Proverbs 3

1 My son, do not forget what I have taught you. Keep my commands in your inner being,

My son, don’t forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,

2 because [if you obey them] you will live a long time and things will go well for you

for they will add to you length of days, years of life, and peace.

3 Always faithfully love others and (be faithful/do what you say that you will do); doing those things [will cause others to be pleased with you]; it will be as though you are wearing a beautiful necklace. Keep those things in your mind/inner being.

Don’t let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.

4 If you do, God and people will approve of you and think highly of you [MTY].

So you will find favor, and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in Yahweh completely, and do not rely on what you yourself understand.

Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding.

6 Always allow him to lead you. If you do that, he will (show you the right path/direct your life).

In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

7 Do not be proud of being wise. [Instead], revere Yahweh and turn away from doing evil.

Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Fear Yahweh, and depart from evil.

8 If you do that, your body will be healthy/strong; it will be [like] medicine for you.

It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.

9 Honor Yahweh by [what you do with] your money; and [by giving him] the first part of your harvest.

Honor Yahweh with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase;

10 If you do that, [you will have a good harvest]. Yahweh will fill your barns [with grain], and your vats/containers will be overflowing with [grape juice for making] wine.

so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.

11 My son, when Yahweh disciplines/corrects you, do not despise it, and if he rebukes you, do not resent it.

My son, don’t despise Yahweh’s discipline, neither be weary of his correction;

12 [I say that] because it is the people whom Yahweh loves that he corrects/reproves, [just] like parents correct/reprove their sons whom they love.

for whom Yahweh loves, he corrects, even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.

13 [Yahweh] is pleased with those who become wise and have good understanding.

Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding.

14 Being wise and having good understanding is worth more than silver, better than gold.

For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold.

15 Being wise is more precious than (jewels/precious stones); there is nothing that you could desire [that would be as valuable] as wisdom.

She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her.

16 On the one hand, wisdom [PRS] enables [you] to live a long life, and on the other hand, wisdom enables [you] to become rich and to be honored.

Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor.

17 If [you] are wise, [your] life will be pleasant, and things will go well [for you].

Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace.

18 Wisdom is [like] a tree that gives long life to those who [eagerly] take hold of it, and [Yahweh] is pleased with those who hold onto it tightly.

She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her.

19 By his wisdom Yahweh created the earth, and by his understanding he put everything in the skies.

By wisdom Yahweh founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens.

20 By his knowledge [he caused] the water that was beneath the earth to burst forth, and he caused rain to fall from the clouds.

By his knowledge, the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.

21 My son, [always] keep doing things that are right and things that are smart. If you do that,

My son, let them not depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion,

22 you will live [many years] and be honored and respected {people will honor and respect you}.

so they will be life to your soul, and grace for your neck.

23 If you do what is right and wise, you will [be able to] walk safely, and you will not (stumble/do things that are wrong) [MET].

Then you shall walk in your way securely. Your foot won’t stumble.

24 You will [be able to] lie down [at night] and not be afraid [of anything], and you will sleep peacefully.

When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.

25 You will not be afraid that something disastrous will happen to you or that storms that strike the wicked will strike you,

Don’t be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes;

26 because you will be confident that Yahweh [will take care of you]. He will not let your foot be caught in a trap/snare.

for Yahweh will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being taken.

27 If you are able to help people who deserve it, do not refuse to help them.

Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.

28 If you are able to help someone you interact with, do not say, “Come back later; [perhaps] I can help you tomorrow.”

Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you,” when you have it by you.

29 Do not make plans to harm those you interact with regularly, [because] they live near you, and they trust you.

Don’t devise evil against your neighbor, since he dwells securely by you.

30 If someone has not harmed you, do not accuse him [by saying that he has harmed you].

Don’t strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.

31 Do not envy people who [obtain things by] violent actions, and do not imitate/do what they do.

Don’t envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways.

32 [I say that] because Yahweh considers such people to be abominable/detestable; but he is a friend to [all] those who do what is right.

For the perverse is an abomination to Yahweh, but his friendship is with the upright.

33 Yahweh curses the families [MTY] of those who are wicked, but he blesses the families of those who are good/righteous.

Yahweh’s curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.

34 Yahweh makes fun of those who make fun [of others], but he kindly helps those who are humble.

Surely he mocks the mockers, but he gives grace to the humble.

35 Wise [people] will be honored {people will honor wise people}, but foolish people will be dishonored/disgraced.

The wise will inherit glory, but shame will be the promotion of fools.