Proverbs 3
Legacy Standard Bible
Trust, Fear, and Honor Yahweh
3 My son, (A)do not forget my [a]law,
But let your heart (B)guard my commandments;
2 For (C)length of days and years of life
And peace they will add to you.
3 Do not let (D)lovingkindness and truth forsake you;
(E)Bind them around your neck,
(F)Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will (G)find favor and (H)good insight
In the eyes of God and man.
5 (I)Trust in Yahweh with all your heart
And (J)do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways [b](K)acknowledge Him,
And He will (L)make your paths straight.
7 (M)Do not be wise in your own eyes;
(N)Fear Yahweh and turn away from evil.
8 It will be (O)healing to your [c]body
And (P)refreshment to your bones.
9 (Q)Honor Yahweh from your wealth
And from the (R)first of all your produce;
10 So your (S)barns will be filled with plenty
And your (T)vats will burst with new wine.
11 (U)My son, do not reject the [d]discipline of Yahweh
Or loathe His reproof,
12 For (V)whom Yahweh loves He reproves,
Even (W)as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.
13 (X)How blessed is the man who finds wisdom
And the man who obtains discernment.
14 For her (Y)profit is better than the profit of silver
And her produce better than fine gold.
15 She is (Z)more precious than [e]pearls;
And nothing you desire compares with her.
16 (AA)Length of days is in her right hand;
In her left hand are (AB)riches and glory.
17 Her (AC)ways are pleasant ways
And all her pathways are (AD)peace.
18 She is a (AE)tree of life to those who seize her,
And all those who hold her fast are blessed.
19 Yahweh (AF)by wisdom founded the earth,
By discernment He (AG)established the heavens.
20 By His knowledge the (AH)deeps were split up
And the (AI)skies drip with dew.
21 My son, (AJ)let them not deviate from your eyes;
Guard sound wisdom and discretion,
22 So they will be (AK)life for your soul
And (AL)grace for 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 in dread;
You will lie down, and your sleep will be pleasant.
25 (AP)Do not be afraid of sudden dread
Nor of the (AQ)storm of the wicked when it comes;
26 For Yahweh will be [f]your confidence
And will (AR)keep your foot from being caught.
27 (AS)Do not withhold good from [g]those to whom it is due,
When it is in your hand to do it.
28 (AT)Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it,”
When it is there with you.
29 (AU)Do not devise [h]harm against your neighbor,
While he lives securely beside you.
30 (AV)Do not contend with a man without cause,
If he has dealt you no [i]harm.
31 (AW)Do not envy a man of violence
And do not choose any of his ways.
32 For the (AX)devious one is an abomination to Yahweh;
But His (AY)secret council is with the upright.
33 The (AZ)curse of Yahweh is on the house of the wicked one,
But He (BA)blesses the abode of the righteous.
34 Though (BB)He scoffs at the scoffers,
Yet (BC)He gives grace to the humble.
35 (BD)The wise will inherit glory,
But [j]fools raise up disgrace.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 3:1 Or instruction
- Proverbs 3:6 Lit know
- Proverbs 3:8 Lit navel
- Proverbs 3:11 Or instruction
- Proverbs 3:15 Or corals
- Proverbs 3:26 Or at your side
- Proverbs 3:27 Lit its owners
- Proverbs 3:29 Lit evil
- Proverbs 3:30 Lit evil
- Proverbs 3:35 Or He raises fools up in dishonor
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
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