Proverbs 3
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Admonition to Trust and Honor God
3 My child, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments,(A)
2 for length of days and years of life
and abundant welfare they will give you.(B)
3 Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.(C)
4 Then you will find favor and high regard
in the sight of God and of people.(D)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own insight.(E)
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.(F)
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and turn away from evil.(G)
8 It will be a healing for your flesh
and a refreshment for your body.(H)
9 Honor the Lord with your substance
and with the first fruits of all your produce;(I)
10 then your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine.
11 My child, do not despise the Lord’s discipline
or be weary of his reproof,(J)
12 for the Lord reproves the one he loves,
as a father the son in whom he delights.(K)
The True Wealth
13 Happy are those who find wisdom
and those who get understanding,
14 for her income is better than silver
and her revenue better than gold.(L)
15 She is more precious than jewels,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.(M)
16 Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.(N)
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.(O)
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
those who hold her fast are called happy.(P)
God’s Wisdom in Creation
19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
by understanding he established the heavens;(Q)
20 by his knowledge the deeps broke open,
and the clouds drop down the dew.(R)
The True Security
21 My child, do not let these escape from your sight:
keep sound wisdom and prudence,
22 and they will be life for your soul
and adornment for your neck.(S)
23 Then you will walk on your way securely,
and your foot will not stumble.(T)
24 If you sit down,[a] you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Then you will not be afraid of sudden panic
or of the storm that strikes the wicked,(U)
26 for the Lord will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from being caught.
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,[b]
when it is in your power to do it.(V)
28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go and come again;
tomorrow I will give it,” when you have it with you.(W)
29 Do not plan harm against your neighbor
who lives trustingly beside you.(X)
30 Do not quarrel with anyone without cause,
when no harm has been done to you.(Y)
31 Do not envy the violent,
and do not choose any of their ways,(Z)
32 for the perverse are an abomination to the Lord,
but the upright are in his confidence.(AA)
33 The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the abode of the righteous.(AB)
34 Toward the scorners he is scornful,
but to the humble he shows favor.(AC)
35 The wise will inherit honor,
but stubborn fools, disgrace.
Proverbs 3
Common English Bible
Trust in the Lord
3 My son, don’t forget my instruction.
Let your heart guard my commands,
2 because they will help you live a long time
and provide you with well-being.
3 Don’t let loyalty and faithfulness leave you.
Bind them on your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will find favor and approval
in the eyes of God and humanity.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
don’t rely on your own intelligence.
6 Know him in all your paths,
and he will keep your ways straight.
7 Don’t consider yourself wise.
Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 Then your body[a] will be healthy
and your bones strengthened.
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the first of all your crops.
10 Then your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will burst with wine.
11 Don’t reject the instruction of the Lord, my son;
don’t despise his correction.
12 The Lord loves those he corrects,
just like a father who treats his son with favor.
Value of wisdom
13 Happy are those who find wisdom
and those who gain understanding.
14 Her profit is better than silver,
and her gain better than gold.
15 Her value exceeds pearls;
all you desire can’t compare with her.
16 In her right hand is a long life;
in her left are wealth and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant;
all her paths are peaceful.
18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
those who hold her tight are happy.
19 The Lord laid the foundations of the earth with wisdom,
establishing the heavens with understanding.
20 With his knowledge, the watery depths burst open,
and the skies drop dew.
Integrity of wisdom
21 My son, don’t let them slip from your eyes;
hold on to sound judgment and discretion.
22 They will be life for your whole being,
and an ornament for your neck.
23 Then you will walk safely on your path,
and your foot won’t stumble.
24 If you lie down, you won’t be terrified.
When you lie down, your sleep will be pleasant.
25 Don’t fear sudden terror
or the ruin that comes to the wicked.
26 The Lord will be your confidence;
he will guard your feet from being snared.
27 Don’t withhold good from someone who deserves it,
when it is in your power to do so.
28 Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go and come back;
I’ll give it to you tomorrow,” when you have it.
29 Don’t plan to harm your neighbor
who trusts and lives near you.
30 Don’t accuse anyone without reason,
when they haven’t harmed you.
31 Don’t envy violent people
or choose any of their ways.
32 Devious people are detestable to the Lord,
but the virtuous are his close friends.
33 The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the righteous.
34 He mocks mockers,
but he shows favor to the humble.
35 The wise gain respect,
but fools receive shame.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 3:8 Heb navel
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible