Proverbs 3
1 [My] son, forget not my laws; but let your heart keep my words:
My son, forget not my law; but let your heart keep my commandments:
2 for length of existence, and years of life, and peace, shall they add to you.
For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to you.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you; but bind them about your neck:
Let not mercy and truth forsake you: bind them about your neck; write them on the table of your heart:
4 so shall you find favour: and do you provide things honest in the sight of the Lord, and of men.
So shall you find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in God with all your heart; and be not exalted in your own wisdom.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not to your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acquaint yourself with her, that she may rightly direct your paths.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own conceit; but fear God, and depart from all evil.
Be not wise in your own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8 Then shall there be health to your body, and good keeping to your bones.
It shall be health to your navel, and marrow to your bones.
9 Honour the Lord with your just labours, and give him the first of your fruits of righteousness:
Honor the LORD with your substance, and with the first fruits of all your increase:
10 that your storehouses may be completely filled with corn, and that your presses may burst forth with wine.
So shall your barns be filled with plenty, and your presses shall burst out with new wine.
11 [My] son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; nor faint when you are rebuked of him:
My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
12 for whom the Lord loves, he rebukes, and scourges every son whom he receives.
For whom the LORD loves he corrects; even as a father the son in whom he delights.
13 Blessed is the man who has found wisdom, and the mortal who knows prudence.
Happy is the man that finds wisdom, and the man that gets understanding.
14 For it is better to traffic for her, than for treasures of gold and silver.
For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
15 And she is more valuable than precious stones: no evil thing shall resist her: she is well known to all that approach her, and no precious thing is equal to her in value.
She is more precious than rubies: and all the things you can desire are not to be compared to her.
16 For length of existence and years of life are in her right hand; and in her left hand are wealth and glory: out of her mouth proceeds righteousness, and she carries law and mercy upon her tongue.
Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honor.
17 Her ways are good ways, and all her paths are peaceful.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to all that lay hold upon her; and she is [a] secure [help] to all that stay themselves on her, as on the Lord.
She is a tree of life to them that lay hold on her: and happy is every one that retains her.
19 God by wisdom founded the earth, and by prudence he prepared the heavens.
The LORD by wisdom has founded the earth; by understanding has he established the heavens.
20 By understanding were the depths broken up, and the clouds dropped water.
By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
21 [My] son, let [them] not pass from [you], but keep my counsel and understanding:
My son, let not them depart from your eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22 that your soul may live, and that there may be grace round your neck; and it shall be health to your flesh, and safety to your bones:
So shall they be life to your soul, and grace to your neck.
23 that you may go confidently in peace in all your ways, and that your foot may not stumble.
Then shall you walk in your way safely, and your foot shall not stumble.
24 For if you rest, you shall be undismayed; and if you sleep, you shall slumber sweetly.
When you lie down, you shall not be afraid: yes, you shall lie down, and your sleep shall be sweet.
25 And you shall not be afraid of alarm coming upon you, neither of approaching attacks of ungodly men.
Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes.
26 For the Lord shall be over all your ways, and shall establish your foot that you be not moved.
For the LORD shall be your confidence, and shall keep your foot from being taken.
27 Forbear not to do good to the poor, whenever your hand may have [power] to help [him].
Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
28 Say not, Come back another time, to-morrow I will give; while you are able to do [him] good: for you know not what the next day will bring forth.
Say not to your neighbor, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when you have it by you.
29 Devise not evil against your friend, living near you and trusting in you.
Devise not evil against your neighbor, seeing he dwells securely by you.
30 Be not ready to quarrel with a man without a cause, lest he do you some harm.
Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done you no harm.
31 Procure not the reproaches of bad men, neither do you covet their ways.
Envy you not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
32 For every transgressor is unclean before the Lord; neither does he sit amongst the righteous.
For the fraudulent is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.
33 The curse of God is in the houses of the ungodly; but the habitations of the just are blessed.
The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesses the habitation of the just.
34 The Lord resists the proud; but he gives grace to the humble.
Surely he scorns the scorners: but he gives grace to the lowly.
35 The wise shall inherit glory; but the ungodly have exalted [their own] dishonour.
The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
