Proverbs 3
1 My son, forget not my law; but let thy heart keep my commandments:
My son, do not forget my commands and keep my teachings in your heart,
2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thy heart:
Do not let covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness ever leave you, tie them together about your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
Then you will find favor and a good reputation in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all thy heart; and lean not to thy own understanding.
Trust in Yahweh with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding;
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.
7 Be not wise in thy own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear Yahweh and turn away from evil.
8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment for your body.
9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thy increase:
Honor Yahweh with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce,
10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
and your storehouses will be filled up and your vats will be bursting, full of new wine.
11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
My son, do not despise Yahweh's instruction and do not hate his rebuke,
12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
for Yahweh disciplines those he loves, as a father deals with a son who pleases him.
13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
The one who finds wisdom is blessed; he also gets understanding.
14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain of it than fine gold.
What you gain from wisdom is better than what silver will give in return and its profit is better than gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared to her.
Wisdom is more precious than jewels and nothing you desire can compare to her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
She has length of days in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
Her ways are ways of kindness and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
She is a tree of life to those who take hold of it, those who hold on to it are happy.
19 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
By wisdom Yahweh founded the earth, by understanding he established the heavens.
20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
By his knowledge the depths broke open and the clouds dropped their dew.
21 My son, let not them depart from thy eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
My son, keep sound judgment and discernment, and do not lose sight of them.
22 So shall they be life to thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
They will be life to your soul and an adornment of favor to wear around your neck.
23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
Then you will walk on your way in safety and your foot will not stumble;
24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: but, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
Do not be afraid of sudden terror or devastation caused by the wicked, when it comes,
26 For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
for Yahweh will be on your side and will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.
27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thy hand to do it.
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.
28 Say not to thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.
Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give it,” when you have the money with you.
29 Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
Do not make a plan to harm your neighbor— the one who lives close and trusts you.
30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he hath done thee no harm.
Do not argue with a person without a reason, when he has done nothing to harm you.
31 Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
Do not envy a violent person or choose any of his ways.
32 For the perverse man is an abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.
For the devious person is detestable to Yahweh, but he brings the upright person into his confidence.
33 The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.
The curse of Yahweh is on the house of the wicked person, but he blesses the home of righteous people.
34 Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace to the lowly.
He mocks mockers, but he gives his favor to humble people.
35 The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
Wise people inherit honor, but fools will be lifted up in their shame.
