Proverbs 3

1 My son, do not forget my teaching; but let your 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 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 around 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 So you will find favor, and good understanding in the sight 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 your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

Trust in Yahweh completely, and do not rely on what you yourself understand.

6 In all your ways remember him, and he will make 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 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 health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.

If you do that, your body will be healthy/strong; it will be [like] medicine for you.

9 Honor the LORD with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase:

Honor Yahweh by [what you do with] your money; and [by giving him] the first part of your harvest.

10 so your storehouses will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow 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 My son, do not despise the discipline of the LORD, nor resent his correction.

My son, when Yahweh disciplines/corrects you, do not despise it, and if he rebukes you, do not resent it.

12 For whom the LORD loves he disciplines, and punishes every son he accepts.

[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 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding.

[Yahweh] is pleased with those who become wise and have good understanding.

14 For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold.

Being wise and having good understanding is worth more than silver, better than gold.

15 She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared 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 hand 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. 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 who lay hold of her, and those who hold on to her are 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 By wisdom the LORD founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens.

By his wisdom Yahweh created the earth, and by his understanding he put everything in the skies.

20 By his knowledge, the depths were broken up, 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 depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion:

My son, [always] keep doing things that are right and things that are smart. If you do that,

22 so they will be life to your soul, and grace for your neck.

you will live [many years] and be honored and respected {people will honor and respect you}.

23 Then you shall walk in your way securely, and your foot won't 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 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; you will lie down, and your sleep will be 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, or of the storm 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 the LORD will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being taken.

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 those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand 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 neighbor, "Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you," when you have it by 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, seeing he dwells securely by 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 done you no harm.

If someone has not harmed you, do not accuse him [by saying that he has harmed you].

31 Do not envy the man of violence. 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 perverse is an abomination to the LORD, but his friendship 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 LORD's curse is in the house of the wicked, but 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 Surely he is scornful to scoffers, but 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 will inherit glory, but shame will be the promotion of fools.

Wise [people] will be honored {people will honor wise people}, but foolish people will be dishonored/disgraced.