Proverbs 3
1 My son, do not forget my commands and keep my teachings in your heart,
My son, forget not my teaching, and let thy heart keep my commandments;
2 for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.
For length of days, and years of life, and peace, will they increase unto 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 kindness and truth not forsake thee; bind them about thy throat; write them upon the table of thy heart:
4 Then you will find favor and a good reputation in the sight of God and man.
So shalt thou find grace and good favor in the eyes 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 thy heart: and upon thy own understanding do not rely.
6 in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will make level thy paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear Yahweh and turn away from evil.
Be not wise in thy own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment for your body.
It will be healing to thy body, and marrow to thy bones.
9 Honor Yahweh with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce,
Honor the Lord with thy wealth, and with the first-fruits of all thy products:
10 and your storehouses will be filled up and your vats will be bursting, full of new wine.
So shall thy storehouses be filled with plenty, and with new wine shall thy presses overflow.
11 My son, do not despise Yahweh's instruction and do not hate his rebuke,
The correction of the Lord, my son, do not despise; and feel no loathing for his admonition;
12 for Yahweh disciplines those he loves, as a father deals with a son who pleases him.
Because whomever the Lord loveth he admonisheth; and as a father who delighteth in [his] son.
13 The one who finds wisdom is blessed; he also gets understanding.
Happy the man that hath found wisdom, and the man that acquireth understanding.
14 What you gain from wisdom is better than what silver will give in return and its profit is better than gold.
For the obtaining of her is better than the obtaining of silver, and better than fine gold is her product.
15 Wisdom is more precious than jewels and nothing you desire can compare to her.
She is more precious than pearls; and all the things thou valuest are not equal unto her.
16 She has length of days in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
Length of days is in her right hand: in her left are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of kindness and all her paths are peace.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of it, those who hold on to it are happy.
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 wisdom Yahweh founded the earth, by understanding he established the heavens.
The Lord hath through wisdom founded the earth: he hath established the heavens through understanding.
20 By his knowledge the depths broke open and the clouds dropped their dew.
By his knowledge were the depths split open, and the skies drop down the dew.
21 My son, keep sound judgment and discernment, and do not lose sight of them.
My son, let them not be removed from thy eyes; keep [before thee] sound wisdom and discretion:
22 They will be life to your soul and an adornment of favor to wear around your neck.
And they will be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy throat.
23 Then you will walk on your way in safety and your foot will not stumble;
Then wilt thou walk in safety on thy way, and thy foot will not strike [against aught]:
24 when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
When thou layest thyself down, thou shalt feel no dread; and as thou liest down, thy sleep shall be pleasant.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror or devastation caused by the wicked, when it comes,
Thou needest not to be afraid of sudden dread, neither of the [unlooked-for] tempest over the wicked, when it cometh.
26 for Yahweh will be on your side and will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.
For the Lord will be thy confidence, and he will guard thy foot from being caught.
27 Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.
Withhold not a benefit from him who is deserving it, when it is in the power of thy hand to do it.
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 unto thy neighbor, Go, and return, and tomorrow will I give: when thou hast it by thee.
29 Do not make a plan to harm your neighbor— the one who lives close and trusts you.
Contrive not against thy neighbor any evil, when he dwelleth in safety with thee.
30 Do not argue with a person without a reason, when he has done nothing to harm you.
Quarrel not with any man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
31 Do not envy a violent person or choose any of his ways.
Envy not the man of violence, and choose none of his ways.
32 For the devious person is detestable to Yahweh, but he brings the upright person into his confidence.
For the froward is an abomination to the Lord; but with the upright is his good-will.
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 in the house of the wicked; but the habitation of the righteous will he bless.
34 He mocks mockers, but he gives his favor to humble people.
If [it concern] the scornful he will himself render them a scorn; but unto the lowly doth he give grace.
35 Wise people inherit honor, but fools will be lifted up in their shame.
The wise shall inherit glory; but fools shall obtain disgrace as their portion.
