Proverbs 3
1 [My] son, forget not my laws; but let your heart keep my words:
My son, keep my teaching in your memory, and my rules in your heart:
2 for length of existence, and years of life, and peace, shall they add to you.
For they will give you increase of days, years of life, and peace.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you; but bind them about your neck:
Let not mercy and good faith go from you; let them be hanging round your neck, recorded on your heart;
4 so shall you find favor: and do you provide things honest in the sight of the Lord, and of men.
So you will have grace and a good name in the eyes of God and men.
5 Trust in God with all your heart; and be not exalted in your own wisdom.
Put all your hope in God, not looking to your reason for support.
6 In all your ways acquaint yourself with her, that she may rightly direct your paths.
In all your ways give ear to him, and he will make straight your footsteps.
7 Be not wise in your own conceit; but fear God, and depart from all evil.
Put no high value on your wisdom: let the fear of the Lord be before you, and keep yourself from evil:
8 Then shall there be health to your body, and good keeping to your bones.
This will give strength to your flesh, and new life to your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your just labors, and give him the first of your fruits of righteousness:
Give honour to the Lord with your wealth, 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 your store-houses will be full of grain, and your vessels overflowing with new wine.
11 [My] son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; nor faint when you are rebuked of 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 loves, he rebukes, and scourges every son whom he receives.
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 has found wisdom, and the mortal who knows prudence.
Happy is the man who makes discovery of wisdom, and he who gets knowledge.
14 For it is better to traffic for her, than for treasures of gold and silver.
For trading in it is better than trading in silver, and its profit greater than bright 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 of more value than jewels, and nothing for which you may have a desire is fair in comparison with 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.
Long life is in her right hand, and in her left are wealth and honour.
17 Her ways are good 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 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 all who take her in their hands, and happy is everyone who keeps her.
19 God by wisdom founded the earth, and by prudence he prepared the heavens.
The Lord by wisdom put in position the bases of the earth; by reason he put the heavens in their place.
20 By understanding were the depths broken up, and the clouds dropped water.
By his knowledge the deep was parted, and dew came dropping from the skies.
21 [My] son, let [them] not pass from [you], but keep my counsel and understanding:
My son, keep good sense, and do not let wise purpose go from your eyes.
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 they will be life for your soul, and grace for your neck.
23 that you may go confidently in peace in all your ways, and that your foot may not stumble.
Then you will go safely on your way, and your feet will have no cause for slipping.
24 For if you rest, you shall be undismayed; and if you sleep, you shall slumber sweetly.
When you take your rest you will have no fear, and on your bed sleep will be sweet to you.
25 And you shall not be afraid of alarm coming upon you, neither of approaching attacks of ungodly men.
Have no fear of sudden danger, or of the storm which will come on evil-doers:
26 For the Lord shall be over all your ways, and shall establish your foot that you be not moved.
For the Lord will be your hope, and will keep your foot from being taken in the net.
27 Forbear not to do good to the poor, whenever your hand may have [power] to help [him].
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, 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 neighbour, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when you have it by you at the time.
29 Devise not evil against your friend, living near you and trusting in you.
Do not make evil designs against your neighbour, when he is living with you without fear.
30 Be not ready to quarrel with a man without a cause, lest he do you some harm.
Do not take up a cause at law against a man for nothing, if he has done you no wrong.
31 Procure not the reproaches of bad men, neither do you covet their ways.
Have no envy of the violent man, or take any of his ways as an example.
32 For every transgressor is unclean before the Lord; neither does he sit among the righteous.
For the wrong-hearted man is hated by the Lord, but he is a friend to the upright.
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 on the house of the evil-doer, but his blessing is on the tent of the upright.
34 The Lord resists the proud; but he gives grace to the humble.
He makes sport of the men of pride, but he gives grace to the gentle-hearted.
35 The wise shall inherit glory; but the ungodly have exalted [their own] dishonor.
The wise will have glory for their heritage, but shame will be the reward of the foolish.
