Proverbs 3:1-35
3 My son, do not forget my teaching,*And may your heart observe my commandments,
2 Because they will add many daysAnd years of life and peace to you.+
3 Do not let loyal love and faithfulness* leave you.+
Tie them around your neck;Write them on the tablet of your heart;+
4 Then you will find favor and good insightIn the eyes of God and man.+
5 Trust in Jehovah+ with all your heart,And do not rely* on your own understanding.+
6 In all your ways take notice of him,+And he will make your paths straight.+
7 Do not become wise in your own eyes.+
Fear Jehovah and turn away from bad.
8 It will be a healing to your body*And refreshment for your bones.
9 Honor Jehovah with your valuable things,+With the firstfruits* of all your produce;*+
10 Then your storehouses will be completely filled,+And your vats* will overflow with new wine.
11 My son, do not reject the discipline of Jehovah,+And do not loathe his reproof,+
12 For those whom Jehovah loves he reproves,+Just as a father does a son in whom he delights.+
13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom+And the man who acquires discernment;
14 To gain it is better than gaining silver,And having it as profit is better than having gold.+
15 It is more precious than corals;*Nothing you desire can compare to it.
16 Long life is in its right hand;Riches and glory are in its left hand.
17 Its ways are pleasant,And all its paths are peaceful.+
18 It is a tree of life to those who take hold of it,And those who keep firm hold of it will be called happy.+
19 Jehovah founded the earth in wisdom.+
He solidly established the heavens in discernment.+
20 By his knowledge the watery deeps were split apartAnd the cloudy skies dripped with dew.+
21 My son, do not lose sight of them.*
Safeguard practical wisdom and thinking ability;
22 They will give you* lifeAnd be an adornment for your neck;
23 Then you will walk on your way in safety,And your foot will never stumble.*+
24 When you lie down, you will have no fear;+You will lie down, and your sleep will be pleasant.+
25 You will not fear any sudden terror+Nor the storm that is coming on the wicked.+
26 For Jehovah will prove to be your source of confidence;+He will keep your foot from being caught.+
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom you should give it*+If it is within your power* to help.+
28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go away; come back later! I will give it to you tomorrow,”
If you can give it now.
29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor+When he lives in a sense of security with you.
30 Do not quarrel with a man for no reason+If he has done nothing bad to you.+
31 Do not envy the violent man+Nor choose any of his ways,
32 For Jehovah detests a devious person,+But His close friendship is with the upright.+
33 The curse of Jehovah is on the house of the wicked one,+But he blesses the home of the righteous.+
34 For he mocks those who ridicule,+But he shows favor to the meek.+
35 The wise will inherit honor,But the stupid ones glorify dishonor.+
Footnotes
^ Or “law.”
^ Or “truth.”
^ Lit., “lean.”
^ Lit., “navel.”
^ Or “income.”
^ Or “very best.”
^ Or “winepresses.”
^ Evidently referring to God’s qualities mentioned in the previous verses.
^ Or “your soul.”
^ Or “strike against anything.”
^ Or “within the power of your hand.”
^ Or “to whom it is owing.”
