Proverbs 3
English Standard Version
Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart
3 (A)My son, do not forget my teaching,
(B)but let your heart keep my commandments,
2 for (C)length of days and years of life
and (D)peace they will add to you.
3 Let not (E)steadfast love and (F)faithfulness forsake you;
(G)bind them around your neck;
(H)write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will (I)find favor and (J)good success[a]
in the sight of God and man.
5 (K)Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and (L)do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways (M)acknowledge him,
and he (N)will make straight your paths.
7 (O)Be not wise in your own eyes;
(P)fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be (Q)healing to your flesh[b]
and (R)refreshment[c] to your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with (S)the firstfruits of all your produce;
10 then your (T)barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine.
11 (U)My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline
or be weary of his reproof,
12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,
as (V)a father the son in whom he delights.
Blessed Is the One Who Finds Wisdom
13 (W)Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
and the one who gets understanding,
14 (X)for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
and her profit better than (Y)gold.
15 She is more precious than (Z)jewels,
and (AA)nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 (AB)Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are (AC)riches and honor.
17 Her (AD)ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is (AE)a tree of life to those who (AF)lay hold of her;
those who hold her fast are called blessed.
19 (AG)The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
by understanding (AH)he established the heavens;
20 by his knowledge (AI)the deeps broke open,
and (AJ)the clouds drop down the dew.
21 My son, (AK)do not lose sight of these—
keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 and they will be (AL)life for your soul
and (AM)adornment for your neck.
23 (AN)Then you will walk on your way securely,
(AO)and your foot will not stumble.
24 (AP)If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, (AQ)your sleep will be sweet.
25 (AR)Do not be afraid of sudden terror
or of (AS)the ruin[d] of the wicked, when it comes,
26 for the Lord will be your confidence
and will (AT)keep your foot from being caught.
27 (AU)Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,[e]
when it is in your power to do it.
28 (AV)Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,
tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.
29 (AW)Do not plan evil against your neighbor,
who (AX)dwells trustingly beside you.
30 (AY)Do not contend with a man for no reason,
when he has done you no harm.
31 (AZ)Do not envy (BA)a man of violence
and do not choose any of his ways,
32 for (BB)the devious person is an abomination to the Lord,
but the upright are (BC)in his confidence.
33 (BD)The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he (BE)blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
34 Toward the (BF)scorners he (BG)is scornful,
(BH)but to the humble he gives favor.[f]
35 The wise will inherit honor,
but fools get[g] disgrace.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 3:4 Or repute
- Proverbs 3:8 Hebrew navel
- Proverbs 3:8 Or medicine
- Proverbs 3:25 Hebrew storm
- Proverbs 3:27 Hebrew Do not withhold good from its owners
- Proverbs 3:34 Or grace
- Proverbs 3:35 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
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]
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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.