Proverbs 3

TRUST THE LORD

3My son, don’t forget my teaching,

but let your heart keep my commands;^y

²for they will bring you

many days, a full life,^Az and well-being.^aa

³Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you.

Tie them around your neck;

write them on the tablet of your heart.^ab

⁴Then you will find favor and high regard

with God and people.^ac

⁵Trust in the Lord with all your heart,^ad

and do not rely on your own understanding;^ae

⁶in all your ways know him,

and he will make your paths straight.^af

⁷Don’t be wise in your own eyes;^ag

fear the Lord and turn away from evil.^ah

⁸This will be healing for your body^Bai

and strengthening for your bones.^aj

⁹Honor the Lord with your possessions

and with the first produce of your entire harvest;^a

¹⁰then your barns will be completely filled,

and your vats will overflow with new wine.^b

¹¹Do not despise the Lord’s instruction, my son,

and do not loathe his discipline;^c

¹²for the Lord disciplines the one he loves,

just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.^d

WISDOM BRINGS HAPPINESS

¹³Happy is a man who finds wisdom^e

and who acquires understanding,

¹⁴for she is more profitable than silver,

and her revenue is better than gold.^f

¹⁵She is more precious than jewels;^g

nothing you desire can equal her.^h

¹⁶Long life^A is in her right hand;

in her left, riches and honor.ⁱ

¹⁷Her ways are pleasant,^j

and all her paths, peaceful.

¹⁸She is a tree of life^k to those who embrace her,

and those who hold on to her are happy.

¹⁹The Lord founded the earth by wisdom^l

and established the heavens by understanding.

²⁰By his knowledge the watery depths broke open,^m

and the clouds dripped with dew.ⁿ

²¹Maintain sound wisdom and discretion.

My son, don’t lose sight of them.^o

²²They will be life for you^Bp

and adornment^C for your neck.

²³Then you will go safely on your way;

your foot will not stumble.^q

²⁴When you lie^D down, you will not be afraid;^r

you will lie down, and your sleep will be pleasant.

²⁵Don’t fear sudden danger

or the ruin of the wicked when it comes,^s

²⁶for the Lord will be your confidence^E

and will keep your foot from a snare.^t

TREAT OTHERS FAIRLY

²⁷When it is in your power,^F

don’t withhold good^u from the one to whom it belongs.

²⁸Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go away! Come back later.

I’ll give it tomorrow”—when it is there with you.^v

²⁹Don’t plan any harm against your neighbor,^w

for he trusts you and lives near you.

³⁰Don’t accuse anyone without cause,^x

when he has done you no harm.

³¹Don’t envy a violent man^y

or choose any of his ways;

³²for the devious are detestable to the Lord,

but he is a friend^A to the upright.^z

³³The Lord’s curse is on the household of the wicked,^aa

but he blesses the home of the righteous;

³⁴He mocks those who mock

but gives grace to the humble.^ab

³⁵The wise will inherit honor,

but he holds up fools to dishonor.^B