Proverbs 3:19-27

Amplified Bible

¹⁹
The Lord by His wisdom has founded the earth;
By His understanding He has established the heavens.^(A)
²⁰
By His knowledge the deeps were broken up
And the clouds drip with dew.
²¹
My son, let them not escape from your sight,
But keep sound wisdom and discretion,
²²
And they will be life to your soul (your inner self)
And a gracious adornment to your neck (your outer self).
²³
Then you will walk on your way [of life] securely
And your foot will not stumble.^(B)
²⁴
When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
²⁵
Do not be afraid of sudden fear
Nor of the storm of the wicked when it comes [since you will be blameless];
²⁶
For the Lord will be your confidence, firm and strong,
And will keep your foot from being caught [in a trap].

²⁷
^[a]Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due [its rightful recipients],
When it is in your power to do it.^(C)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

Proverbs 3:27 Using this verse as a proof text, the ancient rabbis offered the example of an employer who tells his foreman to hire workers at four zuz (small silver coins) each to do a job, and the foreman hires them at three instead. Even though they accepted the terms, the rabbis rule that they have the right to complain. Compare this with the parable of the landowner who hires workers for a denarius each. The difference there is that the first group receives a fair wage, while the last is overpaid as a matter of generosity (Matt 20:15).

Proverbs 3:19-27

New International Version

¹⁹By wisdom^(A) the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,^(B)
by understanding he set the heavens^(C) in place;
²⁰by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
and the clouds let drop the dew.

²¹My son,^(D) do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,^(E)
    preserve sound judgment and discretion;
²²they will be life for you,^(F)
    an ornament to grace your neck.^(G)
²³Then you will go on your way in safety,^(H)
    and your foot will not stumble.^(I)
²⁴When you lie down,^(J) you will not be afraid;^(K)
    when you lie down, your sleep^(L) will be sweet.
²⁵Have no fear of sudden disaster
    or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
²⁶for the Lord will be at your side^(M)
    and will keep your foot^(N) from being snared.^(O)