Proverbs 3
1 My son, do not forget my commands and keep my teachings in your heart,
My son, don’t 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 to you length of days, years of life, and peace.
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.
Don’t let kindness and truth forsake 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.
So you will find favour, and good understanding 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 don’t lean 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.
Don’t be wise in your 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 health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.
9 Honor Yahweh with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce,
Honour the LORD with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase;
10 and your storehouses will be filled up and your vats will be bursting, full of new wine.
so 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, don’t despise the LORD’s discipline, neither be weary of his correction;
12 for Yahweh disciplines those he loves, as a father deals with a son who pleases him.
for whom the LORD loves, he corrects, even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.
13 The one who finds wisdom is blessed; he also gets understanding.
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding.
14 What you gain from wisdom is better than what silver will give in return and its profit is better than gold.
For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return 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. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to 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 hand are riches and honour.
17 Her ways are ways of kindness and all her paths are peace.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness. 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.
She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her.
19 By wisdom Yahweh founded the earth, by understanding he established the heavens.
By wisdom the LORD founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens.
20 By his knowledge the depths broke open and the clouds dropped their dew.
By his knowledge, the depths were broken up, 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 depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 They will be life to your soul and an adornment of favor to wear around your neck.
so they will be life to your soul, and grace for your neck.
23 Then you will walk on your way in safety and your foot will not stumble;
Then you shall walk in your way securely. Your foot won’t 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. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror or devastation caused by the wicked, when it comes,
Don’t be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes;
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 being taken.
27 Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.
Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your 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.
Don’t say to your neighbour, “Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you,” when you have it by you.
29 Do not make a plan to harm your neighbor— the one who lives close and trusts you.
Don’t devise evil against your neighbour, since he dwells securely by you.
30 Do not argue with a person without a reason, when he has done nothing to harm you.
Don’t strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.
31 Do not envy a violent person or choose any of his ways.
Don’t envy the man of violence. 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 perverse is an abomination to the LORD, but his friendship is with the upright.
33 The curse of Yahweh is on the house of the wicked person, but he blesses the home of righteous people.
The LORD’s curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.
34 He mocks mockers, but he gives his favor to humble people.
Surely he mocks the mockers, but he gives grace to the humble.
35 Wise people inherit honor, but fools will be lifted up in their shame.
The wise will inherit glory, but shame will be the promotion of fools.
