the tablet of your 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 And find grace and good understanding 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 to YHWH with all your heart, And do not lean to your own understanding.
Trust in Yahweh completely, and do not rely on what you yourself understand.
6 In all your ways know Him, And He makes your paths straight.
Always allow him to lead you. If you do that, he will (show you the right path/direct your life).
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes, Fear YHWH, and turn aside from evil.
Do not be proud of being wise. [Instead], revere Yahweh and turn away from doing evil.
8 It is healing to your navel, And moistening to your bones.
If you do that, your body will be healthy/strong; it will be [like] medicine for you.
9 Honor YHWH from your substance, And from the beginning of all your increase;
Honor Yahweh by [what you do with] your money; and [by giving him] the first part of your harvest.
10 And your barns are filled [with] plenty, And your presses break forth [with] new wine.
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 Discipline of YHWH, my son, do not despise, And do not be distressed with His reproof,
My son, when Yahweh disciplines/corrects you, do not despise it, and if he rebukes you, do not resent it.
12 For whom YHWH loves He reproves, Even as a father the son He is pleased with.
[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 O the blessedness of a man [who] has found wisdom, And of a man [who] brings forth understanding.
[Yahweh] is pleased with those who become wise and have good understanding.
14 For better [is] her merchandise Than the merchandise of silver, And than gold—her increase.
Being wise and having good understanding is worth more than silver, better than gold.
15 She [is] precious above rubies, And all your pleasures are not comparable to 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] wealth 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 She [is] a tree of life to those laying hold on her, And whoever is retaining her [is] blessed.
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 YHWH founded the earth by wisdom, He prepared the heavens by understanding.
By his wisdom Yahweh created the earth, and by his understanding he put everything in the skies.
20 By His knowledge depths have been broken, And clouds drop 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! Do not let them turn from your eyes, Keep wisdom and thoughtfulness,
My son, [always] keep doing things that are right and things that are smart. If you do that,
22 And they are life to your soul, and grace to your neck.
you will live [many years] and be honored and respected {people will honor and respect you}.
23 Then you go your way confidently, And your foot does not stumble.
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 If you lie down, you are not afraid, Indeed, you have lain down, And your sleep has been sweet.
You will [be able to] lie down [at night] and not be afraid [of anything], and you will sleep peacefully.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden fear, And of the desolation of the wicked when it comes.
You will not be afraid that something disastrous will happen to you or that storms that strike the wicked will strike you,
26 For YHWH is at your side, And He has kept your foot from capture.
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 Do not withhold good from its owners, When your hand [is] toward God to do [it].
If you are able to help people who deserve it, do not refuse to help them.
28 Do not say to your friend, “Go, and return, and tomorrow I give,” When substance [is] with you.
If you are able to help someone you interact with, do not say, “Come back later; [perhaps] I can help you tomorrow.”
29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor, And he sitting confidently with you.
Do not make plans to harm those you interact with regularly, [because] they live near you, and they trust you.
30 Do not strive with a man without cause, If he has not done you evil.
If someone has not harmed you, do not accuse him [by saying that he has harmed you].
31 Do not be envious of a man of violence, Nor fix on any of his ways.
Do not envy people who [obtain things by] violent actions, and do not imitate/do what they do.
32 For the perverted [is] an abomination to YHWH, And His secret counsel [is] with the upright.
[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 YHWH [is] in the house of the wicked. And He blesses the habitation of the righteous.
Yahweh curses the families [MTY] of those who are wicked, but he blesses the families of those who are good/righteous.
34 If He scorns the scorners, Yet He gives grace to the humble.
Yahweh makes fun of those who make fun [of others], but he kindly helps those who are humble.
35 The wise inherit glory, And fools are bearing away shame!
Wise [people] will be honored {people will honor wise people}, but foolish people will be dishonored/disgraced.
