Proverbs 3
Lexham English Bible
Wisdom and Piety
3 My child, do not forget my instruction,
and may your heart guard my commands.
2 For length of days, years of life,
and peace they[a] shall add to you.
3 May loyal love[b] and truth not forsake you;
bind them around your neck,
write them upon your heart.
4 And you shall find favor and good sense[c]
in the eyes of God and humankind.
5 Trust Yahweh[d] with all your heart;
do not lean toward your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will straighten your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear Yahweh and retreat from evil.
8 There shall be healing for your flesh,[e]
and refreshment for your body.
9 Honor Yahweh from your substance,[f]
and from the firstfruits of all that will come to you,
10 and your barns shall be full of plenty,
and your vats shall burst with new wine.
Happy Is the One Who Finds Wisdom
11 Do not despise the discipline of Yahweh, my child.
Do not be weary of his reproof
12 because whomever Yahweh will love, he will rebuke,
as a father delights in his son.
13 Happy is the one[g] who finds wisdom,
and one who obtains understanding.
14 For her[h] income is better than the income of silver,
and her revenue than that of gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies,
and all your desires shall not compare with 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 for those who seize her;
those who take hold of her are considered happy.
Role of Wisdom in Creation and Society
19 Yahweh in wisdom founded the earth;
he established the heavens in understanding.
20 With his knowledge, depths broke open,
and clouds dropped dew.
21 My child, may they[i] not escape from your sight;[j]
may you keep sound wisdom and prudence.
22 They shall be life for your soul[k]
and adornment[l] for your neck.
23 Then you will walk in the confidence of your ways,
and your foot will not stumble.
24 If you sit down, you will not panic,[m]
and if you lie down, then your sleep shall be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden panic,[n]
or the storm of wickedness that will come.
26 Yahweh will be your confidence[o]
and guard your foot from capture.
27 Do not withhold good from its owner[p]
when it is in the power of your hand to do.
28 Do not say to your neighbor,
“Go and return and tomorrow I will give it,”
when it is with you.[q]
29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor
who dwells in confidence beside you.
30 Do not quarrel with anyone without cause,
when he did not do you harm.
31 Do not envy a man of violence,
and do not choose any of his ways,
32 for he who is perverse is an abomination of Yahweh,
but those who are upright are his confidence.
33 The curse of Yahweh is on the house of the wicked,
and the abode of the righteous ones he blesses.
34 With those who scorn, he is scornful,
but to those who are humble, he gives favor.
35 They will inherit the honor of the wise,
but stubborn fools, disgrace.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 3:2 That is, “my commands” (3:1)
- Proverbs 3:3 Or “kindness, mercy”
- Proverbs 3:4 Or “understanding, prudence”
- Proverbs 3:5 Literally “trust toward Yahweh”
- Proverbs 3:8 Literally “navel”
- Proverbs 3:9 Or “wealth, property”
- Proverbs 3:13 Literally “a man”
- Proverbs 3:14 Or “its”; both “wisdom” and “understanding” are feminine nouns and can be read as either “she” or “it”
- Proverbs 3:21 Grammatically, “they” most likely refers to clouds (3:20). In context, “they” may refer to wisdom and understanding (3:13).
- Proverbs 3:21 Literally “eyes”
- Proverbs 3:22 Or “inner self”
- Proverbs 3:22 Or “favor”
- Proverbs 3:24 Or “fear, dread”
- Proverbs 3:25 Or “fear, dread”
- Proverbs 3:26 Literally “in your confidence”
- Proverbs 3:27 Or “lord”
- Proverbs 3:28 Literally “and there is with you”
Proverbs 3
Expanded Bible
Advice to Children
3 My ·child [L son], do not forget my ·teaching [instruction; law],
but ·keep my commands in mind [L let your heart/mind protect my commands].
2 Then ·you will live a long time,
and your life will be successful [L length of days and years of life and peace will be added to you].
3 Don’t ·ever forget kindness and truth [L let loyalty and faithfulness abandon you].
·Wear [Bind] them ·like a necklace [L on your neck].
Write them on your heart as if on a tablet.
4 Then you will ·be respected [find favor]
and will please both God and people.
5 Trust the Lord with all your heart,
and don’t ·depend [rely] on your own understanding.
6 ·Remember the Lord [L Know him] ·in all you do [L on all your paths],
and he will ·give you success [L keep your roads straight].
7 Don’t ·depend on your own wisdom [L be wise in your own eyes].
·Respect [Fear; Hold in awe] the Lord and ·refuse to do wrong [L turn away from evil].
8 Then your body will be healthy,
and your bones will be ·strong [refreshed].
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth
and the firstfruits from all your crops.
10 Then your barns will be full,
and your wine barrels will ·overflow [burst] with new wine.
11 My ·child [L son], do not reject the Lord’s discipline,
and don’t ·get angry [loathe] when he corrects you.
12 The Lord corrects those he loves,
just as ·parents [L fathers] correct the child they delight in.
13 ·Happy [Blessed] is the person who finds wisdom,
the one who ·gets [gains] understanding.
14 ·Wisdom [L Her profit] is worth more than silver;
·it brings more profit [L her yield more] than gold.
15 Wisdom is more precious than ·rubies [or pearls];
nothing you could want is equal to it.
16 ·With [In] her right hand ·wisdom offers you a long life [L are length of days],
and ·with [in] her left hand ·she gives you [are] riches and honor.
17 ·Wisdom will make your life [L Her paths are] pleasant
and ·will bring you [L her trails are] peace.
18 As a tree produces fruit, wisdom gives life to those who use it,
and everyone who uses it will be happy.
19 The Lord ·made [L laid the foundations of] the earth, ·using his wisdom [or with Wisdom; 8:22–31].
He set the ·sky [heavens] in place, using his ·understanding [competence].
20 With his knowledge, ·he made springs flow into rivers [L the deeps burst open]
and the clouds drop ·rain on the earth [L dew].
21 My ·child [L son], ·hold on to [protect] ·wisdom [resourcefulness] and ·good sense [discretion].
Don’t let them ·out of your sight [L slip from your eyes].
22 They will give you life
and ·beauty like a necklace [L an ornament] around your neck.
23 Then you will ·go your way [walk on your path; C of life] in safety,
and ·you will not get hurt [L your foot will not stumble].
24 When you lie down, you won’t be afraid;
when you lie down, you will sleep in peace.
25 You won’t be afraid of sudden ·trouble [terror];
you won’t fear the ruin that comes to the wicked,
26 because the Lord will ·keep you safe [be your confidence].
He will ·keep you from being trapped [guard your feet from capture].
27 Whenever you are able,
·do [L do not withhold] good to people who ·need help [or deserve it].
28 If you have what your neighbor asks for,
don’t say, “Come back later.
I will give it to you tomorrow.”
29 Don’t ·make plans to hurt [intend evil toward] your neighbor
who lives nearby and trusts you.
30 Don’t accuse a person for no good reason;
don’t accuse someone who has not harmed you.
31 Don’t be jealous of those who use violence,
and don’t ·choose to be like them [L prefer their path; C of life].
32 ·The Lord hates those who do wrong [L The devious are an abomination to the Lord],
but he is a ·friend [confidant] to those who are ·honest [virtuous].
33 The Lord will curse the evil person’s house,
but he will bless the home of ·those who do right [the righteous].
34 The Lord ·laughs at [mocks] those who ·laugh at [mock] him,
but he ·gives grace [shows favor] to ·those who are not proud [the humble].
35 Wise people ·will receive honor [possess glory],
but fools ·will be disgraced [give off/exude shame].
2012 by Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.