< Proverbs 3 >
1 My son! Do not forget my law, And let your heart keep my commands,
2 For [the] length of [your] days and years, Life and peace they add to you.
3 Do not let kindness and truth forsake you, Bind them on your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,
4 And find grace and good understanding In the eyes of God and man.
5 Trust to YHWH with all your heart, And do not lean to your own understanding.
6 In all your ways know Him, And He makes your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes, Fear YHWH, and turn aside from evil.
8 It is healing to your navel, And moistening to your bones.
9 Honor YHWH from your substance, And from the beginning of all your increase;
10 And your barns are filled [with] plenty, And your presses break forth [with] new wine.
11 Discipline of YHWH, my son, do not despise, And do not be distressed with His reproof,
12 For whom YHWH loves He reproves, Even as a father the son He is pleased with.
13 O the blessedness of a man [who] has found wisdom, And of a man [who] brings forth understanding.
14 For better [is] her merchandise Than the merchandise of silver, And than gold—her increase.
15 She [is] precious above rubies, And all your pleasures are not comparable to her.
16 Length of days [is] in her right hand, In her left [are] wealth and honor.
17 Her ways [are] ways of pleasantness, And all her paths [are] peace.
18 She [is] a tree of life to those laying hold on her, And whoever is retaining her [is] blessed.
19 YHWH founded the earth by wisdom, He prepared the heavens by understanding.
20 By His knowledge depths have been broken, And clouds drop dew.
21 My son! Do not let them turn from your eyes, Keep wisdom and thoughtfulness,
22 And they are life to your soul, and grace to your neck.
23 Then you go your way confidently, And your foot does not stumble.
24 If you lie down, you are not afraid, Indeed, you have lain down, And your sleep has been sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden fear, And of the desolation of the wicked when it comes.
26 For YHWH is at your side, And He has kept your foot from capture.
27 Do not withhold good from its owners, When your hand [is] toward God to do [it].
28 Do not say to your friend, “Go, and return, and tomorrow I give,” When substance [is] with you.
29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor, And he sitting confidently with you.
30 Do not strive with a man without cause, If he has not done you evil.
31 Do not be envious of a man of violence, Nor fix on any of his ways.
32 For the perverted [is] an abomination to YHWH, And His secret counsel [is] with the upright.
33 The curse of YHWH [is] in the house of the wicked. And He blesses the habitation of the righteous.
34 If He scorns the scorners, Yet He gives grace to the humble.
35 The wise inherit glory, And fools are bearing away shame!
