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Proverbs 3:13-4:9
English Standard Version
Proverbs 3:13-4:9
English Standard Version
Blessed Is the One Who Finds Wisdom
13 (A)Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
and the one who gets understanding,
14 (B)for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
and her profit better than (C)gold.
15 She is more precious than (D)jewels,
and (E)nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 (F)Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are (G)riches and honor.
17 Her (H)ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is (I)a tree of life to those who (J)lay hold of her;
those who hold her fast are called blessed.
19 (K)The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
by understanding (L)he established the heavens;
20 by his knowledge (M)the deeps broke open,
and (N)the clouds drop down the dew.
21 My son, (O)do not lose sight of these—
keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 and they will be (P)life for your soul
and (Q)adornment for your neck.
23 (R)Then you will walk on your way securely,
(S)and your foot will not stumble.
24 (T)If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, (U)your sleep will be sweet.
25 (V)Do not be afraid of sudden terror
or of (W)the ruin[a] of the wicked, when it comes,
26 for the Lord will be your confidence
and will (X)keep your foot from being caught.
27 (Y)Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,[b]
when it is in your power to do it.
28 (Z)Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,
tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.
29 (AA)Do not plan evil against your neighbor,
who (AB)dwells trustingly beside you.
30 (AC)Do not contend with a man for no reason,
when he has done you no harm.
31 (AD)Do not envy (AE)a man of violence
and do not choose any of his ways,
32 for (AF)the devious person is an abomination to the Lord,
but the upright are (AG)in his confidence.
33 (AH)The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he (AI)blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
34 Toward the (AJ)scorners he (AK)is scornful,
(AL)but to the humble he gives favor.[c]
35 The wise will inherit honor,
but fools get[d] disgrace.
A Father's Wise Instruction
4 (AM)Hear, O sons, a father's instruction,
and be attentive, that you may (AN)gain[e] insight,
2 for I give you good (AO)precepts;
do not forsake my teaching.
3 When I was a son with my father,
(AP)tender, (AQ)the only one in the sight of my mother,
4 he (AR)taught me and said to me,
(AS)“Let your heart hold fast my words;
(AT)keep my commandments, and live.
5 (AU)Get wisdom; get (AV)insight;
do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
(AW)love her, and she will guard you.
7 (AX)The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
and whatever you get, get (AY)insight.
8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
she will (AZ)honor you (BA)if you embrace her.
9 She will place on your head (BB)a graceful garland;
she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”
Footnotes
- Proverbs 3:25 Hebrew storm
- Proverbs 3:27 Hebrew Do not withhold good from its owners
- Proverbs 3:34 Or grace
- Proverbs 3:35 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
- Proverbs 4:1 Hebrew know
Proverbs 3:13-4:9
New International Version
Proverbs 3:13-4:9
New International Version
13 Blessed are those who find wisdom,
those who gain understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.(A)
15 She is more precious than rubies;(B)
nothing you desire can compare with her.(C)
16 Long life is in her right hand;(D)
in her left hand are riches and honor.(E)
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.(F)
18 She is a tree of life(G) to those who take hold of her;
those who hold her fast will be blessed.(H)
19 By wisdom(I) the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,(J)
by understanding he set the heavens(K) in place;
20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
and the clouds let drop the dew.
21 My son,(L) do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,(M)
preserve sound judgment and discretion;
22 they will be life for you,(N)
an ornament to grace your neck.(O)
23 Then you will go on your way in safety,(P)
and your foot will not stumble.(Q)
24 When you lie down,(R) you will not be afraid;(S)
when you lie down, your sleep(T) will be sweet.
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster
or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the Lord will be at your side(U)
and will keep your foot(V) from being snared.(W)
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to act.
28 Do not say to your neighbor,
“Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—
when you already have it with you.(X)
29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
who lives trustfully near you.(Y)
30 Do not accuse anyone for no reason—
when they have done you no harm.
31 Do not envy(Z) the violent
or choose any of their ways.
32 For the Lord detests the perverse(AA)
but takes the upright into his confidence.(AB)
33 The Lord’s curse(AC) is on the house of the wicked,(AD)
but he blesses the home of the righteous.(AE)
34 He mocks(AF) proud mockers(AG)
but shows favor to the humble(AH) and oppressed.
35 The wise inherit honor,
but fools get only shame.
Get Wisdom at Any Cost
4 Listen, my sons,(AI) to a father’s instruction;(AJ)
pay attention and gain understanding.(AK)
2 I give you sound learning,
so do not forsake my teaching.
3 For I too was a son to my father,
still tender, and cherished by my mother.
4 Then he taught me, and he said to me,
“Take hold(AL) of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands, and you will live.(AM)
5 Get wisdom,(AN) get understanding;
do not forget my words or turn away from them.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;(AO)
love her, and she will watch over you.(AP)
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get[a] wisdom.
Though it cost all(AQ) you have,[b] get understanding.(AR)
8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.(AS)
9 She will give you a garland to grace your head
and present you with a glorious crown.(AT)”
Footnotes
- Proverbs 4:7 Or Wisdom is supreme; therefore get
- Proverbs 4:7 Or wisdom. / Whatever else you get
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.