Proverbs 3
1 My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart guard my precepts.
My son, keep my teaching in your memory, and my rules in your heart:
2 For they shall set before you 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 abandon you: encircle them around your throat, and inscribe them on the tablets of your heart.
Let not mercy and good faith go from you; let them be hanging round your neck, recorded on your heart;
4 And so shall you discover grace and good discipline, in the sight of 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 your heart, and do not depend upon your own prudence.
Put all your hope in God, not looking to your reason for support.
6 In all your ways, consider him, and he himself will direct your steps.
In all your ways give ear to him, and he will make straight your footsteps.
7 Do not seem wise to yourself. Fear God, and withdraw from evil.
Put no high value on your wisdom: let the fear of the Lord be before you, and keep yourself from evil:
8 Certainly, it shall be health to your navel, and refreshment to your bones.
This will give strength to your flesh, and new life to your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your substance, and give to him from the first of all your fruits,
Give honour to the Lord with your wealth, and with the first-fruits of all your increase:
10 and then your storehouses will be filled with abundance, and your presses shall overflow with wine.
So your store-houses will be full of grain, and your vessels overflowing with new wine.
11 My son, do not discard the discipline of the Lord, and do not fall away when you are corrected 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 whomever the Lord loves, he corrects, and just as a father does with a son, he wins him over.
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 who finds wisdom and who advances to prudence.
Happy is the man who makes discovery of wisdom, and he who gets knowledge.
14 Her acquisition is better than trading in silver, and her fruit is better than the first 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 that can be desired cannot prevail in comparison to 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 at her right hand, and at her left hand is wealth 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 peaceful.
Her ways are ways of delight, and all her goings are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who overtake her, and he who shall take hold of 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 founded the earth on wisdom. He secured the heavens with 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 abyss erupted and the clouds increased with dew.
By his knowledge the deep was parted, and dew came dropping from the skies.
21 My son, let not these things move away from your eyes. Preserve law as well as counsel.
My son, keep good sense, and do not let wise purpose go from your eyes.
22 And so shall there be life in your soul and grace in your voice.
So they will be life for your soul, and grace for your neck.
23 Then you shall walk confidently in your way, and your feet will not stumble.
Then you will go safely on your way, and your feet will have no cause for slipping.
24 When you slumber, you shall not fear. When you rest, your sleep also will be sweet.
When you take your rest you will have no fear, and on your bed sleep will be sweet to you.
25 Do not fear unexpected terror, nor the power of the impious falling upon you.
Have no fear of sudden danger, or of the storm which will come on evil-doers:
26 For the Lord will be at your side, and he will guard your feet, so that you may not be seized.
For the Lord will be your hope, and will keep your foot from being taken in the net.
27 Do not prevent him who is able from doing good. When you are able, do good yourself too.
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 Do not say to your friend: “Go away, and then return. Tomorrow I will give to you.” When you are able to do so, give in the 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 Do not undertake evil against your friend, even though he has trust in you.
Do not make evil designs against your neighbour, when he is living with you without fear.
30 Do not contend against a man without cause, even though he has done no evil to you.
Do not take up a cause at law against a man for nothing, if he has done you no wrong.
31 Do not rival an unjust man, and do not imitate his ways.
Have no envy of the violent man, or take any of his ways as an example.
32 For everyone who ridicules is an abomination to the Lord, and his communication is for the simple.
For the wrong-hearted man is hated by the Lord, but he is a friend to the upright.
33 Destitution in the house of the impious is from the Lord. 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 will ridicule those who ridicule, but he will bestow grace upon the mild.
He makes sport of the men of pride, but he gives grace to the gentle-hearted.
35 The wise will possess glory. The exaltation of the foolish is disgraceful.
The wise will have glory for their heritage, but shame will be the reward of the foolish.
