Proverbs 3:13–35

¹³Happy is the person who finds wisdom,

the one who gets understanding.

¹⁴Wisdom is worth more than silver;

it brings more profit than gold.

¹⁵Wisdom is more precious than rubies;

nothing you could want is equal to it.

¹⁶With her right hand wisdom offers you a long life,

and with her left hand she gives you riches and honor.

¹⁷Wisdom will make your life pleasant

and will bring you peace.

¹⁸As a tree produces fruit, wisdom gives life to those who use it,

and everyone who uses it will be happy.

¹⁹The Lord made the earth, using his wisdom.

He set the sky in place, using his understanding.

²⁰With his knowledge, he made springs flow into rivers

and the clouds drop rain on the earth.

²¹My child, hold on to wisdom and good sense.

Don’t let them out of your sight.

²²They will give you life

and beauty like a necklace around your neck.

²³Then you will go your way in safety,

and you will not get hurt.

²⁴When you lie down, you won’t be afraid;

when you lie down, you will sleep in peace.

²⁵You won’t be afraid of sudden trouble;

you won’t fear the ruin that comes to the wicked,

²⁶because the Lord will keep you safe.

He will keep you from being trapped.

²⁷Whenever you are able,

do good to people who need help.

²⁸If you have what your neighbor asks for,

don’t say, “Come back later.

I will give it to you tomorrow.”

²⁹Don’t make plans to hurt your neighbor

who lives nearby and trusts you.

³⁰Don’t accuse a person for no good reason;

don’t accuse someone who has not harmed you.

³¹Don’t be jealous of those who use violence,

and don’t choose to be like them.

³²The Lord hates those who do wrong,

but he is a friend to those who are honest.

³³The Lord will curse the evil person’s house,

but he will bless the home of those who do right.

³⁴The Lord laughs at those who laugh at him,

but he gives grace to those who are not proud.

³⁵Wise people will receive honor,

but fools will be disgraced.