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
Proverbs 3
New King James Version
Guidance for the Young
3 My son, do not forget my law,
(A)But let your heart keep my commands;
2 For length of days and long life
And (B)peace they will add to you.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
(C)Bind them around your neck,
(D)Write them on the tablet of your heart,
4 (E)And so find favor and [a]high esteem
In the sight of God and man.
5 (F)Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
(G)And lean not on your own understanding;
6 (H)In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall [b]direct your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own (I)eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
8 It will be health to your [c]flesh,
And (J)strength[d] to your bones.
9 (K)Honor the Lord with your possessions,
And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
10 (L)So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 (M)My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
Nor detest His correction;
12 For whom the Lord loves He corrects,
(N)Just as a father the son in whom he delights.
13 (O)Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
And the man who gains understanding;
14 (P)For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver,
And her gain than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies,
And (Q)all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.
16 (R)Length of days is in her right hand,
In her left hand riches and honor.
17 (S)Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
And all her paths are peace.
18 She is (T)a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who [e]retain her.
19 (U)The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
By understanding He established the heavens;
20 By His knowledge the depths were (V)broken up,
And clouds drop down the dew.
21 My son, let them not depart from your eyes—
Keep sound wisdom and discretion;
22 So they will be life to your soul
And grace to your neck.
23 (W)Then you will walk safely in your way,
And your foot will not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.
25 (X)Do not be afraid of sudden terror,
Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;
26 For the Lord will be your confidence,
And will keep your foot from being caught.
27 (Y)Do not withhold good from [f]those to whom it is due,
When it is in the power of your hand to do so.
28 (Z)Do not say to your neighbor,
“Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it,”
When you have it with you.
29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor,
For he dwells by you for safety’s sake.
30 (AA)Do not strive with a man without cause,
If he has done you no harm.
31 (AB)Do not envy the oppressor,
And choose none of his ways;
32 For the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord,
(AC)But His secret counsel is with the upright.
33 (AD)The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked,
But (AE)He blesses the home of the just.
34 (AF)Surely He scorns the scornful,
But gives grace to the humble.
35 The wise shall inherit glory,
But shame shall be the legacy of fools.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 3:4 Lit. good understanding
- Proverbs 3:6 Or make smooth or straight
- Proverbs 3:8 Body, lit. navel
- Proverbs 3:8 Lit. drink
- Proverbs 3:18 hold her fast
- Proverbs 3:27 Lit. its owners
Proverbs 3
EasyEnglish Bible
Trust God
3 My child, do not forget what I teach you. Always think carefully about my commands. 2 If you obey them, you will live a long life. You will have peace in your mind. and you will enjoy your life.
3 Keep hold of faithful love. That will be like a beautiful necklace that you always wear. Think about what it means to love other people. 4 If you do that, you will make God happy. People will also be pleased and they will respect you.
5 Trust in the Lord completely. Do not think that you understand things well enough for yourself. 6 Whatever you are doing, remember that the Lord is with you. Then he will show you the right way to go.
7 Do not think that you are already wise enough. Obey the Lord and refuse to do evil things. 8 If you do that, it will make you healthy and strong.
9 Show that you respect the Lord in the way that you use your money. Offer the first part of the harvest from your farm to him. 10 If you do that, you will store more food than you need for yourself. You will have more wine than you can drink.
11 My child, if the Lord warns you that you have done something wrong, accept it. Do not be upset if he warns you. 12 He is doing it because he loves you. When a father loves his son very much, he warns him when he does something wrong.
Wisdom is a blessing
13 Anyone who finds wisdom is in a happy place! So is the person who has learned to understand things.
14 Wisdom helps people better than silver or gold will ever help them.
15 Wisdom is more valuable than the most expensive jewels.
Nothing that you might want for yourself is as good as wisdom.
16 Wisdom is ready to give you a long life. She will also give you riches and honour.[a]
17 Wisdom will be your guide through a happy life. She will lead you in ways that keep you safe. 18 Wisdom is like a tree with fruits that give life to the people who pick them. The Lord blesses everyone who keeps hold of wisdom.
19 The Lord used wisdom to create the earth. He understood the right way to create the heavens. 20 He used his knowledge to pour water from under the earth into the rivers and seas. He caused the clouds to send down rain.
21 My child, always keep hold of wisdom and a good mind. Make sure that you keep them safe. 22 They will give you strength in life. You will enjoy life, like a beautiful necklace that you wear.
23 You will be safe as you travel through life. There will be no danger to make you fall down. 24 When you lie down to sleep, you will not be afraid. You will sleep well with peace in your mind. 25 You will not be frightened of any trouble that might surprise you. Trouble may destroy wicked people, but you will know that you are safe. 26 The Lord is the one who will take care of you. He will protect you, so that no danger can hurt you.
Wisdom causes you to help other people
27 Do not refuse to help those people who need help. If you are able to help them, do it! 28 If you can give your neighbour the help that he needs, do not say to him, ‘Go away! Come back tomorrow, and then I will help you.’
29 Do not think of ways to hurt your neighbour. You should help him to trust you.
30 Do not quarrel with other people if they have done nothing to hurt you. You have no reason to accuse them of anything wrong.
31 Do not be jealous of cruel people. Do not try to copy the things that they do. 32 The Lord hates wicked people. But he makes righteous people his friends.
33 The Lord curses the homes of wicked people, but he blesses the homes of righteous people. 34 The Lord laughs at proud people who laugh at other people. But he is kind to humble people.
35 Wise people will receive honour. But fools will only have shame.
Footnotes
- 3:16 ‘She’. In the Book of Proverbs, wisdom is like a woman. See Proverbs 1:20; 9:1.
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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