Proverbs — Chapter 3

1My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

2For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

3Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

4So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

7Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

8It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

9Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

10So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

11My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:

12For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

13Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

14For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

15She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

16Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

17Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

18She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

19The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

20By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

21My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:

22So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

23Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.

24When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

25Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.

26For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

27Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

28Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.

29Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.

30Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

31Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.

32For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.

33The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.

34Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.

35The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

1My son, forget not my law; But let thy heart keep my commandments:

2For length of days, and years of life, And peace, will they add to thee.

3Let not kindness and truth forsake thee: Bind them about thy neck; Write them upon the tablet of thy heart:

4So shalt thou find favor and good understanding In the sight of God and man.

5Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, And lean not upon thine own understanding:

6In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he will direct thy paths.

7Be not wise in thine own eyes; Fear Jehovah, and depart from evil:

8It will be health to thy navel, And marrow to thy bones.

9Honor Jehovah with thy substance, And with the first-fruits of all thine increase:

10So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, And thy vats shall overflow with new wine.

11My son, despise not the chastening of Jehovah; Neither be weary of his reproof:

12For whom Jehovah loveth he reproveth; Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

13Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, And the man that getteth understanding.

14For the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver, And the profit thereof than fine gold.

15She is more precious than rubies: And none of the things thou canst desire are to be compared unto her.

16Length of days is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor.

17Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace.

18She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: And happy is every one that retaineth her.

19Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding he established the heavens.

20By his knowledge the depths were broken up, And the skies drop down the dew.

21My son, let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep sound wisdom and discretion:

22So shall they be life unto thy soul, And grace to thy neck.

23Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, And thy foot shall not stumble.

24When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: Yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

25Be not afraid of sudden fear, Neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh:

26For Jehovah will be thy confidence, And will keep thy foot from being taken.

27Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, When it is in the power of thy hand to do it.

28Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and come again, And to-morrow I will give; When thou hast it by thee.

29Devise not evil against thy neighbor, Seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.

30Strive not with a man without cause, If he have done thee no harm.

31Envy thou not the man of violence, And choose none of his ways.

32For the perverse is an abomination to Jehovah; But his friendship is with the upright.

33The curse of Jehovah is in the house of the wicked; But he blesseth the habitation of the righteous.

34Surely he scoffeth at the scoffers; But he giveth grace unto the lowly.

35The wise shall inherit glory; But shame shall be the promotion of fools.

1My child, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,

2for they will provide a long and full life and well-being for you.

3Do not let mercy and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

4Then you will find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and people.

5Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.

6Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight.

7Do not be wise in your own estimation; fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

8This will bring healing to your body and refreshment to your inner self.

9Honor the Lord from your wealth and from the firstfruits of all your crops;

10then your barns will be filled completely, and your vats will overflow with new wine.

11My child, do not despise discipline from the Lord, and do not loathe his rebuke.

12For the Lord disciplines those he loves, just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.

13Blessed is the one who has found wisdom and the one who obtains understanding.

14For her benefit is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than gold.

15She is more precious than rubies, and none of the things you desire can compare with her.

16Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.

17Her ways are very pleasant, and all her paths are peaceful.

18She is like a tree of life to those who grasp onto her, and everyone who takes hold of her will be blessed.

19By wisdom the Lord laid the foundation of the earth; he established the heavens by understanding.

20By his knowledge the primordial sea was broken open, so that the clouds drip down dew.

21My child, do not let them escape from your sight; safeguard sound wisdom and discretion.

22So they will become life for your soul and grace around your neck.

23Then you will walk on your way with security, and you will not stumble.

24When you lie down you will not be filled with fear; when you lie down your sleep will be pleasant.

25Do not be afraid of sudden disaster or when destruction overtakes the wicked;

26for the Lord will be the source of your confidence, and he will guard your foot from being caught in a trap.

27Do not withhold good from those who need it when you have the ability to help.

28Do not say to your neighbor, “Go! Return tomorrow and I will give it,” when you have it with you at the time.

29Do not plot evil against your neighbor when he dwells by you unsuspectingly.

30Do not accuse anyone without legitimate cause if he has not treated you wrongly.

31Do not envy a violent man, and do not choose any of his ways;

32for one who goes astray is an abomination to the Lord, but he reveals his intimate counsel to the upright.

33The Lord’s curse is on the household of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous.

34With arrogant scoffers he is scornful, yet he shows favor to the humble.

35The wise inherit honor, but he holds fools up to public contempt.

1My son, don’t forget my teaching; but let your heart keep my commandments:

2for length of days, and years of life, and peace, will they add to you.

3Don’t let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.

4So you will find favor, and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

5Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding.

6In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

7Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Fear Yahweh, and depart from evil.

8It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.

9Honor Yahweh with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase:

10so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.

11My son, don’t despise Yahweh’s discipline, neither be weary of his reproof:

12for whom Yahweh loves, he reproves; even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.

13Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding.

14For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold.

15She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her.

16Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor.

17Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace.

18She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her.

19By wisdom Yahweh founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens.

20By his knowledge, the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.

21My son, let them not depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion:

22so they will be life to your soul, and grace for your neck.

23Then you shall walk in your way securely. Your foot won’t stumble.

24When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.

25Don’t be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes:

26for Yahweh will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being taken.

27Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.

28Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you,” when you have it by you.

29Don’t devise evil against your neighbor, since he dwells securely by you.

30Don’t strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.

31Don’t envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways.

32For the perverse is an abomination to Yahweh, but his friendship is with the upright.

33Yahweh’s curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.

34Surely he mocks the mockers, but he gives grace to the humble.

35The wise will inherit glory, but shame will be the promotion of fools.