Proverbs 3
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
with God and people.(E)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,(F)
and do not rely on your own understanding;(G)
6 in all your ways know him,
and he will make your paths straight.(H)
7 Don’t be wise in your own eyes;(I)
fear the Lord and turn away from evil.(J)
8 This will be healing for your body[b](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 disciplines the son in whom he delights.(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 can equal her.(T)
16 Long life[c] 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 sound wisdom and discretion.
My son, don’t lose sight of them.(AA)
22 They will be life for you[d](AB)
and adornment[e] for your neck.
23 Then you will go safely on your way;
your foot will not stumble.(AC)
24 When you lie[f] 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[g]
and will keep your foot from a snare.(AF)
Treat Others Fairly
27 When it is in your power,[h]
don’t withhold good(AG) from the one to whom it belongs.
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[i] 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.[j]
Proverbs 3
International Standard Version
The Blessings of Trusting God
3 My son, don’t forget my instruction,
and keep my commandments carefully in mind.[a]
2 For they will add length to your days, years to your life,
and abundant peace to you.
3 Do not let gracious love and truth leave you.
Bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart,
4 and find favor and a good reputation[b] with God and men.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not depend on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge[c] him,
and he will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own opinion.
Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 This will bring healing to your body,
and refreshment to your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the first[d] of all your produce,
10 so your barns will be filled with abundance,
and your vats will burst open with new wine.
11 My son, do not reject the Lord’s discipline,
and do not despise his correction,
12 because the Lord corrects the person he loves,
just as a father corrects[e] the son he delights in.[f]
Wisdom More Valuable than Riches
13 How joyful is the man who finds wisdom,
and the man who gains understanding,
14 because her profit is better than the profit of silver,
and her yield than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies,
and nothing you desire compares with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand,
and in her left are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peaceful.
18 She is a tree of life for those who embrace her,
and whoever clutches her tightly will be joyful.
19 By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,
and by understanding he set the heavens in place.
20 By his knowledge the depths broke open,
and the clouds drip with dew.
Benefits of Wisdom
21 My son, do not let wisdom[g] leave your sight.
Carefully observe sound judgment and discernment,
22 and they will be life to you
and a graceful ornament[h] for your neck.
23 Then you will travel safely on your way,
and your foot will not stumble.
24 When you sit[i] down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be pleasant.[j]
25 Do not be afraid of sudden disaster,[k]
or the devastation that comes to the wicked.
26 Indeed, the Lord will be your confidence,
and he will keep your foot from being caught.
Wisdom in Action
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to act.
28 Do not say to your neighbor,
“Go, and come back.
I will pay you[l] tomorrow,”
when you have cash[m] with you.
29 Do not plan to harm your neighbor,
when he is living peacefully[n] beside you.
30 Do not bring a lawsuit against a person for no reason,
when he has done you no harm.
31 Do not envy a violent man,
and do not emulate his lifestyle.[o]
32 Indeed, a perverse man is utterly disgusting[p] to the Lord,
but he takes the upright into his confidence.[q]
33 The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
34 Though God[r] scoffs at scoffers,
he gives grace to the humble.
35 The wise will inherit honor,
but he holds fools up for ridicule.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 3:1 Lit. Let your heart keep my commandments
- Proverbs 3:4 Lit. good judgment or sense
- Proverbs 3:6 Or know
- Proverbs 3:9 Or best
- Proverbs 3:12 The Heb. lacks corrects
- Proverbs 3:12 So MT; LXX reads loves, and he punishes every son he accepts
- Proverbs 3:21 The Heb. lacks wisdom
- Proverbs 3:22 Lit. grace
- Proverbs 3:24 So LXX; MT reads lie
- Proverbs 3:24 Or sweet
- Proverbs 3:25 Lit. terror
- Proverbs 3:28 Lit. it
- Proverbs 3:28 The Heb. lacks cash
- Proverbs 3:29 Or securely
- Proverbs 3:31 Lit. ways
- Proverbs 3:32 Lit. an abomination
- Proverbs 3:32 Lit. but his secret counsel is with the upright
- Proverbs 3:34 Lit. he
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC.
