信靠耶和華

孩子啊,不要忘記我的訓言,
    要把我的誡命存在心裡,
因為這必使你延年益壽,
    幸福平安。
不要讓慈愛和信實離開你,
    要把他們繫在你的頸項上,
    刻在你的心坎上。
這樣,你必蒙上帝和世人的喜悅,
    享有美譽。

你要全心信靠耶和華,
    不可倚靠自己的悟性。
凡事都要尋求祂,
    祂必指引你走正路。
不要自以為有智慧,
    要敬畏耶和華,遠離惡事。
這樣可醫治你的身體,
    滋潤你的筋骨。
你要用自己的財富和一切初熟的物產來尊崇耶和華,
10 祂必使你五穀滿倉,
    榨酒池溢出新釀。
11 孩子啊,不可輕視耶和華的管教,
    也不可厭煩祂的責備。
12 因為耶和華責備祂所愛的人,
    就像父親責備他所疼愛的孩子。
13 找到智慧、得到悟性的人有福了,
14 因為智慧比銀子更有價值,
    比金子更有益處,
15 比珠寶更珍貴;
    你所喜愛的一切都難以相比。
16 智慧的右手有長壽,
    左手有富貴和尊榮。
17 她的路上有福樂,
    她的道上有平安。
18 對持守智慧的人來說,
    智慧是生命樹,
    緊握智慧的人必蒙祝福。
19 耶和華以智慧奠立大地,
    以悟性鋪設諸天;
20 祂的知識使深淵裂開,
    使天上降下甘霖。

21 孩子啊,你要守護智慧和明辨力,
    別讓她們離開你的視線。
22 她們必給你帶來生命,
    作你頸項上華美的裝飾。
23 如此,你必步履穩健,不致失足;
24 你必安然躺臥,睡得香甜。
25 不要怕突來的災禍,
    不要怕惡人遭毀滅,
26 因為耶和華是你的靠山,
    祂使你的腳不陷入網羅。

27 倘若有力量行善,
    就當幫助有需要的人,不要推託。
28 倘若可以幫忙,
    就不可對有求於你的鄰人說:
    「回去吧,明天再來,我必給你!」
29 鄰舍在你附近安分居住,
    不可謀害他。
30 別人若沒有害你,
    不要無故與他相爭。
31 不要羡慕殘暴之徒,
    也不可步其後塵,
32 因為耶和華憎惡邪僻之徒,
    喜愛正直的人。
33 耶和華咒詛惡人的家,
    賜福義人的家。
34 耶和華譏笑好譏誚的人,
    恩待謙卑的人。
35 智者得尊榮,
    愚人受羞辱。

Trust the Lord

My son, don’t forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commands;(A)
for they will bring you
many days, a full life,[a](B) and well-being.(C)
Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you.
Tie them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.(D)
Then you will find favor and high regard
in the sight of God and man.(E)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,(F)
and do not rely on your own understanding;(G)
think about Him in all your ways,
and He will guide you on the right paths.[b](H)
Don’t consider yourself to be wise;(I)
fear the Lord and turn away from evil.(J)
This will be healing for your body[c](K)
and strengthening for your bones.(L)
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

  1. Proverbs 3:2 Lit days, years of life
  2. Proverbs 3:6 Lit will make your paths straight
  3. Proverbs 3:8 Lit navel
  4. Proverbs 3:16 Lit Length of days
  5. Proverbs 3:22 Or be your throat
  6. Proverbs 3:22 In Hb, nephesh can mean throat, soul, or life.
  7. Proverbs 3:22 Or grace
  8. Proverbs 3:24 LXX reads sit
  9. Proverbs 3:26 Or be at your side
  10. Proverbs 3:27 Lit in the power of your hands
  11. Proverbs 3:32 Or confidential counsel
  12. Proverbs 3:35 Or but haughty fools dishonor, or but fools exalt dishonor