Proverbs 3
1 My son! my law forget not, And my commands let thy heart keep,
My son, don't forget my instructions. Always keep my commands in mind.
2 For length of days and years, Life and peace they do add to thee.
Then you will live a long time, and have a full life.
3 Let not kindness and truth forsake thee, Bind them on thy neck, Write them on the tablet of thy heart,
Hold on to kindness and truth. Tie them around your neck; write them in your mind.
4 And find grace and good understanding In the eyes of God and man.
That way you'll gain a good reputation and be appreciated by both God and people.
5 Trust unto Jehovah with all thy heart, And unto thine own understanding lean not.
Put your trust totally in the Lord—don't rely on what you think you know!
6 In all thy ways know thou Him, And He doth make straight thy paths.
Remember him in everything you do, and he'll show you the right way.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes, Fear Jehovah, and turn aside from evil.
Don't think you're wise—respect God and avoid evil.
8 Healing it is to thy navel, And moistening to thy bones.
Then you will have healed and be made strong.
9 Honour Jehovah from thy substance, And from the beginning of all thine increase;
Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all the crops you grow.
10 And filled are thy barns [with] plenty, And [with] new wine thy presses break forth.
Then your barns will be filled with produce, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 Chastisement of Jehovah, my son, despise not, And be not vexed with His reproof,
My son, don't reject the Lord's discipline or resent it when he corrects you,
12 For whom Jehovah loveth He reproveth, Even as a father the son He is pleased with.
for the Lord corrects those he loves, as a father corrects a son who pleases him.
13 O the happiness of a man [who] hath found wisdom, And of a man [who] bringeth forth understanding.
Happy are those who find wisdom and gain understanding,
14 For better [is] her merchandise Than the merchandise of silver, And than gold — her increase.
for wisdom is worth more than silver, and pays better than gold.
15 Precious she [is] above rubies, And all thy pleasures are not comparable to her.
She is more valuable than rubies—everything you could ever want just doesn't compare!
16 Length of days [is] in her right hand, In her left [are] wealth and honour.
She offers long life in one hand, and riches and honor in the other.
17 Her ways [are] ways of pleasantness, And all her paths [are] peace.
She brings true happiness, and leads to peaceful prosperity.
18 A tree of life she [is] to those laying hold on her, And whoso is retaining her [is] happy.
Wisdom is a tree of life to everyone who embraces her, blessing those who accept her.
19 Jehovah by wisdom did found the earth, He prepared the heavens by understanding.
It was through wisdom that the Lord created the earth, and through understanding he set the heavens in place.
20 By His knowledge depths have been rent, And clouds do drop dew.
It was through his knowledge the waters of the deep were broken open, and the clouds sent down the dew.
21 My son! let them not turn from thine eyes, Keep thou wisdom and thoughtfulness,
My son, hold on to good judgment and wise decisions—don't let them out of your sight,
22 And they are life to thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
for they will be life to you, and an ornament for your neck.
23 Then thou goest thy way confidently, And thy foot doth not stumble.
You will be able to walk confidently on your way, and you won't trip up.
24 If thou liest down, thou art not afraid, Yea, thou hast lain down, And sweet hath been thy sleep.
When you rest, you won't be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, And of the desolation of the wicked when it cometh.
You won't be afraid of a sudden panic, or of disasters that hit the wicked,
26 For Jehovah is at thy side, And He hath kept thy foot from capture.
for the Lord will be the one you can trust in, and he will prevent you being caught in a trap.
27 Withhold not good from its owners, When thy hand [is] toward God to do [it].
Don't hold back good from those who deserve it when it's something you have the power to do.
28 Say not thou to thy friend, 'Go, and return, and to-morrow I give,' And substance with thee.
Don't tell your neighbor, “Go away. Come back tomorrow and then I'll give it to you,” when you've already got it.
29 Devise not against thy neighbour evil, And he sitting confidently with thee.
Don't plan to harm your neighbor who lives nearby and trusts you.
30 Strive not with a man without cause, If he have not done thee evil.
Don't quarrel with anybody for no reason, when they haven't done anything to hurt you.
31 Be not envious of a man of violence, Nor fix thou on any of his ways.
Don't be jealous of violent people—don't choose to follow their example!
32 For an abomination to Jehovah [is] the perverted, And with the upright [is] His secret counsel.
For the Lord hates deceitful people, but he is a friend to those who do what is good.
33 The curse of Jehovah [is] in the house of the wicked. And the habitation of the righteous He blesseth.
The houses of the wicked are cursed by the Lord, but he blesses the homes of those who live right.
34 If the scorners He doth scorn, Yet to the humble He doth give grace.
He mocks those who mock, but he is kind to the humble.
35 Honour do the wise inherit, And fools are bearing away shame!
The wise will receive honor, but fools are held up in disgrace.
