Sprüche 3,8 | New International Version

Wisdom bestows well-being

1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,

2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.

3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them round your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

4 Then you will win favour and a good name in the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.*

7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.

8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.

9 Honour the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;

10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke,

12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.*

13 Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding,

14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.

15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.

16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honour.

17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.

18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.

19 By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place;

20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.

21 My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion;

22 they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck.

23 Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.

24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

25 Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,

26 for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.

27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.

28 Do not say to your neighbour, ‘Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you’ – when you already have it with you.

29 Do not plot harm against your neighbour, who lives trustfully near you.

30 Do not accuse anyone for no reason – when they have done you no harm.

31 Do not envy the violent or choose any of their ways.

32 For the Lord detests the perverse but takes the upright into his confidence.

33 The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous.

34 He mocks proud mockers but shows favour to the humble and oppressed.

35 The wise inherit honour, but fools get only shame.

Holy Bible, New International Version ® (Anglicised), NIV TM Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide. The “New International Version” is a trademark registered in the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. The “NIV”, “Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission.

English Standard Version

Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart

1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,

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

3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.

4 So you will find favor and good success* in the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

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

7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

8 It will be healing to your flesh* and refreshment* to your bones.

9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce;

10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.

11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof,

12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

Blessed Is the One Who Finds Wisdom

13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding,

14 for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold.

15 She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.

16 Long life is 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.

18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.

19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens;

20 by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew.

21 My son, do not lose sight of these— keep sound wisdom and discretion,

22 and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck.

23 Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble.

24 If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin* of the wicked, when it comes,

26 for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.

27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,* when it is in your power to do it.

28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.

29 Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you.

30 Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm.

31 Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways,

32 for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence.

33 The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous.

34 Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.*

35 The wise will inherit honor, but fools get* disgrace.

The ESV^® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^®) copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV^® Text Edition: 2016. The ESV^® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. The ESV^® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^®) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.