Proverbs 3

Admonition to Trust and Honor God

³My child, do not forget my teaching,

but let your heart keep my commandments,^*

²for length of days and years of life

and abundant welfare they will give you.^*

³Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you;

bind them around your neck;

write them on the tablet of your heart.^*

⁴Then you will find favor and high regard

in the sight of God and of people.^*

⁵Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not rely on your own insight.^*

⁶In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make straight your paths.^*

⁷Do not be wise in your own eyes;

fear the Lord and turn away from evil.^*

⁸It will be a healing for your flesh

and a refreshment for your body.^*

⁹Honor the Lord with your substance

and with the first fruits of all your produce;^*

¹⁰then your barns will be filled with plenty,

and your vats will be bursting with wine.

¹¹My child, do not despise the Lord’s discipline

or be weary of his reproof,^*

¹²for the Lord reproves the one he loves,

as a father the son in whom he delights.^*

The True Wealth

¹³Happy are those who find wisdom

and those who get understanding,

¹⁴for her income is better than silver

and her revenue better than gold.^*

¹⁵She is more precious than jewels,

and nothing you desire can compare with her.^*

¹⁶Long life is in her right hand;

in her left hand are riches and honor.^*

¹⁷Her ways are ways of pleasantness,

and all her paths are peace.^*

¹⁸She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;

those who hold her fast are called happy.^*

God’s Wisdom in Creation

¹⁹The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;

by understanding he established the heavens;^*

²⁰by his knowledge the deeps broke open,

and the clouds drop down the dew.^*

The True Security

²¹My child, do not let these escape from your sight:

keep sound wisdom and prudence,

²²and they will be life for your soul

and adornment for your neck.^*

²³Then you will walk on your way securely,

and your foot will not stumble.^*

²⁴If you sit down,^e you will not be afraid;

when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

²⁵Then you will not be afraid of sudden panic

or of the storm that strikes the wicked,^*

²⁶for the Lord will be your confidence

and will keep your foot from being caught.

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

when it is in your power to do it.^*

²⁸Do not say to your neighbor, “Go and come again;

tomorrow I will give it,” when you have it with you.^*

²⁹Do not plan harm against your neighbor

who lives trustingly beside you.^*

³⁰Do not quarrel with anyone without cause,

when no harm has been done to you.^*

³¹Do not envy the violent,

and do not choose any of their ways,^*

³²for the perverse are an abomination to the Lord,

but the upright are in his confidence.^*

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

but he blesses the abode of the righteous.^*

³⁴Toward the scorners he is scornful,

but to the humble he shows favor.^*

³⁵The wise will inherit honor,

but stubborn fools, disgrace.