Proverbs 3
New American Standard Bible
The Rewards of Wisdom
3 My son, (A)do not forget my [a]teaching,
But have your heart (B)comply with my commandments;
2 For (C)length of days and years of life
And peace they will add to you.
3 Do not let (D)kindness and truth leave you;
(E)Bind them around your neck,
(F)Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will (G)find favor and a (H)good [b]reputation
In the sight of God and man.
5 (I)Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And (J)do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways (K)acknowledge Him,
And He will (L)make your paths straight.
7 (M)Do not be wise in your own eyes;
(N)Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 It will be (O)healing to your [c]body
And (P)refreshment to your bones.
9 (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
- Proverbs 3:1 Or law
- Proverbs 3:4 Lit understanding
- Proverbs 3:8 Lit navel
- Proverbs 3:11 Or instruction
- Proverbs 3:14 I.e., the profit from Wisdom (personified)
- Proverbs 3:15 Lit corals
- Proverbs 3:16 Lit Length of days
- Proverbs 3:26 Or at your side
- Proverbs 3:27 Lit its owners
- Proverbs 3:32 Lit His private counsel is
- Proverbs 3:35 Lit raise high
Proverbs 3
Holman 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
in the sight of God and man.(E)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,(F)
and do not rely on your own understanding;(G)
6 think about Him in all your ways,
and He will guide you on the right paths.[b](H)
7 Don’t consider yourself to be wise;(I)
fear the Lord and turn away from evil.(J)
8 This will be healing for your body[c](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, the son he delights in.(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 compares with her.(T)
16 Long life[d] 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 your competence and discretion.
My son, don’t lose sight of them.(AA)
22 They will be life for you[e][f](AB)
and adornment[g] for your neck.
23 Then you will go safely on your way;
your foot will not stumble.(AC)
24 When you lie[h] 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[i]
and will keep your foot from a snare.(AF)
Treat Others Fairly
27 When it is in your power,[j]
don’t withhold good(AG) from the one it belongs to.
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[k] 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.[l]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 3:2 Lit days, years of life
- Proverbs 3:6 Lit will make your paths straight
- Proverbs 3:8 Lit navel
- Proverbs 3:16 Lit Length of days
- Proverbs 3:22 Or be your throat
- Proverbs 3:22 In Hb, nephesh can mean throat, soul, or life.
- Proverbs 3:22 Or grace
- Proverbs 3:24 LXX reads sit
- Proverbs 3:26 Or be at your side
- Proverbs 3:27 Lit in the power of your hands
- Proverbs 3:32 Or confidential counsel
- Proverbs 3:35 Or but haughty fools dishonor, or but fools exalt dishonor
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.