Proverbs 3

Chapter 3

¹My son, do not forget my teaching,

but let your heart keep my commandments;

²for length of days and years of life

and abundant welfare will they give you.

³Let not loyalty and faithfulness forsake you;

bind them about your neck,

write them on the tablet of your heart.

⁴So you will find favor and good repute^f

in the sight of God and man.

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.

⁷Be not wise in your own eyes;

fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

⁸It will be healing to your flesh^g

and refreshment^h to your bones.

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 son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline

or be weary of his reproof,

¹²for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,

as a father the son in whom he delights.

¹³Happy is the man who finds wisdom,

and the man who gets understanding,

¹⁴for the gain from it is better than gain from silver

and its profit 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.

¹⁹The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;

by understanding he established the heavens;

²⁰by his knowledge the deeps broke forth,

and the clouds drop down the dew.

²¹My son, keep sound wisdom and discretion;

let them not escape from your sight,ⁱ

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,^j you will not be afraid;

when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

²⁵Do not be afraid of sudden panic,

or of the ruin^k of the wicked, when it comes;

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,

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 evil against your neighbor

who dwells trustingly beside you.

³⁰Do not contend with a man for no reason,

when he has done you no harm.

³¹Do not envy a man of violence

and do not choose any of his ways;

³²for the perverse man is 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 fools get^m disgrace.