Proverbs 3
1 My son, don’t forget my teaching; but keep my mitzvot ·instructions· in your heart:
My son, do not forget my teaching; but let your heart keep my commandments:
2 for length of days, and years of life, and peace, will they add to you.
for length of days, and years of life, and peace, will they add to you.
3 Don’t let chesed ·loving-kindness· and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.
Do not let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will find chen ·grace·, and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
So you will find favor, and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in Adonai with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
In all your ways remember him, and he will make your paths straight.
7 Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Fear Adonai, and depart from evil.
Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8 It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.
It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.
9 Honor Adonai with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase:
Honor the LORD with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase:
10 so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
so your storehouses will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 My son, don’t despise Adonai’s discipline, neither be despondent when he corrects you:
My son, do not despise the discipline of the LORD, nor resent his correction.
12 for whom Adonai 'ahav ·affectionately loves·, he reproves; even as a father reproves his son in whom he delights.
For whom the LORD loves he disciplines, and punishes every son he accepts.
13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding.
Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding.
14 For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her teshuvah ·complete return· is better than fine gold.
For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to 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 hand are riches and kavod ·weighty glory·.
Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her.
She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her, and those who hold on to her are blessed
19 By wisdom Adonai founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens.
By wisdom the LORD founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens.
20 By his knowledge, the depths were broken up, 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 depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion:
My son, let them not depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22 so they will be life to your soul, and chen ·grace· for your neck.
so they will be life to your soul, and grace for your neck.
23 Then you shall walk in your way securely. Your foot won’t stumble.
Then you shall walk in your way securely, and your foot won't stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.
When you lie down, you will not be afraid; you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.
25 Don’t be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes:
Do not be afraid of sudden fear, or of the storm of the wicked when it comes:
26 for Adonai will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being taken.
for the LORD will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being taken.
27 Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
28 Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you,” when you have it by you.
Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you," when you have it by you.
29 Don’t devise evil against your neighbor, since he dwells securely by you.
Do not devise evil against your neighbor, seeing he dwells securely by you.
30 Don’t strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.
Do not strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.
31 Don’t envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways.
Do not envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways.
32 For the perverse is an abomination to Adonai, but his friendship is with the upright.
For the perverse is an abomination to the LORD, but his friendship is with the upright.
33 Adonai’s curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the habitation of the upright.
The LORD's curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.
34 Surely he opposes the mockers, but he gives chen ·grace· to the humble.
Surely he is scornful to scoffers, but he gives grace to the humble.
35 The wise will inherit kavod ·weighty glory·, but shame will be the promotion of fools.
The wise will inherit glory, but shame will be the promotion of fools.
