Proverbs 3

1 My son, do not forget what I have taught you. Keep my commands in your inner being,

My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;

2 because [if you obey them] you will live a long time and things will go well for you

for they will add length to your days, years and peace to your life.

3 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.

Never let loving devotion or faithfulness leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

4 If you do, God and people will approve of you and think highly of you [MTY].

Then you will find favor and high regard in the sight of God and man.

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

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;

6 Always allow him to lead you. If you do that, he will (show you the right path/direct your life).

in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

7 Do not be proud of being wise. [Instead], revere Yahweh and turn away from doing evil.

Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

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

This will bring healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.

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

Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your harvest;

10 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.

then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.

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

My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, and do not loathe His rebuke;

12 [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.

for the LORD disciplines the one He loves, as does a father the son in whom he delights.

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

Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding,

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

for she is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than fine gold.

15 Being wise is more precious than (jewels/precious stones); there is nothing that you could desire [that would be as valuable] as wisdom.

She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire compares with her.

16 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.

Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.

17 If [you] are wise, [your] life will be pleasant, and things will go well [for you].

All her ways are pleasant, and all her paths are peaceful.

18 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.

She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who lay hold of her are blessed.

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

The LORD founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding.

20 By his knowledge [he caused] the water that was beneath the earth to burst forth, and he caused rain to fall from the clouds.

By His knowledge the watery depths were broken open, and the clouds dripped with dew.

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

My son, do not lose sight of this: Preserve sound judgment and discernment.

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

They will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck.

23 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].

Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.

24 You will [be able to] lie down [at night] and not be afraid [of anything], and you will sleep peacefully.

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you rest, your sleep will be sweet.

25 You will not be afraid that something disastrous will happen to you or that storms that strike the wicked will strike you,

Do not fear sudden danger or the ruin that overtakes the wicked,

26 because you will be confident that Yahweh [will take care of you]. He will not let your foot be caught in a trap/snare.

for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from the snare.

27 If you are able to help people who deserve it, do not refuse to help them.

Do not withhold good from the deserving when it is within your power to act.

28 If you are able to help someone you interact with, do not say, “Come back later; [perhaps] I can help you tomorrow.”

Do not tell your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I will provide”— when you already have the means.

29 Do not make plans to harm those you interact with regularly, [because] they live near you, and they trust you.

Do not devise evil against your neighbor, for he trustfully dwells beside you.

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

Do not accuse a man without cause, when he has done you no harm.

31 Do not envy people who [obtain things by] violent actions, and do not imitate/do what they do.

Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways;

32 [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.

for the LORD detests the perverse, but He is a friend to the upright.

33 Yahweh curses the families [MTY] of those who are wicked, but he blesses the families of those who are good/righteous.

The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the righteous.

34 Yahweh makes fun of those who make fun [of others], but he kindly helps those who are humble.

He mocks the mockers, but gives grace to the humble.

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

The wise will inherit honor, but fools are held up to shame.