Proverbs 3
New King James Version
Guidance for the Young
3 My son, do not forget my law,
(A)But let your heart keep my commands;
2 For length of days and long life
And (B)peace they will add to you.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
(C)Bind them around your neck,
(D)Write them on the tablet of your heart,
4 (E)And so find favor and [a]high esteem
In the sight of God and man.
5 (F)Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
(G)And lean not on your own understanding;
6 (H)In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall [b]direct your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own (I)eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
8 It will be health to your [c]flesh,
And (J)strength[d] to your bones.
9 (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
- Proverbs 3:4 Lit. good understanding
- Proverbs 3:6 Or make smooth or straight
- Proverbs 3:8 Body, lit. navel
- Proverbs 3:8 Lit. drink
- Proverbs 3:18 hold her fast
- Proverbs 3:27 Lit. its owners
Proverbs 3
Revised Geneva Translation
3 My son, do not forget my Law. But let your heart keep my commandments.
2 For they shall increase the length of your days and the years of life, and your peace.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you. Bind them on your neck and write them upon the tablet of your heart.
4 So shall you find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart. And lean not to your own wisdom.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your ways.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes. But fear the LORD and depart from evil.
8 So, health shall be to your core, and marrow to your bones.
9 Honor the LORD with your riches, and with the firstfruits of all your increase.
10 So shall your barns be filled with abundance. And your presses shall burst with new wine.
11 My son, do not refuse the chastening of the LORD, nor be grieved with His correction.
12 For the LORD corrects him whom He loves, even as the father does the child in whom he delights.
13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding.
14 For the merchandise thereof is better than the merchandise of silver. And the gain thereof is better than gold.
15 It is more precious than pearls. And all things that you can desire are not to be compared to her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her right hand, riches and glory.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasure; and all her paths, peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. And blessed is he who retains her.
19 The LORD, by wisdom, has laid the foundation of the Earth, and has established the heavens through understanding.
20 By His knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
21 My son, do not let these things depart from your eyes, but observe wisdom and counsel.
22 So they shall be life to your soul, and grace to your neck.
23 Then shall you walk safely by the way. And your foot shall not stumble.
24 If you sleep, you shall not be afraid. And when you sleep, your sleep shall be sweet.
25 You shall not fear for any sudden fear, nor for destruction by the wicked, when it comes.
26 For the LORD shall be for your assurance and shall keep your foot from capture.
27 Do not withhold the good from the owners thereof, though there be power in your hand to do it.
28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go and come again, and tomorrow I will give you,” if you have it now.
29 Intend no hurt against your neighbor, seeing he dwells by you without fear.
30 Do not strive with someone without cause (when he has done you no harm).
31 Do not be envious of the wicked man, nor choose any of his ways.
32 For the crooked 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 blesses the habitation of the righteous.
34 With the scornful He scorns. But He gives grace to the humble.
35 The wise shall inherit glory; but fools, dishonor (though they be exalted).
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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