Proverbs 3
1 My son, do not forget my commands and keep my teachings in your heart,
[My] son, forget not my laws; but let thine heart keep my words:
2 for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.
for length of existence, and years of life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
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.
Let not mercy and truth forsake thee; but bind them about thy neck:
4 Then you will find favor and a good reputation in the sight of God and man.
so shalt thou find favour: and do thou provide things honest in the sight of the Lord, and of men.
5 Trust in Yahweh with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding;
Trust in God with all thine heart; and be not exalted in thine own wisdom.
6 in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.
In all thy ways acquaint thyself with her, that she may rightly direct thy paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear Yahweh and turn away from evil.
Be not wise in thine own conceit; but fear God, and depart from all evil.
8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment for your body.
Then shall there be health to thy body, and good keeping to thy bones.
9 Honor Yahweh with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce,
Honour the Lord with thy just labours, and give him the first of thy fruits of righteousness:
10 and your storehouses will be filled up and your vats will be bursting, full of new wine.
that thy storehouses may be completely filled with corn, and that thy presses may burst forth with wine.
11 My son, do not despise Yahweh's instruction and do not hate his rebuke,
[My] son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
12 for Yahweh disciplines those he loves, as a father deals with a son who pleases him.
for whom the Lord loves, he rebukes, and scourges every son whom he receives.
13 The one who finds wisdom is blessed; he also gets understanding.
Blessed is the man who has found wisdom, and the mortal who knows prudence.
14 What you gain from wisdom is better than what silver will give in return and its profit is better than gold.
For it is better to traffic for her, than for treasures of gold and silver.
15 Wisdom is more precious than jewels and nothing you desire can compare to her.
And she is more valuable than precious stones: no evil thing shall resist her: she is well known to all that approach her, and no precious thing is equal to her in value.
16 She has length of days in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
For length of existence and years of life are in her right hand; and in her left hand are wealth and glory: out of her mouth proceeds righteousness, and she carries law and mercy upon her tongue.
17 Her ways are ways of kindness and all her paths are peace.
Her ways are good ways, 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 all that lay hold upon her; and she is [a] secure [help] to all that stay themselves on her, as on the Lord.
19 By wisdom Yahweh founded the earth, by understanding he established the heavens.
God by wisdom founded the earth, and by prudence he prepared the heavens.
20 By his knowledge the depths broke open and the clouds dropped their dew.
By understanding were the depths broken up, and the clouds dropped water.
21 My son, keep sound judgment and discernment, and do not lose sight of them.
[My] son, let [them] not pass from [thee], but keep my counsel and understanding:
22 They will be life to your soul and an adornment of favor to wear around your neck.
that thy soul may live, and that there may be grace round thy neck; and it shall be health to thy flesh, and safety to thy bones:
23 Then you will walk on your way in safety and your foot will not stumble;
that thou mayest go confidently in peace in all thy ways, and that thy foot may not stumble.
24 when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
For if thou rest, thou shalt be undismayed; and if thou sleep, thou shalt slumber sweetly.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror or devastation caused by the wicked, when it comes,
And thou shalt not be afraid of alarm coming upon thee, neither of approaching attacks of ungodly men.
26 for Yahweh will be on your side and will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.
For the Lord shall be over all thy ways, and shall establish thy foot that thou be not moved.
27 Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.
Forbear not to do good to the poor, whensoever thy hand may have [power] to help [him].
28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give it,” when you have the money with you.
Say not, Come back another time, to-morrow I will give; while thou art able to do [him] good: for thou knowest not what the next day will bring forth.
29 Do not make a plan to harm your neighbor— the one who lives close and trusts you.
Devise not evil against thy friend, living near thee and trusting in thee.
30 Do not argue with a person without a reason, when he has done nothing to harm you.
Be not ready to quarrel with a man without a cause, lest he do thee some harm.
31 Do not envy a violent person or choose any of his ways.
Procure not the reproaches of bad men, neither do thou covet their ways.
32 For the devious person is detestable to Yahweh, but he brings the upright person into his confidence.
For every transgressor is unclean before the Lord; neither does he sit among the righteous.
33 The curse of Yahweh is on the house of the wicked person, but he blesses the home of righteous people.
The curse of God is in the houses of the ungodly; but the habitations of the just are blessed.
34 He mocks mockers, but he gives his favor to humble people.
The Lord resists the proud; but he gives grace to the humble.
35 Wise people inherit honor, but fools will be lifted up in their shame.
The wise shall inherit glory; but the ungodly have exalted [their own] dishonour.
