The Rewards of Wisdom

My son, (A)do not forget my [a]teaching,
But let your heart (B)keep my commandments;
For (C)length of days and years of life
And peace they will add to you.
Do not let (D)kindness and truth leave you;
(E)Bind them around your neck,
(F)Write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will (G)find favor and (H)good [b]repute
In the sight of God and man.
(I)Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And (J)do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways (K)acknowledge Him,
And He will (L)make your paths straight.
(M)Do not be wise in your own eyes;
(N)Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
It will be (O)healing to your [c]body
And (P)refreshment to your bones.
(Q)Honor the Lord 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 overflow with new wine.
11 (U)My son, do not reject the [d]discipline of the Lord
Or loathe His reproof,
12 For (V)whom the Lord loves He reproves,
Even (W)as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.

13 (X)How blessed is the man who finds wisdom
And the man who gains understanding.
14 For her (Y)profit is better than the profit of silver
And her gain better than fine gold.
15 She is (Z)more precious than [e]jewels;
And nothing you desire compares with her.
16 [f](AA)Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are (AB)riches and honor.
17 Her (AC)ways are pleasant ways
And all her paths are (AD)peace.
18 She is a (AE)tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who hold her fast.
19 The Lord (AF)by wisdom founded the earth,
By understanding He (AG)established the heavens.
20 By His knowledge the (AH)deeps were broken up
And the (AI)skies drip with dew.
21 My son, (AJ)let them not [g]vanish from your sight;
Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 So they will be (AK)life to your soul
And (AL)adornment to 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 afraid;
When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 (AP)Do not be afraid of sudden fear
Nor of the [h](AQ)onslaught of the wicked when it comes;
26 For the Lord will be [i]your confidence
And will (AR)keep your foot from being caught.

27 (AS)Do not withhold good from [j]those to whom it is due,
When it is in your power to do it.
28 (AT)Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it,”
When you have it with you.
29 (AU)Do not devise harm against your neighbor,
While he lives securely beside you.
30 (AV)Do not contend with a man without cause,
If he has done you no harm.
31 (AW)Do not envy a man of violence
And do not choose any of his ways.
32 For the (AX)devious are an abomination to the Lord;
But [k]He is (AY)intimate with the upright.
33 The (AZ)curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked,
But He (BA)blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
34 Though (BB)He scoffs at the scoffers,
Yet (BC)He gives grace to the afflicted.
35 (BD)The wise will inherit honor,
But fools [l]display dishonor.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:1 Or law
  2. Proverbs 3:4 Lit understanding
  3. Proverbs 3:8 Lit navel
  4. Proverbs 3:11 Or instruction
  5. Proverbs 3:15 Lit corals
  6. Proverbs 3:16 Lit Length of days
  7. Proverbs 3:21 Lit depart
  8. Proverbs 3:25 Lit storm
  9. Proverbs 3:26 Or at your side
  10. Proverbs 3:27 Lit its owners
  11. Proverbs 3:32 Lit His private counsel is
  12. Proverbs 3:35 Lit raise high

Trust, Fear, and Honor Yahweh

My son, (A)do not forget my [a]law,
But let your heart (B)guard my commandments;
For (C)length of days and years of life
And peace they will add to you.
Do not let (D)lovingkindness and truth forsake you;
(E)Bind them around your neck,
(F)Write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will (G)find favor and (H)good insight
In the eyes of God and man.
(I)Trust in Yahweh with all your heart
And (J)do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways [b](K)acknowledge Him,
And He will (L)make your paths straight.
(M)Do not be wise in your own eyes;
(N)Fear Yahweh and turn away from evil.
It will be (O)healing to your [c]body
And (P)refreshment to your bones.
(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

  1. Proverbs 3:1 Or instruction
  2. Proverbs 3:6 Lit know
  3. Proverbs 3:8 Lit navel
  4. Proverbs 3:11 Or instruction
  5. Proverbs 3:15 Or corals
  6. Proverbs 3:26 Or at your side
  7. Proverbs 3:27 Lit its owners
  8. Proverbs 3:29 Lit evil
  9. Proverbs 3:30 Lit evil
  10. Proverbs 3:35 Or He raises fools up in dishonor

The Rewards of Wisdom

My son, (A)do not forget my [a]teaching,
But have your heart (B)comply with my commandments;
For (C)length of days and years of life
And peace they will add to you.
Do not let (D)kindness and truth leave you;
(E)Bind them around your neck,
(F)Write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will (G)find favor and a (H)good [b]reputation
In the sight of God and man.
(I)Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And (J)do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways (K)acknowledge Him,
And He will (L)make your paths straight.
(M)Do not be wise in your own eyes;
(N)Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
It will be (O)healing to your [c]body
And (P)refreshment to your bones.
(Q)Honor the Lord from your wealth,
And from the (R)first of all your produce;
10 Then your (S)barns will be filled with plenty,
And your (T)vats will overflow with new wine.
11 (U)My son, do not reject the [d]discipline of the Lord
Or loathe His rebuke,
12 For (V)whom the Lord loves He disciplines,
Just (W)as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.

13 (X)Blessed is a person who finds wisdom,
And one who obtains understanding.
14 For [e]her (Y)profit is better than the profit of silver,
And her produce better than gold.
15 She is (Z)more precious than [f]jewels,
And nothing you desire compares with her.
16 [g](AA)Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are (AB)riches and honor.
17 Her (AC)ways are pleasant ways,
And all her paths are (AD)peace.
18 She is a (AE)tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are those who hold on to her.
19 The Lord founded the earth (AF)by wisdom,
He (AG)established the heavens by understanding.
20 By His knowledge the (AH)ocean depths were burst open,
And the (AI)clouds drip with dew.
21 My son, see that (AJ)they do not escape from your sight;
Comply with sound wisdom and discretion,
22 And they will be (AK)life to your soul
And (AL)adornment to 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 afraid;
When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 (AP)Do not be afraid of sudden danger,
Nor of (AQ)trouble from the wicked when it comes;
26 For the Lord will be [h]your confidence,
And will (AR)keep your foot from being caught.

27 (AS)Do not withhold good from [i]those to whom it is due,
When it is in your power to do it.
28 (AT)Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it to you,”
When you have it with you.
29 (AU)Do not devise harm against your neighbor,
While he lives securely beside you.
30 (AV)Do not contend with a person for no reason,
If he has done you no harm.
31 (AW)Do not envy a violent person,
And do not choose any of his ways.
32 For the (AX)devious are an abomination to the Lord;
But [j]He is (AY)intimate with the upright.
33 The (AZ)curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked,
But He (BA)blesses the home of the righteous.
34 Though (BB)He scoffs at the scoffers,
Yet (BC)He gives grace to the needy.
35 (BD)The wise will inherit honor,
But fools [k]increase dishonor.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:1 Or law
  2. Proverbs 3:4 Lit understanding
  3. Proverbs 3:8 Lit navel
  4. Proverbs 3:11 Or instruction
  5. Proverbs 3:14 I.e., the profit from Wisdom (personified)
  6. Proverbs 3:15 Lit corals
  7. Proverbs 3:16 Lit Length of days
  8. Proverbs 3:26 Or at your side
  9. Proverbs 3:27 Lit its owners
  10. Proverbs 3:32 Lit His private counsel is
  11. Proverbs 3:35 Lit raise high