Guidance for the Young

My son, do not forget my law,
(A)But let your heart keep my commands;
For length of days and long life
And (B)peace they will add to you.

Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
(C)Bind them around your neck,
(D)Write them on the tablet of your heart,
(E)And so find favor and [a]high esteem
In the sight of God and man.

(F)Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
(G)And lean not on your own understanding;
(H)In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall [b]direct your paths.

Do not be wise in your own (I)eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
It will be health to your [c]flesh,
And (J)strength[d] to your bones.

(K)Honor the Lord with your possessions,
And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
10 (L)So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine.

11 (M)My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
Nor detest His correction;
12 For whom the Lord loves He corrects,
(N)Just as a father the son in whom he delights.

13 (O)Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
And the man who gains understanding;
14 (P)For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver,
And her gain than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies,
And (Q)all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.
16 (R)Length of days is in her right hand,
In her left hand riches and honor.
17 (S)Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
And all her paths are peace.
18 She is (T)a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who [e]retain her.

19 (U)The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
By understanding He established the heavens;
20 By His knowledge the depths were (V)broken up,
And clouds drop down the dew.

21 My son, let them not depart from your eyes—
Keep sound wisdom and discretion;
22 So they will be life to your soul
And grace to your neck.
23 (W)Then you will walk safely in your way,
And your foot will not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.
25 (X)Do not be afraid of sudden terror,
Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;
26 For the Lord will be your confidence,
And will keep your foot from being caught.

27 (Y)Do not withhold good from [f]those to whom it is due,
When it is in the power of your hand to do so.
28 (Z)Do not say to your neighbor,
“Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it,
When you have it with you.
29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor,
For he dwells by you for safety’s sake.
30 (AA)Do not strive with a man without cause,
If he has done you no harm.

31 (AB)Do not envy the oppressor,
And choose none of his ways;
32 For the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord,
(AC)But His secret counsel is with the upright.
33 (AD)The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked,
But (AE)He blesses the home of the just.
34 (AF)Surely He scorns the scornful,
But gives grace to the humble.
35 The wise shall inherit glory,
But shame shall be the legacy of fools.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:4 Lit. good understanding
  2. Proverbs 3:6 Or make smooth or straight
  3. Proverbs 3:8 Body, lit. navel
  4. Proverbs 3:8 Lit. drink
  5. Proverbs 3:18 hold her fast
  6. Proverbs 3:27 Lit. its owners

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

Dagdag na Kahalagahan ng Karunungan

Anak, huwag mong kalilimutan ang mga itinuturo ko sa iyo. Ingatan mo sa iyong puso ang mga iniuutos ko, sapagkat ito ang magpapahaba at magpapaunlad ng iyong buhay. Manatili kang mapagmahal at matapat; alalahanin mo itong lagi at itanim sa iyong isipan. Kapag ginawa mo ito, malulugod ang Dios pati na ang mga tao.

Magtiwala ka nang buong puso sa Panginoon at huwag kang manalig sa iyong sariling karunungan. Alalahanin mo ang Panginoon sa lahat ng iyong ginagawa at ituturo niya sa iyo ang tamang landas. Huwag mong isipin na napakarunong mo na. Matakot ka sa Panginoon, at huwag gumawa ng masama. Para iyon sa ikabubuti at ikalalakas ng iyong katawan. Parangalan mo ang Panginoon sa pamamagitan ng paghahandog sa kanya ng mga unang bunga ng iyong ani. 10 Kapag ginawa mo ito, mapupuno ng ani ang iyong mga bodega at aapaw ang inumin sa iyong mga sisidlan.

11 Anak, huwag mong mamasamain kapag itinatama ka ng Panginoon upang ituwid ang iyong pag-uugali. 12 Sapagkat itinutuwid ng Panginoon ang ugali ng kanyang mga minamahal, katulad ng ginagawa ng isang ama sa kanyang anak na kinalulugdan.

13 Mapalad ang taong may karunungan at pang-unawa. 14 Higit pa ito sa pilak at ginto, 15 at sa ano pa mang mga mamahaling bato. Walang anumang bagay ang maaaring ipantay dito. 16 Magpapahaba ito ng iyong buhay, magpapaunlad ng iyong kabuhayan at magbibigay sa iyo ng karangalan. 17 Ang karunungan ay magpapabuti ng iyong kalagayan. 18 Mapalad ang taong may karunungan, dahil magbibigay ito ng mabuti at mahabang buhay.

19-20 Sa pamamagitan ng karunungan, nilikha ng Panginoon ang lupa at ang langit, at bumukas ang mga bukal at mula sa mga ulap ay bumuhos ang ulan.

21 Anak, ingatan mo ang iyong karunungan at kaalaman sa pagpapasya ng tama. Huwag mong hayaang mawala ito sa iyo. 22 Sapagkat ito ang magbibigay sa iyo ng mahaba at magandang buhay. 23 Mabubuhay kang ligtas sa anumang kapahamakan. 24 Makakatulog ka nang mahimbing at walang kinakatakutan. 25 Hindi ka dapat matakot kung biglang dumating ang mga pangyayaring nakakatakot o kung lilipulin na ang masasama, 26 dahil makakaasa ka na babantayan ka ng Panginoon at ilalayo sa kapahamakan.

27 Hanggaʼt makakaya mo, tulungan mo ang mga dapat tulungan. 28 Huwag mo nang ipagpabukas pa, kung kaya mo naman silang tulungan ngayon.

29 Huwag mong pagplanuhan ng masama ang kapitbahay mo na nagtitiwala sa iyo.

30 Huwag kang makipagtalo sa kapwa mo nang walang sapat na dahilan, lalo na kung wala naman siyang ginawang masama sa iyo.

31 Huwag kang mainggit sa taong malupit o gayahin ang kanyang mga ginagawa. 32 Sapagkat nasusuklam ang Panginoon sa mga taong baluktot ang pag-iisip, ngunit nagtitiwala siya sa mga namumuhay nang matuwid.

33 Isinusumpa ng Panginoon ang sambahayan ng masasama, ngunit pinagpapala niya ang sambahayan ng mga matuwid.

34 Hinahamak niya ang mga nanghahamak ng kapwa, ngunit binibiyayaan niya ang mga mapagpakumbaba.

35 Ang mga marunong ay pararangalan, ngunit ang mga hangal ay ilalagay sa kahihiyan.

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.