Proverbs 3
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Admonition to Trust and Honor God
3 My child, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments,(A)
2 for length of days and years of life
and abundant welfare they will give you.(B)
3 Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.(C)
4 Then you will find favor and high regard
in the sight of God and of people.(D)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own insight.(E)
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.(F)
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and turn away from evil.(G)
8 It will be a healing for your flesh
and a refreshment for your body.(H)
9 Honor the Lord with your substance
and with the first fruits of all your produce;(I)
10 then your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine.
11 My child, do not despise the Lord’s discipline
or be weary of his reproof,(J)
12 for the Lord reproves the one he loves,
as a father the son in whom he delights.(K)
The True Wealth
13 Happy are those who find wisdom
and those who get understanding,
14 for her income is better than silver
and her revenue better than gold.(L)
15 She is more precious than jewels,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.(M)
16 Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.(N)
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.(O)
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
those who hold her fast are called happy.(P)
God’s Wisdom in Creation
19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
by understanding he established the heavens;(Q)
20 by his knowledge the deeps broke open,
and the clouds drop down the dew.(R)
The True Security
21 My child, do not let these escape from your sight:
keep sound wisdom and prudence,
22 and they will be life for your soul
and adornment for your neck.(S)
23 Then you will walk on your way securely,
and your foot will not stumble.(T)
24 If you sit down,[a] you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Then you will not be afraid of sudden panic
or of the storm that strikes the wicked,(U)
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,[b]
when it is in your power to do it.(V)
28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go and come again;
tomorrow I will give it,” when you have it with you.(W)
29 Do not plan harm against your neighbor
who lives trustingly beside you.(X)
30 Do not quarrel with anyone without cause,
when no harm has been done to you.(Y)
31 Do not envy the violent,
and do not choose any of their ways,(Z)
32 for the perverse are an abomination to the Lord,
but the upright are in his confidence.(AA)
33 The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the abode of the righteous.(AB)
34 Toward the scorners he is scornful,
but to the humble he shows favor.(AC)
35 The wise will inherit honor,
but stubborn fools, disgrace.
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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