Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

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Trust in the Lord with all your heart,(A)
and do not rely on your own understanding;(B)

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Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart,
And lean not upon thine own understanding:

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Trust unto Jehovah with all thy heart, And unto thine own understanding lean not.

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Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and do not rely on your own insight.

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My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

11 My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:

12 For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

19 The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

21 My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:

22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.

24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.

26 For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.

29 Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.

30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

31 Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.

32 For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous.

33 The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.

34 Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.

35 The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

Trust the Lord

My son, don’t forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commands;(A)
for they will bring you
many days, a full life,[a](B) and well-being.(C)
Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you.
Tie them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.(D)
Then you will find favor and high regard
in the sight of God and man.(E)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,(F)
and do not rely on your own understanding;(G)
think about Him in all your ways,
and He will guide you on the right paths.[b](H)
Don’t consider yourself to be wise;(I)
fear the Lord and turn away from evil.(J)
This will be healing for your body[c](K)
and strengthening for your bones.(L)
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

  1. Proverbs 3:2 Lit days, years of life
  2. Proverbs 3:6 Lit will make your paths straight
  3. Proverbs 3:8 Lit navel
  4. Proverbs 3:16 Lit Length of days
  5. Proverbs 3:22 Or be your throat
  6. Proverbs 3:22 In Hb, nephesh can mean throat, soul, or life.
  7. Proverbs 3:22 Or grace
  8. Proverbs 3:24 LXX reads sit
  9. Proverbs 3:26 Or be at your side
  10. Proverbs 3:27 Lit in the power of your hands
  11. Proverbs 3:32 Or confidential counsel
  12. Proverbs 3:35 Or but haughty fools dishonor, or but fools exalt dishonor

My son, forget not my [a]law;
But let thy heart keep my commandments:
For length of days, and years of life,
And peace, will they add to thee.
Let not kindness and truth forsake thee:
Bind them about thy neck;
Write them upon the tablet of thy heart:
So shalt thou find favor and [b]good understanding
In the sight of God and man.
Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart,
And lean not upon thine own understanding:
In all thy ways acknowledge him,
And he will [c]direct thy paths.
Be not wise in thine own eyes;
Fear Jehovah, and depart from evil:
It will be health to thy navel,
And [d]marrow to thy bones.
Honor Jehovah with thy substance,
And with the first-fruits of all thine increase:
10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty,
And thy vats shall overflow with new wine.
11 My son, despise not the [e]chastening of Jehovah;
Neither be weary of his reproof:
12 For whom Jehovah loveth he reproveth,
Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,
And the man that [f]getteth understanding.
14 For the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver,
And the profit thereof than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies:
And none of the things thou canst desire are to be compared unto 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 to them that lay hold upon her:
And happy is every one that retaineth her.
19 Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth;
By understanding he established the heavens.
20 By his knowledge the depths were broken up,
And the skies drop down the dew.
21 My son, let them not depart from thine eyes;
Keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22 So shall they be life unto thy soul,
And grace to thy neck.
23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely,
And [g]thy foot shall not stumble.
24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid:
Yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25 Be not afraid of sudden fear,
Neither of the [h]desolation of the wicked, when it cometh:
26 For Jehovah will be thy confidence,
And will keep thy foot from being taken.

27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due,
When it is in the power of thy hand to do it.
28 Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and come again,
And to-morrow I will give;
When thou hast it by thee.
29 Devise not evil against thy neighbor,
Seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
30 Strive not with a man without cause,
If he have done thee no harm.
31 Envy thou not the man of violence,
And choose none of his ways.
32 For the perverse is an abomination to Jehovah;
But his [i]friendship is with the upright.
33 The curse of Jehovah is in the house of the wicked;
But he blesseth the habitation of the righteous.
34 [j]Surely he scoffeth at the scoffers;
[k]But he giveth grace unto the lowly.
35 The wise shall inherit glory;
But [l]shame shall be the promotion of fools.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:1 Or, teaching
  2. Proverbs 3:4 Or, good repute
  3. Proverbs 3:6 Or, make straight (or, plain)
  4. Proverbs 3:8 Or, refreshing. Hebrew moistening.
  5. Proverbs 3:11 Or, instruction
  6. Proverbs 3:13 Hebrew draweth forth.
  7. Proverbs 3:23 Hebrew thou shalt not dash thy foot.
  8. Proverbs 3:25 Or, storm
  9. Proverbs 3:32 Or, counsel
  10. Proverbs 3:34 Or, Though
  11. Proverbs 3:34 Or, Yet
  12. Proverbs 3:35 Or, fools carry away shame

My son! my law forget not, And my commands let thy heart keep,

For length of days and years, Life and peace they do add to thee.

Let not kindness and truth forsake thee, Bind them on thy neck, Write them on the tablet of thy heart,

And find grace and good understanding In the eyes of God and man.

Trust unto Jehovah with all thy heart, And unto thine own understanding lean not.

In all thy ways know thou Him, And He doth make straight thy paths.

Be not wise in thine own eyes, Fear Jehovah, and turn aside from evil.

Healing it is to thy navel, And moistening to thy bones.

Honour Jehovah from thy substance, And from the beginning of all thine increase;

10 And filled are thy barns [with] plenty, And [with] new wine thy presses break forth.

11 Chastisement of Jehovah, my son, despise not, And be not vexed with His reproof,

12 For whom Jehovah loveth He reproveth, Even as a father the son He is pleased with.

13 O the happiness of a man [who] hath found wisdom, And of a man [who] bringeth forth understanding.

14 For better [is] her merchandise Than the merchandise of silver, And than gold -- her increase.

15 Precious she [is] above rubies, And all thy pleasures are not comparable to her.

16 Length of days [is] in her right hand, In her left [are] wealth and honour.

17 Her ways [are] ways of pleasantness, And all her paths [are] peace.

18 A tree of life she [is] to those laying hold on her, And whoso is retaining her [is] happy.

19 Jehovah by wisdom did found the earth, He prepared the heavens by understanding.

20 By His knowledge depths have been rent, And clouds do drop dew.

21 My son! let them not turn from thine eyes, Keep thou wisdom and thoughtfulness,

22 And they are life to thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

23 Then thou goest thy way confidently, And thy foot doth not stumble.

24 If thou liest down, thou art not afraid, Yea, thou hast lain down, And sweet hath been thy sleep.

25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, And of the desolation of the wicked when it cometh.

26 For Jehovah is at thy side, And He hath kept thy foot from capture.

27 Withhold not good from its owners, When thy hand [is] toward God to do [it].

28 Say not thou to thy friend, `Go, and return, and to-morrow I give,' And substance with thee.

29 Devise not against thy neighbour evil, And he sitting confidently with thee.

30 Strive not with a man without cause, If he have not done thee evil.

31 Be not envious of a man of violence, Nor fix thou on any of his ways.

32 For an abomination to Jehovah [is] the perverted, And with the upright [is] His secret counsel.

33 The curse of Jehovah [is] in the house of the wicked. And the habitation of the righteous He blesseth.

34 If the scorners He doth scorn, Yet to the humble He doth give grace.

35 Honour do the wise inherit, And fools are bearing away shame!

Admonition to Trust and Honor God

My son, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments;
for length of days and years of life
    and abundant welfare will they give you.

Let not loyalty and faithfulness forsake you;
    bind them about your neck,
    write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will find favor and good repute[a]
    in the sight of God and man.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and do not rely on your own insight.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make straight your paths.
Be not wise in your own eyes;
    fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your flesh[b]
    and refreshment[c] to your bones.

Honor the Lord with your substance
    and with the first fruits of all your produce;
10 then your barns will be filled with plenty,
    and your vats will be bursting with wine.

11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline
    or be weary of his reproof,
12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,
    as a father the son in whom he delights.

The True Wealth

13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
    and the man who gets understanding,
14 for the gain from it is better than gain from silver
    and its profit better than gold.
15 She is more precious than jewels,
    and nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life 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 to those who lay hold of her;
    those who hold her fast are called happy.

God’s Wisdom in Creation

19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
    by understanding he established the heavens;
20 by his knowledge the deeps broke forth,
    and the clouds drop down the dew.

The True Security

21 My son, keep sound wisdom and discretion;
    let them not escape from your sight,[d]
22 and they will be life for your soul
    and adornment for your neck.
23 Then you will walk on your way securely
    and your foot will not stumble.
24 If you sit down,[e] you will not be afraid;
    when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden panic,
    or of the ruin[f] of 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[g] is due,
    when it is in your power to do it.

28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,
    tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.
29 Do not plan evil against your neighbor
    who dwells trustingly beside you.
30 Do not contend with a man for no reason,
    when he has done you no harm.
31 Do not envy a man of violence
    and do not choose any of his ways;
32 for the perverse man is an abomination to the Lord,
    but the upright are in his confidence.
33 The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
    but he blesses the abode of the righteous.
34 Toward the scorners he is scornful,
    but to the humble he shows favor.
35 The wise will inherit honor,
    but fools get[h] disgrace.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:4 Cn: Heb understanding
  2. Proverbs 3:8 Heb navel
  3. Proverbs 3:8 Or medicine
  4. Proverbs 3:21 Reversing the order of the clauses
  5. Proverbs 3:24 Gk: Heb lie down
  6. Proverbs 3:25 Heb storm
  7. Proverbs 3:27 Heb Do not withhold good from its owners
  8. Proverbs 3:35 Cn: Heb exalt