Guidance for the Young

My son, do not forget my law,
(A)But let your heart keep my commands;
For length of days and long life
And (B)peace they will add to you.

Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
(C)Bind them around your neck,
(D)Write them on the tablet of your heart,
(E)And so find favor and [a]high esteem
In the sight of God and man.

(F)Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
(G)And lean not on your own understanding;
(H)In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall [b]direct your paths.

Do not be wise in your own (I)eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
It will be health to your [c]flesh,
And (J)strength[d] to your bones.

(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

  1. Proverbs 3:4 Lit. good understanding
  2. Proverbs 3:6 Or make smooth or straight
  3. Proverbs 3:8 Body, lit. navel
  4. Proverbs 3:8 Lit. drink
  5. Proverbs 3:18 hold her fast
  6. Proverbs 3:27 Lit. its owners

The Rewards of Wisdom

My son, (A)do not forget my [a]teaching,
But have your heart (B)comply with my commandments;
For (C)length of days and years of life
And peace they will add to you.
Do not let (D)kindness and truth leave you;
(E)Bind them around your neck,
(F)Write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will (G)find favor and a (H)good [b]reputation
In the sight of God and man.
(I)Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And (J)do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways (K)acknowledge Him,
And He will (L)make your paths straight.
(M)Do not be wise in your own eyes;
(N)Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
It will be (O)healing to your [c]body
And (P)refreshment to your bones.
(Q)Honor the Lord from your wealth,
And from the (R)first of all your produce;
10 Then your (S)barns will be filled with plenty,
And your (T)vats will overflow with new wine.
11 (U)My son, do not reject the [d]discipline of the Lord
Or loathe His rebuke,
12 For (V)whom the Lord loves He disciplines,
Just (W)as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.

13 (X)Blessed is a person who finds wisdom,
And one who obtains understanding.
14 For [e]her (Y)profit is better than the profit of silver,
And her produce better than gold.
15 She is (Z)more precious than [f]jewels,
And nothing you desire compares with her.
16 [g](AA)Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are (AB)riches and honor.
17 Her (AC)ways are pleasant ways,
And all her paths are (AD)peace.
18 She is a (AE)tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are those who hold on to her.
19 The Lord founded the earth (AF)by wisdom,
He (AG)established the heavens by understanding.
20 By His knowledge the (AH)ocean depths were burst open,
And the (AI)clouds drip with dew.
21 My son, see that (AJ)they do not escape from your sight;
Comply with sound wisdom and discretion,
22 And they will be (AK)life to your soul
And (AL)adornment to your neck.
23 Then you will (AM)walk in your way securely,
And your foot will not (AN)stumble.
24 When you (AO)lie down, you will not be afraid;
When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 (AP)Do not be afraid of sudden danger,
Nor of (AQ)trouble from the wicked when it comes;
26 For the Lord will be [h]your confidence,
And will (AR)keep your foot from being caught.

27 (AS)Do not withhold good from [i]those to whom it is due,
When it is in your power to do it.
28 (AT)Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it to you,”
When you have it with you.
29 (AU)Do not devise harm against your neighbor,
While he lives securely beside you.
30 (AV)Do not contend with a person for no reason,
If he has done you no harm.
31 (AW)Do not envy a violent person,
And do not choose any of his ways.
32 For the (AX)devious are an abomination to the Lord;
But [j]He is (AY)intimate with the upright.
33 The (AZ)curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked,
But He (BA)blesses the home of the righteous.
34 Though (BB)He scoffs at the scoffers,
Yet (BC)He gives grace to the needy.
35 (BD)The wise will inherit honor,
But fools [k]increase dishonor.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:1 Or law
  2. Proverbs 3:4 Lit understanding
  3. Proverbs 3:8 Lit navel
  4. Proverbs 3:11 Or instruction
  5. Proverbs 3:14 I.e., the profit from Wisdom (personified)
  6. Proverbs 3:15 Lit corals
  7. Proverbs 3:16 Lit Length of days
  8. Proverbs 3:26 Or at your side
  9. Proverbs 3:27 Lit its owners
  10. Proverbs 3:32 Lit His private counsel is
  11. Proverbs 3:35 Lit raise high

Recomendaciones para alcanzar sabiduría

No olvides mis enseñanzas, hijo mío;
guarda en tu memoria mis mandamientos,
y tendrás una vida larga
y llena de felicidad.
No abandones nunca el amor y la verdad;
llévalos contigo como un collar.
Grábatelos en la mente,
y tendrás el favor y el aprecio
de Dios y de los hombres.

Confía de todo corazón en el Señor
y no en tu propia inteligencia.
Ten presente al Señor en todo lo que hagas,
y él te llevará por el camino recto.
No te creas demasiado sabio;
honra al Señor y apártate del mal:
¡ésa es la mejor medicina
para fortalecer tu cuerpo!

Honra al Señor con tus riquezas
y con los primeros frutos de tus cosechas;
10 así se llenarán a reventar
tus graneros y tus depósitos de vino.

11 No rechaces, hijo mío, la corrección del Señor,
ni te disgustes por sus reprensiones;
12 porque el Señor corrige a quien él ama,
como un padre corrige a su hijo favorito.

13 Feliz el que halla sabiduría,
el que obtiene inteligencia;
14 porque son más provechosas que la plata
y rinden mayores beneficios que el oro.
15 La sabiduría vale más que las piedras preciosas;
¡ni aun las cosas más deseables se le pueden comparar!
16 Con la derecha ofrece larga vida,
y con la izquierda, riquezas y honores.
17 Seguir sus pasos es muy agradable;
andar por sus senderos es vivir en paz.
18 La sabiduría es vida para quien la obtiene;
¡felices los que saben retenerla!
19 Con sabiduría e inteligencia,
el Señor afirmó los cielos y la tierra;
20 con sabiduría hizo que el mar se dividiera
y que de las nubes brotara el rocío.

21 Conserva siempre el buen juicio, hijo mío,
y no pierdas de vista la discreción,
22 pues serán para ti fuente de vida
y te adornarán como un collar.
23 Podrás andar confiado por el camino
y jamás tropezarás.
24 Cuando descanses, no tendrás que temer;
cuando te acuestes, dormirás tranquilo.
25 No temerás a los peligros repentinos
ni a la ruina que vendrá sobre los malvados,
26 porque el Señor te infundirá confianza
y evitará que caigas en alguna trampa.

27 Nunca niegues un favor a tus dueños,
cuando en tu mano esté el hacerlo.
28 No dejes para mañana
la ayuda que puedas dar hoy.
29 No hagas planes perversos
contra el que vive confiado en ti.
30 No busques pelea con nadie,
si nadie te ha hecho daño.
31 No envidies al desalmado
ni trates de imitar su conducta;
32 porque al Señor le repugnan los malvados,
pero a los buenos les brinda su confianza.
33 El Señor maldice la casa del malvado,
pero bendice el hogar del hombre justo.
34 El Señor se burla de los burlones,
pero trata con bondad a los humildes.
35 La honra es el premio de los sabios,
pero los necios se destacan por su deshonra.