Proverbs 3
1 My son, do not forget my commands and keep my teachings 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 they will add to you.
for they will add length to your days, years and peace to your life.
3 Do not let covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness ever leave you, tie them together about your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
Never let loving devotion or faithfulness leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will find favor and a good reputation in the sight of God and man.
Then you will find favor and high regard in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in Yahweh with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding;
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.
in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear Yahweh and turn away from evil.
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment for your body.
This will bring healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.
9 Honor Yahweh with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce,
Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your harvest;
10 and your storehouses will be filled up and your vats will be bursting, full of new wine.
then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 My son, do not despise Yahweh's instruction and do not hate his rebuke,
My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, and do not loathe His rebuke;
12 for Yahweh disciplines those he loves, as a father deals with a son who pleases him.
for the LORD disciplines the one He loves, as does a father the son in whom he delights.
13 The one who finds wisdom is blessed; he also gets understanding.
Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding,
14 What you gain from wisdom is better than what silver will give in return and its profit is better than gold.
for she is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than fine gold.
15 Wisdom is more precious than jewels and nothing you desire can compare to her.
She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire compares with her.
16 She has length of days in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of kindness and all her paths are peace.
All her ways are pleasant, and all her paths are peaceful.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of it, those who hold on to it are happy.
She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who lay hold of her are blessed.
19 By wisdom Yahweh founded the earth, by understanding he established the heavens.
The LORD founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding.
20 By his knowledge the depths broke open and the clouds dropped their dew.
By His knowledge the watery depths were broken open, and the clouds dripped with dew.
21 My son, keep sound judgment and discernment, and do not lose sight of them.
My son, do not lose sight of this: Preserve sound judgment and discernment.
22 They will be life to your soul and an adornment of favor to wear around your neck.
They will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck.
23 Then you will walk on your way in safety and your foot will not stumble;
Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.
24 when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you rest, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror or devastation caused by the wicked, when it comes,
Do not fear sudden danger or the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for Yahweh will be on your side and will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.
for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from the snare.
27 Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.
Do not withhold good from the deserving when it is within your power to act.
28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give it,” when you have the money with you.
Do not tell your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I will provide”— when you already have the means.
29 Do not make a plan to harm your neighbor— the one who lives close and trusts you.
Do not devise evil against your neighbor, for he trustfully dwells beside you.
30 Do not argue with a person without a reason, when he has done nothing to harm you.
Do not accuse a man without cause, when he has done you no harm.
31 Do not envy a violent person or choose any of his ways.
Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways;
32 For the devious person is detestable to Yahweh, but he brings the upright person into his confidence.
for the LORD detests the perverse, but He is a friend to the upright.
33 The curse of Yahweh is on the house of the wicked person, but he blesses the home of righteous people.
The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the righteous.
34 He mocks mockers, but he gives his favor to humble people.
He mocks the mockers, but gives grace to the humble.
35 Wise people inherit honor, but fools will be lifted up in their shame.
The wise will inherit honor, but fools are held up to shame.
