Proverbs 3

Wisdom Bestows Well-Being

3My son,^x do not forget my teaching,^y

but keep my commands in your heart,

²for they will prolong your life many years^z

and bring you peace and prosperity.^a

³Let love and faithfulness^b never leave you;

bind them around your neck,

write them on the tablet of your heart.^c

⁴Then you will win favor and a good name

in the sight of God and man.^d

⁵Trust in the Lord^e with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

⁶in all your ways submit to him,

and he will make your paths^f straight.^ag

⁷Do not be wise in your own eyes;^h

fear the Lordⁱ and shun evil.^j

⁸This will bring health to your body^k

and nourishment to your bones.^l

⁹Honor the Lord with your wealth,

with the firstfruits^m of all your crops;

¹⁰then your barns will be filledⁿ to overflowing,

and your vats will brim over with new wine.^o

¹¹My son,^p do not despise the Lord’s discipline,^q

and do not resent his rebuke,

¹²because the Lord disciplines those he loves,^r

as a father the son he delights in.^bs

¹³Blessed are those who find wisdom,

those who gain understanding,

¹⁴for she is more profitable than silver

and yields better returns than gold.^t

¹⁵She is more precious than rubies;^u

nothing you desire can compare with her.^v

¹⁶Long life is in her right hand;^w

in her left hand are riches and honor.^x

¹⁷Her ways are pleasant ways,

and all her paths are peace.^y

¹⁸She is a tree of life^z to those who take hold of her;

those who hold her fast will be blessed.^a

¹⁹By wisdom^b the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,^c

by understanding he set the heavens^d in place;

²⁰by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,

and the clouds let drop the dew.

²¹My son,^e do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,^f

preserve sound judgment and discretion;

²²they will be life for you,^g

an ornament to grace your neck.^h

²³Then you will go on your way in safety,ⁱ

and your foot will not stumble.^j

²⁴When you lie down,^k you will not be afraid;^l

when you lie down, your sleep^m will be sweet.

²⁵Have no fear of sudden disaster

or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,

²⁶for the Lord will be at your sideⁿ

and will keep your foot^o from being snared.^p

²⁷Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,

when it is in your power to act.

²⁸Do not say to your neighbor,

“Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—

when you already have it with you.^q

²⁹Do not plot harm against your neighbor,

who lives trustfully near you.^r

³⁰Do not accuse anyone for no reason—

when they have done you no harm.

³¹Do not envy^s the violent

or choose any of their ways.

³²For the Lord detests the perverse^t

but takes the upright into his confidence.^u

³³The Lord’s curse^v is on the house of the wicked,^w

but he blesses the home of the righteous.^x

³⁴He mocks^y proud mockers^z

but shows favor to the humble^a and oppressed.

³⁵The wise inherit honor,

but fools get only shame.