Proverbs 3

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

My son, forget not my teaching, and let thy heart keep my commandments;

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

For length of days, and years of life, and peace, will they increase unto thee.

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.

Let kindness and truth not forsake thee; bind them about thy throat; write them upon the table of thy heart:

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

So shalt thou find grace and good favor in the eyes of God and man.

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

Trust in the Lord with all thy heart: and upon thy own understanding do not rely.

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

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will make level thy paths.

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

Be not wise in thy own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

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

It will be healing to thy body, and marrow to thy 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 thy wealth, and with the first-fruits of all thy products:

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.

So shall thy storehouses be filled with plenty, and with new wine shall thy presses overflow.

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

The correction of the Lord, my son, do not despise; and feel no loathing for his admonition;

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.

Because whomever the Lord loveth he admonisheth; and as a father who delighteth in [his] son.

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

Happy the man that hath found wisdom, and the man that acquireth understanding.

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

For the obtaining of her is better than the obtaining of silver, and better than fine gold is her product.

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 pearls; and all the things thou valuest are not equal unto 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.

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

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

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

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.

A tree of life is she to those that lay hold on her: and every one that firmly graspeth her will be made happy.

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

The Lord hath through wisdom founded the earth: he hath established the heavens through 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 were the depths split open, and the skies drop down the dew.

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

My son, let them not be removed from thy eyes; keep [before thee] sound wisdom and discretion:

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

And they will be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy throat.

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 wilt thou walk in safety on thy way, and thy foot will not strike [against aught]:

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

When thou layest thyself down, thou shalt feel no dread; and as thou liest down, thy sleep shall be pleasant.

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

Thou needest not to be afraid of sudden dread, neither of the [unlooked-for] tempest over the wicked, when it cometh.

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 thy confidence, and he will guard thy foot from being caught.

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

Withhold not a benefit from him who is deserving it, when it is in the power of thy hand to do it.

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

Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and return, and tomorrow will I give: when thou hast it by thee.

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

Contrive not against thy neighbor any evil, when he dwelleth in safety with thee.

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

Quarrel not with any man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

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

Envy not the man of violence, and choose none 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 froward is an abomination to the Lord; but with the upright is his good-will.

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 in the house of the wicked; but the habitation of the righteous will he bless.

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

If [it concern] the scornful he will himself render them a scorn; but unto the lowly doth he give grace.

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

The wise shall inherit glory; but fools shall obtain disgrace as their portion.