Proverbs 3–4

More Good Things Come From Wisdom

3My son, do not forget my teaching.

Keep my commands in your heart.

²They will help you live for many years.

They will bring you 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 favor 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 remember 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.

⁹Honor 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 honor.

¹⁷Her ways are pleasant ways.

All her paths lead to peace.

¹⁸She is a tree of life to those who hold her close.

Those who hold on to her 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, hold on to good sense and the understanding of what is right.

Don’t let them out of your sight.

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 is the one you will trust in.

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 have something to give.

Don’t say to your neighbor,

“Come back later.

I’ll give it to you tomorrow.”

²⁹Don’t plan to harm your neighbor.

He lives near you and trusts you.

³⁰Don’t bring charges against a man without any reason.

He has not harmed you.

³¹Don’t be jealous of a man who hurts others.

Don’t choose any of his 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 laughs at proud people who make fun of others.

But he gives grace to those who are not proud.

³⁵Wise people receive honor.

But the Lord puts foolish people to shame.

Wisdom Is Best

4My children, listen to a father’s teaching.

Pay attention and gain understanding.

²I give you good advice.

So don’t turn away from what I teach you.

³I was once a young boy in my father’s house.

I was my mother’s only child.

⁴My father taught me.

He said, “Hold on to my words with all your heart.

Keep my commands. Then you will live.

⁵Get wisdom. Get understanding.

Don’t forget my words. Don’t turn away from them.

⁶Stay close to wisdom, and she will keep you safe.

Love her, and she will watch over you.

⁷Wisdom is best. So get wisdom.

No matter what it costs, get understanding.

⁸Value wisdom, and she will lift you up.

Hold her close, and she will honor you.

⁹She will set a beautiful crown on your head.

She will give you a glorious crown.”

¹⁰My son, listen. Accept what I say.

Then you will live for many years.

¹¹I guide you in the way of wisdom.

I lead you along straight paths.

¹²When you walk, nothing will slow you down.

When you run, you won’t trip and fall.

¹³Hold on to my teaching. Don’t let it go.

Guard it well. It is your life.

¹⁴Don’t take the path of evil people.

Don’t live the way sinners do.

¹⁵Stay away from their path. Don’t travel on it.

Turn away from it. Go on your way.

¹⁶Sinners can’t sleep until they do what is evil.

They can’t rest until they make someone fall.

¹⁷They do evil just as easily as they eat food.

They hurt others as easily as they drink wine.

¹⁸The path of those who do what is right is like the first gleam of dawn.

It shines brighter and brighter until the full light of day.

¹⁹But the way of those who do what is wrong is like deep darkness.

They don’t know what makes them trip and fall.

²⁰My son, pay attention to what I say.

Listen closely to my words.

²¹Don’t let them out of your sight.

Keep them in your heart.

²²They are life to those who find them.

They are health to your whole body.

²³Above everything else, guard your heart.

It is where your life comes from.

²⁴Don’t speak with twisted words.

Keep evil talk away from your lips.

²⁵Let your eyes look straight ahead.

Keep looking right in front of you.

²⁶Make level paths for your feet to walk on.

Only go on ways that are firm.

²⁷Don’t turn to the right or left.

Keep your feet from the path of evil.