Proverbs 3

1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

My son, forget not my teaching, And let thy heart observe my precepts!

2 For length of days, and years of life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

For length of days, and years of life, And peace shall they multiply to thee.

3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

Let not kindness and truth forsake thee; Bind them around thy neck, Write them upon the tablet of thy heart:

4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

Then shalt thou find favor and good success In the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart, and lean not upon thine own understanding:

Trust in the LORD with all thy heart, And lean not on thine own understanding;

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he will make thy paths plain.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes; fear the LORD, and depart from evil:

Be not wise in thine own eyes; Fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

It shall be health to thy muscles, And moisture to thy bones.

9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

Honor the LORD with thy substance, And with the first-fruits of all thy increase;

10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy vats shall overflow with new wine.

So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, And thy vats overflow with new wine.

11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his reproof:

My son, despise not the correction of the LORD, Nor be impatient under his chastisement!

12 For whom the LORD loveth he reproveth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

For whom the LORD loveth he chasteneth, Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

Happy the man who findeth wisdom; Yea, the man who getteth understanding!

14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

For the profit thereof is greater than that of silver, And the gain thereof than that of fine gold.

15 She is more precious than rubies: and none of the things thou canst desire are to be compared unto her.

More precious is she than pearls, And none of thy jewels is to be compared with her.

16 Length of days is in her right had; in her left hand are riches and honour.

Length of days is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor.

17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace.

18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

She is a tree of life to them that lay hold of her, And happy is every one who hath her in his grasp.

19 The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens.

The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding he framed the heavens.

20 By his knowledge the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.

By his knowledge the deep waters were cleft, And the clouds drop down the dew.

21 My son, let not them depart from thine eyes; keep sound wisdom and discretion;

My son, let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep sound wisdom and discretion!

22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

For they shall be life to thy soul, And grace to thy neck.

23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, and thy foot shall not stumble.

Then shalt thou go on thy way securely, And thy foot shall not stumble;

24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid, Yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh:

Be not thou afraid of sudden alarm, Nor of the storm that is for the wicked, when it cometh;

26 For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

For the LORD shall be thy confidence; Yea, he will keep thy foot from being taken.

27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

Withhold not kindness from those who need it, When it is in the power of thy hand to do it.

28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.

Say not to thy neighbor, “Go, and come again, And to-morrow I will give to thee,” when thou hast it by thee.

29 Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.

Devise not evil against thy neighbor, While he dwelleth securely by thee.

30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

Contend not with a man without cause, When he hath done thee no harm.

31 Envy thou not the man of violence, and choose none of his ways.

Envy not the oppressor, And choose none of his ways.

32 For the perverse is an abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the upright.

For the perverse man is the abomination of the LORD, But he is in friendship with the upright.

33 The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked; but he blesseth the habitation of the righteous.

The curse of the LORD is upon the house of the wicked, But he blesseth the dwelling of the righteous.

34 Surely he scorneth the scorners, but he giveth grace unto the lowly.

Surely the scorners he treadeth scornfully, But giveth favor to the lowly.

35 The wise shall inherit glory; but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

The wise shall obtain honor, But fools shall bear off shame.