Proverbs 3
Modern English Version
The Rewards of Wisdom
3 My son, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments;
2 for length of days and long life
and peace will they add to you.
3 Do not let mercy and truth forsake you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart,
4 so you will find favor and good understanding
in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He will direct your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and depart from evil.
8 It will be health to your body,
and strength to your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your substance,
and with the first fruits of all your increase;
10 so your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your presses will burst out with new wine.
11 My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
nor be weary of His correction;
12 for whom the Lord loves He corrects,
even as a father the son in whom he delights.
13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
and the man who gets understanding;
14 for her benefit is more profitable than silver,
and her gain than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies,
and all the things you may desire are not to be compared with her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand,
and in her left hand riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
and happy is everyone who retains her.
19 The Lord by wisdom has founded the earth;
by understanding He has established the heavens;
20 by His knowledge the depths are broken up,
and the clouds drop down the dew.
21 My son, let them not depart from your eyes—
keep sound wisdom and discretion;
22 so they will be life to your soul
and grace to your neck.
23 Then you will walk safely in your way,
and your foot will not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror,
nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;
26 for the Lord will be your confidence,
and will keep your foot from being caught.
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
28 Do not say to your neighbor,
“Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give it,”
when you have it with you.
29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor,
seeing he dwells securely by you.
30 Do not strive with a man without cause,
if he has done you no harm.
31 Do not envy the oppressor,
and choose none of his ways;
32 for the perverse is an abomination to the Lord,
but His secret counsel is with the righteous.
33 The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked,
but He blesses the habitation of the just.
34 Surely He scorns the scornful,
but He gives favor to the humble.
35 The wise will inherit glory,
but shame will be the legacy of fools.
Proverbs 3
Lexham English Bible
Wisdom and Piety
3 My child, do not forget my instruction,
and may your heart guard my commands.
2 For length of days, years of life,
and peace they[a] shall add to you.
3 May loyal love[b] and truth not forsake you;
bind them around your neck,
write them upon your heart.
4 And you shall find favor and good sense[c]
in the eyes of God and humankind.
5 Trust Yahweh[d] with all your heart;
do not lean toward your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will straighten your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear Yahweh and retreat from evil.
8 There shall be healing for your flesh,[e]
and refreshment for your body.
9 Honor Yahweh from your substance,[f]
and from the firstfruits of all that will come to you,
10 and your barns shall be full of plenty,
and your vats shall burst with new wine.
Happy Is the One Who Finds Wisdom
11 Do not despise the discipline of Yahweh, my child.
Do not be weary of his reproof
12 because whomever Yahweh will love, he will rebuke,
as a father delights in his son.
13 Happy is the one[g] who finds wisdom,
and one who obtains understanding.
14 For her[h] income is better than the income of silver,
and her revenue than that of gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies,
and all your desires shall not compare with her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life for those who seize her;
those who take hold of her are considered happy.
Role of Wisdom in Creation and Society
19 Yahweh in wisdom founded the earth;
he established the heavens in understanding.
20 With his knowledge, depths broke open,
and clouds dropped dew.
21 My child, may they[i] not escape from your sight;[j]
may you keep sound wisdom and prudence.
22 They shall be life for your soul[k]
and adornment[l] for your neck.
23 Then you will walk in the confidence of your ways,
and your foot will not stumble.
24 If you sit down, you will not panic,[m]
and if you lie down, then your sleep shall be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden panic,[n]
or the storm of wickedness that will come.
26 Yahweh will be your confidence[o]
and guard your foot from capture.
27 Do not withhold good from its owner[p]
when it is in the power of your hand to do.
28 Do not say to your neighbor,
“Go and return and tomorrow I will give it,”
when it is with you.[q]
29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor
who dwells in confidence beside you.
30 Do not quarrel with anyone without cause,
when he did not do you harm.
31 Do not envy a man of violence,
and do not choose any of his ways,
32 for he who is perverse is an abomination of Yahweh,
but those who are upright are his confidence.
33 The curse of Yahweh is on the house of the wicked,
and the abode of the righteous ones he blesses.
34 With those who scorn, he is scornful,
but to those who are humble, he gives favor.
35 They will inherit the honor of the wise,
but stubborn fools, disgrace.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 3:2 That is, “my commands” (3:1)
- Proverbs 3:3 Or “kindness, mercy”
- Proverbs 3:4 Or “understanding, prudence”
- Proverbs 3:5 Literally “trust toward Yahweh”
- Proverbs 3:8 Literally “navel”
- Proverbs 3:9 Or “wealth, property”
- Proverbs 3:13 Literally “a man”
- Proverbs 3:14 Or “its”; both “wisdom” and “understanding” are feminine nouns and can be read as either “she” or “it”
- Proverbs 3:21 Grammatically, “they” most likely refers to clouds (3:20). In context, “they” may refer to wisdom and understanding (3:13).
- Proverbs 3:21 Literally “eyes”
- Proverbs 3:22 Or “inner self”
- Proverbs 3:22 Or “favor”
- Proverbs 3:24 Or “fear, dread”
- Proverbs 3:25 Or “fear, dread”
- Proverbs 3:26 Literally “in your confidence”
- Proverbs 3:27 Or “lord”
- Proverbs 3:28 Literally “and there is with you”
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