Proverbs 3

chevron_leftchevron_right

¹My son, keep my teaching in your memory, and my rules in your heart:

²For they will give you increase of days, years of life, and peace.

³Let not mercy and good faith go from you; let them be hanging round your neck, recorded on your heart;

⁴So you will have grace and a good name in the eyes of God and men.

⁵Put all your hope in God, not looking to your reason for support.

⁶In all your ways give ear to him, and he will make straight your footsteps.

⁷Put no high value on your wisdom: let the fear of the Lord be before you, and keep yourself from evil:

⁸This will give strength to your flesh, and new life to your bones.

⁹Give honour to the Lord with your wealth, and with the first-fruits of all your increase:

¹⁰So your store-houses will be full of grain, and your vessels overflowing with new wine.

¹¹My son, do not make your heart hard against the Lord's teaching; do not be made angry by his training:

¹²For to those who are dear to him the Lord says sharp words, and makes the son in whom he has delight undergo pain.

¹³Happy is the man who makes discovery of wisdom, and he who gets knowledge.

¹⁴For trading in it is better than trading in silver, and its profit greater than bright gold.

¹⁵She is of more value than jewels, and nothing for which you may have a desire is fair in comparison with her.

¹⁶Long life is in her right hand, and in her left are wealth and honour.

¹⁷Her ways are ways of delight, and all her goings are peace.

¹⁸She is a tree of life to all who take her in their hands, and happy is everyone who keeps her.

¹⁹The Lord by wisdom put in position the bases of the earth; by reason he put the heavens in their place.

²⁰By his knowledge the deep was parted, and dew came dropping from the skies.

²¹My son, keep good sense, and do not let wise purpose go from your eyes.

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

²³Then you will go safely on your way, and your feet will have no cause for slipping.

²⁴When you take your rest you will have no fear, and on your bed sleep will be sweet to you.

²⁵Have no fear of sudden danger, or of the storm which will come on evil-doers:

²⁶For the Lord will be your hope, and will keep your foot from being taken in the net.

²⁷Do not keep back good from those who have a right to it, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.

²⁸Say not to your neighbour, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when you have it by you at the time.

²⁹Do not make evil designs against your neighbour, when he is living with you without fear.

³⁰Do not take up a cause at law against a man for nothing, if he has done you no wrong.

³¹Have no envy of the violent man, or take any of his ways as an example.

³²For the wrong-hearted man is hated by the Lord, but he is a friend to the upright.

³³The curse of the Lord is on the house of the evil-doer, but his blessing is on the tent of the upright.

³⁴He makes sport of the men of pride, but he gives grace to the gentle-hearted.

³⁵The wise will have glory for their heritage, but shame will be the reward of the foolish.

Proverbs 3

¹My son, do not 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.

³Do not 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 the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

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

⁷Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

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

⁹Honor the Lord 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, do not despise the Lord's discipline, neither be weary of his reproof:

¹²for whom the Lord 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 the Lord 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.

²⁵Do not be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes:

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

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

²⁸Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you," when you have it by you.

²⁹Do not devise evil against your neighbor, seeing he dwells securely by you.

³⁰Do not strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.

³¹Do not envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways.

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

³³The Lord's curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.

³⁴Surely he is scornful to scoffers, but he gives grace to the humble.

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