Proverbs 3
1 My son, forget not my law, and let thy heart keep my commandments.
My son, keep my teaching in your memory, and my rules in your heart:
2 For they shall add to thee length of days, and years of life and peace.
For they will give you increase of days, years of life, and peace.
3 Let not mercy and truth leave thee, put them about thy neck, and write them in the tables of thy heart:
Let not mercy and good faith go from you; let them be hanging round your neck, recorded on your heart;
4 And thou shalt And grace and good understanding before God and men.
So you will have grace and a good name in the eyes of God and men.
5 Have confidence in the Lord with all thy heart, and lean not upon thy own prudence.
Put all your hope in God, not looking to your reason for support.
6 In all thy ways think on him, and he will direct thy steps.
In all your ways give ear to him, and he will make straight your footsteps.
7 I Be not wise in thy own conceit: fear God, and depart from evil:
Put no high value on your wisdom: let the fear of the Lord be before you, and keep yourself from evil:
8 For it shall be health to thy navel, and moistening to thy bones.
This will give strength to your flesh, and new life to your bones.
9 Honour the Lord with thy substance, and give him of the first of all thy fruits:
Give honour to the Lord with your wealth, and with the first-fruits of all your increase:
10 And thy barns shall be filled with abundance, and thy presses shall run over with wine.
So your store-houses will be full of grain, and your vessels overflowing with new wine.
11 My son, reject not the correction of the Lord: and do not faint when thou art chastised by him:
My son, do not make your heart hard against the Lord's teaching; do not be made angry by his training:
12 For whom the Lord loveth, he chastiseth: and as a father in the son he pleaseth himself.
For to those who are dear to him the Lord says sharp words, and makes the son in whom he has delight undergo pain.
13 Blessed is the man that findeth wisdom and is rich in prudence:
Happy is the man who makes discovery of wisdom, and he who gets knowledge.
14 The purchasing thereof is better than the merchandise of silver, and her fruit than the chiefest and purest gold:
For trading in it is better than trading in silver, and its profit greater than bright gold.
15 She is more precious than all riches: and all the things that are desired, are not to be compared with her.
She is of more value than jewels, and nothing for which you may have a desire is fair in comparison with her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and glory.
Long life is in her right hand, and in her left are wealth and honour.
17 Her ways are beautiful ways, and all her paths are peaceable.
Her ways are ways of delight, and all her goings are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold on her: and he that shall retain her is blessed.
She is a tree of life to all who take her in their hands, and happy is everyone who keeps her.
19 The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth, hath established the heavens by prudence.
The Lord by wisdom put in position the bases of the earth; by reason he put the heavens in their place.
20 By his wisdom the depths have broken out, and the clouds grow thick with dew.
By his knowledge the deep was parted, and dew came dropping from the skies.
21 My son, let not these things depart from thy eyes: keep the law and counsel:
My son, keep good sense, and do not let wise purpose go from your eyes.
22 And there shall be life to thy soul, and grace to thy mouth.
So they will be life for your soul, and grace for your neck.
23 Then shalt thou walk confidently in thy way, and thy foot shall not stumble:
Then you will go safely on your way, and your feet will have no cause for slipping.
24 If thou sleep, thou shalt not fear: thou shalt rest, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
When you take your rest you will have no fear, and on your bed sleep will be sweet to you.
25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, nor of the power of the wicked falling upon thee.
Have no fear of sudden danger, or of the storm which will come on evil-doers:
26 For the Lord will be at thy side, and will keep thy foot that thou be not taken.
For the Lord will be your hope, and will keep your foot from being taken in the net.
27 Do not withhold him from doing good, who is able: if thou art able, do good thyself also.
Do not keep back good from those who have a right to it, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
28 Say not to thy friend: Go, and come again: and tomorrow I will give to thee: when thou canst give at present.
Say not to your neighbour, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when you have it by you at the time.
29 Practise not evil against thy friend, when he hath confidence in thee.
Do not make evil designs against your neighbour, when he is living with you without fear.
30 Strive not against a man without cause, when he hath done thee no evil.
Do not take up a cause at law against a man for nothing, if he has done you no wrong.
31 Envy not the unjust man, and do not follow his ways:
Have no envy of the violent man, or take any of his ways as an example.
32 For every mocker is an abomination to the Lord, and his communication is with the simple.
For the wrong-hearted man is hated by the Lord, but he is a friend to the upright.
33 Want is from the Lord in the house of the wicked: but the habitations of the just shall be blessed.
The curse of the Lord is on the house of the evil-doer, but his blessing is on the tent of the upright.
34 He shall scorn the scorners, and to the meek he will give grace.
He makes sport of the men of pride, but he gives grace to the gentle-hearted.
35 The wise shall possess glory: the promotion of fools is disgrace.
The wise will have glory for their heritage, but shame will be the reward of the foolish.
