Proverbs 3
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Trust the Lord
3 My son, don’t forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commands;(A)
2 for they will bring you
many days, a full life,[a](B) and well-being.(C)
3 Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you.
Tie them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.(D)
4 Then you will find favor and high regard
in the sight of God and man.(E)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,(F)
and do not rely on your own understanding;(G)
6 think about Him in all your ways,
and He will guide you on the right paths.[b](H)
7 Don’t consider yourself to be wise;(I)
fear the Lord and turn away from evil.(J)
8 This will be healing for your body[c](K)
and strengthening for your bones.(L)
9 Honor the Lord with your possessions
and with the first produce of your entire harvest;(M)
10 then your barns will be completely filled,
and your vats will overflow with new wine.(N)
11 Do not despise the Lord’s instruction, my son,
and do not loathe His discipline;(O)
12 for the Lord disciplines the one He loves,
just as a father, the son he delights in.(P)
Wisdom Brings Happiness
13 Happy is a man who finds wisdom(Q)
and who acquires understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver,
and her revenue is better than gold.(R)
15 She is more precious than jewels;(S)
nothing you desire compares with her.(T)
16 Long life[d] is in her right hand;
in her left, riches and honor.(U)
17 Her ways are pleasant,(V)
and all her paths, peaceful.
18 She is a tree of life(W) to those who embrace her,
and those who hold on to her are happy.
19 The Lord founded the earth by wisdom(X)
and established the heavens by understanding.
20 By His knowledge the watery depths broke open,(Y)
and the clouds dripped with dew.(Z)
21 Maintain your competence and discretion.
My son, don’t lose sight of them.(AA)
22 They will be life for you[e][f](AB)
and adornment[g] for your neck.
23 Then you will go safely on your way;
your foot will not stumble.(AC)
24 When you lie[h] down, you will not be afraid;(AD)
you will lie down, and your sleep will be pleasant.
25 Don’t fear sudden danger
or the ruin of the wicked when it comes,(AE)
26 for the Lord will be your confidence[i]
and will keep your foot from a snare.(AF)
Treat Others Fairly
27 When it is in your power,[j]
don’t withhold good(AG) from the one it belongs to.
28 Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go away! Come back later.
I’ll give it tomorrow”—when it is there with you.(AH)
29 Don’t plan any harm against your neighbor,(AI)
for he trusts you and lives near you.
30 Don’t accuse anyone without cause,(AJ)
when he has done you no harm.
31 Don’t envy a violent man(AK)
or choose any of his ways;
32 for the devious are detestable to the Lord,
but He is a friend[k] to the upright.(AL)
33 The Lord’s curse is on the household of the wicked,(AM)
but He blesses the home of the righteous;
34 He mocks those who mock,
but gives grace to the humble.(AN)
35 The wise will inherit honor,
but He holds up fools to dishonor.[l]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 3:2 Lit days, years of life
- Proverbs 3:6 Lit will make your paths straight
- Proverbs 3:8 Lit navel
- Proverbs 3:16 Lit Length of days
- Proverbs 3:22 Or be your throat
- Proverbs 3:22 In Hb, nephesh can mean throat, soul, or life.
- Proverbs 3:22 Or grace
- Proverbs 3:24 LXX reads sit
- Proverbs 3:26 Or be at your side
- Proverbs 3:27 Lit in the power of your hands
- Proverbs 3:32 Or confidential counsel
- Proverbs 3:35 Or but haughty fools dishonor, or but fools exalt dishonor
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
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Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible