1My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, (De 8:1; De 30:16; De 30:20; Pr 1:8)2for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. (Ps 91:16; Ps 119:165; Pr 1:33; Pr 3:16; Pr 4:10; Pr 9:11; Pr 10:27)3Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. (Ps 85:10; Pr 1:9; Pr 6:21; Pr 7:3; Pr 20:28; Isa 59:14; Jer 17:1; 2Co 3:3)4So you will find favor and good success[1] in the sight of God and man. (1Sa 2:26; Ps 111:10; Lu 2:52; Ro 14:18)5Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. (Ps 37:3; Ps 37:5; Jer 9:23)6In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (1Ch 28:9; Ps 73:24)7Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. (Job 1:1; Job 28:28; Pr 12:15; Ro 12:16)8It will be healing to your flesh[2] and refreshment[3] to your bones. (Job 21:24; Pr 4:22)9Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; (Ex 23:19; Ex 34:26; De 26:2)10then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. (De 28:8)11My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, (Job 5:17; Heb 12:5)12for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. (De 8:5; 1Co 11:32)
Blessed Is the One Who Finds Wisdom
13Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, (Pr 8:34)14for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. (Job 28:15; Ps 19:10; Pr 8:10; Pr 8:19; Pr 16:16)15She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. (Job 28:18; Pr 8:11)16Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. (Pr 3:2; Pr 8:18; Pr 22:4)17Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. (Mt 11:29)18She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed. (Ge 2:9; Ge 3:22; Pr 4:13; Pr 11:30; Pr 13:12; Pr 15:4; Re 2:7; Re 22:2)19The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; (Ps 104:5; Ps 104:24; Ps 136:5; Pr 8:27)20by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew. (Ge 7:11; Job 36:28; Job 38:8)21My son, do not lose sight of these— keep sound wisdom and discretion, (Pr 4:21)22and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. (Pr 1:9; Pr 4:22)23Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble. (Ps 91:11; Ps 91:12; Pr 4:12; Pr 10:9; Pr 28:18)24If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. (Job 11:19; Ps 3:5; Ps 4:8; Pr 6:22; Jer 31:26)25Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin[4] of the wicked, when it comes, (Job 5:21; Ps 91:5; 1Pe 3:14)26for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught. (1Sa 2:9)27Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,[5] when it is in your power to do it. (Ga 6:10)28Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you. (Le 19:13; De 24:15)29Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you. (Jud 18:7; Jud 18:27; Pr 6:14; Pr 12:20; Pr 14:22)30Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm. (Ro 12:18)31Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways, (Ps 18:48; Ps 37:1; Ps 140:1)32for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence. (Job 29:4; Pr 2:15)33The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous. (Le 26:14; Job 8:6; Ps 37:22; Zec 5:4; Mal 2:2)34Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.[6] (Ps 1:1; Ps 138:6; Jas 4:6; 1Pe 5:5)35The wise will inherit honor, but fools get[7] disgrace.
1My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,2for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.3Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them round your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.4Then you will win favour and a good name in the sight of God and man.5Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;6in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.[1]7Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.8This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.9Honour the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;10then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.11My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke,12because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.[2]13Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding,14for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.15She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.16Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honour.17Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.18She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.19By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place;20by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.21My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion;22they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck.23Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.24When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.25Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,26for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.27Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.28Do not say to your neighbour, ‘Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you’ – when you already have it with you.29Do not plot harm against your neighbour, who lives trustfully near you.30Do not accuse anyone for no reason – when they have done you no harm.31Do not envy the violent or choose any of their ways.32For the Lord detests the perverse but takes the upright into his confidence.33The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous.34He mocks proud mockers but shows favour to the humble and oppressed.35The wise inherit honour, but fools get only shame.
Proverbs 3
King James Version
1My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:2For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.3Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:4So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.7Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.8It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.9Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:10So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.11My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:12For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.13Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.14For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.15She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.16Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.17Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.18She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.19The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.20By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.21My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:22So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.23Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.24When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.25Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.26For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.27Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it .28Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.29Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.30Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.31Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.32For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.33The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.34Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.35The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
1My son, do not forget my teaching. Keep my commands in your heart.2They will help you live for many years. They will bring you peace and success.3Don’t let love and truth ever leave you. Tie them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.4Then you will find favour and a good name in the eyes of God and people.5Trust in the LORD with all your heart. Do not depend on your own understanding.6In all your ways obey him. Then he will make your paths smooth and straight.7Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Have respect for the LORD and avoid evil.8That will bring health to your body. It will make your bones strong.9Honour the LORD with your wealth. Give him the first share of all your crops.10Then your storerooms will be so full they can’t hold everything. Your huge jars will spill over with fresh wine.11My son, do not hate the LORD’s training. Do not object when he corrects you.12The LORD trains those he loves. He is like a father who trains the son he is pleased with.13Blessed is the one who finds wisdom. Blessed is the one who gains understanding.14Wisdom pays better than silver does. She earns more than gold does.15She is worth more than rubies. Nothing you want can compare with her.16Long life is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honour.17Her ways are pleasant ways. All her paths lead to peace.18She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her. Those who hold her close will be blessed.19By wisdom the LORD laid the earth’s foundations. Through understanding he set the heavens in place.20By his knowledge the seas were separated, and the clouds dropped their dew.21My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight. Hold on to good sense and the understanding of what is right.22They will be life for you. They will be like a gracious necklace around your neck.23Then you will go on your way in safety. You will not trip and fall.24When you lie down, you won’t be afraid. When you lie down, you will sleep soundly.25Don’t be terrified by sudden trouble. Don’t be afraid when sinners are destroyed.26The LORD will be at your side. He will keep your feet from being caught in a trap.27Don’t hold back good from those who are worthy of it. Don’t hold it back when you can help.28Suppose you already have something to give. Don’t say to your neighbour, ‘Come back tomorrow. I’ll give it to you then.’29Don’t plan to harm your neighbour. He lives near you and trusts you.30Don’t bring charges against anyone for no reason. They have not harmed you.31Don’t be jealous of a person who hurts others. Don’t choose any of their ways.32The LORD really hates sinful people. But he makes honest people his closest friends.33The LORD puts a curse on the houses of sinners. But he blesses the homes of those who do what is right.34He makes fun of proud people who make fun of others. But he gives grace to those who are humble and treated badly.35Wise people receive honour. But foolish people get only shame.