Proverbs 3
1 My son, mine instruction, do not thou forget, and, my commandment, let thy heart observe;
My son, don't forget my instructions. Always keep my commands in mind.
2 For, length of days and years of life, and blessedness, shall they add to thee.
Then you will live a long time, and have a full life.
3 Lovingkindness and faithfulness, let them not forsake thee, —bind them, upon thy neck, write them upon the tablet of thy heart:
Hold on to kindness and truth. Tie them around your neck; write them in your mind.
4 So find thou favour and good repute, in the eyes of God and man.
That way you'll gain a good reputation and be appreciated by both God and people.
5 Trust thou in Yahweh, with all thy heart, and, unto thine own understanding, do not lean:
Put your trust totally in the Lord—don't rely on what you think you know!
6 In all thy ways, acknowledge him, and, he, will make straight thy paths.
Remember him in everything you do, and he'll show you the right way.
7 Do not become wise in thine own eyes, revere Yahweh, and avoid evil:
Don't think you're wise—respect God and avoid evil.
8 Healing, shall it be to thy body, and refreshing, to thy bones.
Then you will have healed and be made strong.
9 Honour thou Yahweh, with thy substance, and with the firstfruit of all thine increase;
Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all the crops you grow.
10 So shall thy storehouses be filled with plenty, and, with new wine, shall thy vats overflow.
Then your barns will be filled with produce, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 The, chastening of Yahweh, my son, do not reject, nor loathe his rebuke;
My son, don't reject the Lord's discipline or resent it when he corrects you,
12 For, whom Yahweh loveth, he correcteth, he causeth pain to the son in whom he delighteth.
for the Lord corrects those he loves, as a father corrects a son who pleases him.
13 How happy the man who hath found wisdom, and the man who draweth forth understanding,
Happy are those who find wisdom and gain understanding,
14 For better is her merchandise, than the merchandise of silver, yea, than gold, her increase;
for wisdom is worth more than silver, and pays better than gold.
15 More precious, is she, than corals, yea, none of thy delightful things, doth equal her:
She is more valuable than rubies—everything you could ever want just doesn't compare!
16 Length of days, is in her right hand, in her left, are riches and honour;
She offers long life in one hand, and riches and honor in the other.
17 Her ways, are ways of pleasantness, and, all her paths, are peace;
She brings true happiness, and leads to peaceful prosperity.
18 A tree of life, is she, to them who secure her, —and, they who hold her fast, are every one to be pronounced happy.
Wisdom is a tree of life to everyone who embraces her, blessing those who accept her.
19 Yahweh, in wisdom, founded the earth, establishing the heavens with understanding;
It was through wisdom that the Lord created the earth, and through understanding he set the heavens in place.
20 By his knowledge, the resounding deeps were burst open, and, the skies, drop down dew.
It was through his knowledge the waters of the deep were broken open, and the clouds sent down the dew.
21 My son, let them not depart from thine eyes, guard thou counsel, and purpose:
My son, hold on to good judgment and wise decisions—don't let them out of your sight,
22 So shall they become life to thy soul, and an adorning to thy neck;
for they will be life to you, and an ornament for your neck.
23 Then, shalt thou walk securely in thy way, and, thy foot, shall not stumble;
You will be able to walk confidently on your way, and you won't trip up.
24 When thou sittest down, thou shalt have no dread, yea thou shalt lie down, and sweet shall be thy sleep.
When you rest, you won't be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Be not thou afraid of sudden dread, nor of the desolation of the lawless, when it cometh.
You won't be afraid of a sudden panic, or of disasters that hit the wicked,
26 For, Yahweh, will be in all thy ways, and will keep thy foot from the snare.
for the Lord will be the one you can trust in, and he will prevent you being caught in a trap.
27 Withhold not good from them who ask it, when it is in power of thy hand to do it:
Don't hold back good from those who deserve it when it's something you have the power to do.
28 Do not say to thy neighbour, Go and come again, and to-morrow I will give, when thou hast it by thee.
Don't tell your neighbor, “Go away. Come back tomorrow and then I'll give it to you,” when you've already got it.
29 Devise not against thy neighbour an injury, seeing that, he, dwelleth securely by thee.
Don't plan to harm your neighbor who lives nearby and trusts you.
30 Contend not with a man without cause, if he hath dealt thee no wrong.
Don't quarrel with anybody for no reason, when they haven't done anything to hurt you.
31 Do not thou envy the man of violence, neither choose thou any of his ways;
Don't be jealous of violent people—don't choose to follow their example!
32 For, an abomination to Yahweh, is the tortuous man, but, with the upright, he is intimate.
For the Lord hates deceitful people, but he is a friend to those who do what is good.
33 The curse of Yahweh, is in the house of the lawless one, but, the home of the righteous, he blesseth.
The houses of the wicked are cursed by the Lord, but he blesses the homes of those who live right.
34 Though at scoffers he scoffeth, yet, to the humbled, he granteth favour.
He mocks those who mock, but he is kind to the humble.
35 Honour, shall the wise inherit, —but, as for dullards, shame shall carry them away.
The wise will receive honor, but fools are held up in disgrace.
