Wisdom Bestows Well-Being

My son,(A) do not forget my teaching,(B)
    but keep my commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years(C)
    and bring you peace and prosperity.(D)

Let love and faithfulness(E) never leave you;
    bind them around your neck,
    write them on the tablet of your heart.(F)
Then you will win favor and a good name
    in the sight of God and man.(G)

Trust in the Lord(H) with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths(I) straight.[a](J)

Do not be wise in your own eyes;(K)
    fear the Lord(L) and shun evil.(M)
This will bring health to your body(N)
    and nourishment to your bones.(O)

Honor the Lord with your wealth,
    with the firstfruits(P) of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled(Q) to overflowing,
    and your vats will brim over with new wine.(R)

11 My son,(S) do not despise the Lord’s discipline,(T)
    and do not resent his rebuke,
12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves,(U)
    as a father the son he delights in.[b](V)

13 Blessed are those who find wisdom,
    those who gain understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver
    and yields better returns than gold.(W)
15 She is more precious than rubies;(X)
    nothing you desire can compare with her.(Y)
16 Long life is in her right hand;(Z)
    in her left hand are riches and honor.(AA)
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
    and all her paths are peace.(AB)
18 She is a tree of life(AC) to those who take hold of her;
    those who hold her fast will be blessed.(AD)

19 By wisdom(AE) the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,(AF)
    by understanding he set the heavens(AG) in place;
20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
    and the clouds let drop the dew.

21 My son,(AH) do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,(AI)
    preserve sound judgment and discretion;
22 they will be life for you,(AJ)
    an ornament to grace your neck.(AK)
23 Then you will go on your way in safety,(AL)
    and your foot will not stumble.(AM)
24 When you lie down,(AN) you will not be afraid;(AO)
    when you lie down, your sleep(AP) will be sweet.
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster
    or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the Lord will be at your side(AQ)
    and will keep your foot(AR) from being snared.(AS)

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,
    “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—
    when you already have it with you.(AT)
29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
    who lives trustfully near you.(AU)
30 Do not accuse anyone for no reason—
    when they have done you no harm.

31 Do not envy(AV) the violent
    or choose any of their ways.

32 For the Lord detests the perverse(AW)
    but takes the upright into his confidence.(AX)
33 The Lord’s curse(AY) is on the house of the wicked,(AZ)
    but he blesses the home of the righteous.(BA)
34 He mocks(BB) proud mockers(BC)
    but shows favor to the humble(BD) and oppressed.
35 The wise inherit honor,
    but fools get only shame.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:6 Or will direct your paths
  2. Proverbs 3:12 Hebrew; Septuagint loves, / and he chastens everyone he accepts as his child

Fili mi, ne obliviscaris legis meae, et praecepta mea cor tuum custodiat:

longitudinem enim dierum, et annos vitae, et pacem, apponent tibi.

Misericordia et veritas te non deserant; circumda eas gutturi tuo, et describe in tabulis cordis tui:

et invenies gratiam, et disciplinam bonam, coram Deo et hominibus.

Habe fiduciam in Domino ex toto corde tuo, et ne innitaris prudentiae tuae.

In omnibus viis tuis cogita illum, et ipse diriget gressus tuos.

Ne sis sapiens apud temetipsum; time Deum, et recede a malo:

sanitas quippe erit umbilico tuo, et irrigatio ossium tuorum.

Honora Dominum de tua substantia, et de primitiis omnium frugum tuarum da ei:

10 et implebuntur horrea tua saturitate, et vino torcularia tua redundabunt.

11 Disciplinam Domini, fili mi, ne abjicias, nec deficias cum ab eo corriperis:

12 quem enim diligit Dominus, corripit, et quasi pater in filio complacet sibi.

13 Beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam, et qui affluit prudentia.

14 Melior est acquisitio ejus negotiatione argenti, et auri primi et purissimi fructus ejus.

15 Pretiosior est cunctis opibus, et omnia quae desiderantur huic non valent comparari.

16 Longitudo dierum in dextera ejus, et in sinistra illius divitiae et gloria.

17 Viae ejus viae pulchrae, et omnes semitae illius pacificae.

18 Lignum vitae est his qui apprehenderint eam, et qui tenuerit eam beatus.

19 Dominus sapientia fundavit terram; stabilivit caelos prudentia.

20 Sapientia illius eruperunt abyssi, et nubes rore concrescunt.

21 Fili mi, ne effluant haec ab oculis tuis. Custodi legem atque consilium,

22 et erit vita animae tuae, et gratia faucibus tuis.

23 Tunc ambulabis fiducialiter in via tua, et pes tuus non impinget.

24 Si dormieris, non timebis; quiesces, et suavis erit somnus tuus.

25 Ne paveas repentino terrore, et irruentes tibi potentias impiorum.

26 Dominus enim erit in latere tuo, et custodiet pedem tuum, ne capiaris.

27 Noli prohibere benefacere eum qui potest: si vales, et ipse benefac.

28 Ne dicas amico tuo: Vade, et revertere: cras dabo tibi: cum statim possis dare.

29 Ne moliaris amico tuo malum, cum ille in te habeat fiduciam.

30 Ne contendas adversus hominem frustra, cum ipse tibi nihil mali fecerit.

31 Ne aemuleris hominem injustum, nec imiteris vias ejus:

32 quia abominatio Domini est omnis illusor, et cum simplicibus sermocinatio ejus.

33 Egestas a Domino in domo impii; habitacula autem justorum benedicentur.

34 Ipse deludet illusores, et mansuetis dabit gratiam.

35 Gloriam sapientes possidebunt; stultorum exaltatio ignominia.