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 observe my precepts!

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

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

Then shalt thou find favor and good success 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 thy heart, And lean not on thine 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 thy ways acknowledge him, And he will make thy paths plain.

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

Be not wise in thine 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 shall be health to thy muscles, And moisture 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 substance, And with the first-fruits of all thy increase;

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 barns be filled with plenty, And thy vats 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, despise not the correction of the LORD, Nor be impatient under his chastisement!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Length of days 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].

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.

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

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

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 deep waters were cleft, And the clouds 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 depart from thine eyes; Keep sound wisdom and discretion!

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

For they shall be life to thy soul, And grace to thy 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 shalt thou go on thy way securely, And thy foot shall not stumble;

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

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

Be not thou afraid of sudden alarm, Nor of the storm that is for 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 shall be thy confidence; Yea, he will keep thy foot from being taken.

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

Withhold not kindness from those who need 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 to thy neighbor, “Go, and come again, And to-morrow I will give to thee,” 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.

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

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

Contend not with a man without cause, When he hath 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 oppressor, 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 perverse man is the abomination of the LORD, But he is in friendship with 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 upon the house of the wicked, But he blesseth the dwelling of the righteous.

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

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

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

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