Proverbs 3:1–4:27

Using Wisdom

¹My son, 

do not forget my teachings, 

and keep my commands in mind, 

²because they will bring you 

long life, good years, and peace. 

³Do not let mercy and truth leave you. 

Fasten them around your neck. 

Write them on the tablet of your heart. 

⁴Then you will find favor and much success 

in the sight of God and humanity. 

⁵Trust the Lord with all your heart, 

and do not rely on your own understanding. 

⁶In all your ways acknowledge him, 

and he will make your paths smooth.^a

⁷Do not consider yourself wise. 

Fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. 

⁸⸤Then⸥ your body will be healed, 

and your bones will have nourishment. 

⁹Honor the Lord with your wealth 

and with the first and best part of all your income.^b

¹⁰Then your barns will be full, 

and your vats will overflow with fresh wine. 

¹¹Do not reject the discipline of the Lord, my son, 

and do not resent his warning, 

¹²because the Lord warns the one he loves, 

even as a father warns a son with whom he is pleased. 

¹³Blessed is the one who finds wisdom 

and the one who obtains understanding. 

¹⁴The profit ⸤gained⸥ from ⸤wisdom⸥ is greater than 

the profit ⸤gained⸥ from silver. 

Its yield is better than fine gold. 

¹⁵⸤Wisdom⸥ is more precious than jewels, 

and all your desires cannot equal it. 

¹⁶Long life is in ⸤wisdom’s⸥ right hand. 

In ⸤wisdom’s⸥ left hand are riches and honor. 

¹⁷⸤Wisdom’s⸥ ways are pleasant ways, 

and all its paths lead to peace. 

¹⁸⸤Wisdom⸥ is a tree of life 

for those who take firm hold of it. 

Those who cling to it are blessed. 

¹⁹By Wisdom the Lord laid the foundation of the earth. 

By understanding he established the heavens. 

²⁰By his knowledge the deep waters were divided, 

and the skies dropped dew. 

²¹My son, 

do not lose sight of these things. 

Use priceless wisdom and foresight. 

²²Then they will mean life for you, 

and they will grace your neck. 

²³Then you will go safely on your way, 

and you will not hurt your foot. 

²⁴When you lie down, you will not be afraid. 

As you lie there, your sleep will be sweet. 

²⁵Do not be afraid of sudden terror 

or of the destruction of wicked people when it comes. 

²⁶The Lord will be your confidence. 

He will keep your foot from getting caught. 

²⁷Do not hold back anything good 

from those who are entitled to it 

when you have the power to do so. 

²⁸When you have the good thing with you, do not tell your neighbor, 

“Go away! 

Come back tomorrow. 

I’ll give you something then.” 

²⁹Do not plan to do something wrong to your neighbor 

while he is sitting there with you and suspecting nothing. 

³⁰Do not quarrel with a person for no reason 

if he has not harmed you. 

³¹Do not envy a violent person. 

Do not choose any of his ways. 

³²The devious person is disgusting to the Lord. 

The Lord’s intimate advice is with decent people. 

³³The Lord curses the house of wicked people, 

but he blesses the home of righteous people. 

³⁴When he mocks the mockers, 

he is gracious to humble people. 

³⁵Wise people will inherit honor, 

but fools will bear disgrace. 

4TH CHAPTER

Cherish Wisdom

¹Sons, 

listen to ⸤your⸥ father’s discipline, 

and pay attention in order to gain understanding. 

²After all, I have taught you well. 

Do not abandon my teachings. 

³When I was a boy ⸤learning⸥ from my father, 

when I was a tender and only child of my mother, 

⁴they used to teach me and say to me, 

“Cling to my words wholeheartedly. 

Obey my commands so that you may live. 

⁵Acquire wisdom. 

Acquire understanding. 

Do not forget. 

Do not turn away from the words that I have spoken. 

⁶Do not abandon wisdom, and it will watch over you. 

Love wisdom, and it will protect you. 

⁷The beginning of wisdom is to acquire wisdom. 

Acquire understanding with all that you have. 

⁸Cherish wisdom. 

It will raise you up. 

It will bring you honor when you embrace it. 

⁹It will give you a graceful garland for your head. 

It will hand you a beautiful crown.” 

Stay on the Path of Wisdom

¹⁰My son, 

listen and accept my words, 

and they will multiply the years of your life. 

¹¹I have taught you the way of wisdom. 

I have guided you along decent paths. 

¹²When you walk, your stride will not be hampered. 

Even if you run, you will not stumble. 

¹³Cling to discipline. 

Do not relax your grip on it. 

Keep it because it is your life. 

¹⁴Do not stray onto the path of wicked people. 

Do not walk in the way of evil people. 

¹⁵Avoid it. 

Do not walk near it. 

Turn away from it, 

and keep on walking. 

¹⁶Wicked people cannot sleep 

unless they do wrong, 

and they are robbed of their sleep 

unless they make someone stumble. 

¹⁷They eat food obtained through wrongdoing 

and drink wine obtained through violence. 

¹⁸But the path of righteous people is like the light of dawn 

that becomes brighter and brighter until it reaches midday. 

¹⁹The way of wicked people is like deep darkness. 

They do not know what makes them stumble. 

Stay Focused on Wisdom

²⁰My son, 

pay attention to my words. 

Open your ears to what I say. 

²¹Do not lose sight of these things. 

Keep them deep within your heart 

²²because they are life to those who find them 

and they heal the whole body. 

²³Guard your heart more than anything else, 

because the source of your life flows from it. 

²⁴Remove dishonesty from your mouth. 

Put deceptive speech far away from your lips. 

²⁵Let your eyes look straight ahead 

and your sight be focused in front of you. 

²⁶Carefully walk a straight path, 

and all your ways will be secure. 

²⁷Do not lean to the right or to the left. 

Walk away from evil.