Do not let (A)kindness and truth leave you;
(B)Bind them around your neck,
(C)Write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will (D)find favor and a (E)good [a]reputation
In the sight of God and man.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:4 Lit understanding

Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you;
    bind them around your neck;
    write them on the tablet of your heart.(A)
Then you will find favor and high regard
    in the sight of God and of people.(B)

Read full chapter

13 (A)Blessed is a person who finds wisdom,
And one who obtains understanding.
14 For [a]her (B)profit is better than the profit of silver,
And her produce better than gold.
15 She is (C)more precious than [b]jewels,
And nothing you desire compares with her.
16 [c](D)Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are (E)riches and honor.
17 Her (F)ways are pleasant ways,
And all her paths are (G)peace.
18 She is a (H)tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are those who hold on to her.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:14 I.e., the profit from Wisdom (personified)
  2. Proverbs 3:15 Lit corals
  3. Proverbs 3:16 Lit Length of days

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.(A)
15 She is more precious than jewels,
    and nothing you desire can compare with her.(B)
16 Long life is in her right hand;
    in her left hand are riches and honor.(C)
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
    and all her paths are peace.(D)
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
    those who hold her fast are called happy.(E)

Read full chapter

35 (A)The wise will inherit honor,
But fools [a]increase dishonor.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:35 Lit raise high

35 The wise will inherit honor,
    but stubborn fools, disgrace.

Read full chapter

(A)The [a]beginning of wisdom is: (B)Acquire wisdom;
And with all your possessions, acquire understanding.
(C)Prize her, and she will exalt you;
She will honor you if you embrace her.
She will place (D)on your head a garland of grace;
She will present you with a crown of beauty.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:7 Or primary thing is wisdom

The beginning of wisdom is this: get wisdom,
    and whatever else you get, get insight.(A)
Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
    she will honor you if you embrace her.(B)
She will place on your head a fair garland;
    she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”(C)

Read full chapter

The (A)mentioning of the righteous is a blessing,
But (B)the name of the wicked will rot.

Read full chapter

The memory of the righteous is a blessing,
    but the name of the wicked will rot.(A)

Read full chapter

16 A (A)gracious woman attains honor,
And ruthless men attain riches.

Read full chapter

16 A gracious woman gets honor,
    but she who hates virtue is covered with shame.[a]
The timid become destitute,[b]
    but the aggressive gain riches.(A)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 11.16 Compare Gk Syr: Heb lacks but she . . . shame
  2. 11.16 Gk: Heb lacks The timid . . . destitute

26 One who withholds grain, the (A)people will curse him,
But (B)blessing will be on the head of him who (C)sells it.
27 One who diligently seeks good seeks favor,
But (D)one who seeks evil, evil will come to him.

Read full chapter

26 The people curse those who hold back grain,
    but a blessing is on the head of those who sell it.(A)
27 Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,
    but evil comes to the one who searches for it.(B)

Read full chapter

A person will be praised according to his insight,
But one of perverse [a]mind will be despised.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:8 Lit heart

One is commended for good sense,
    but a perverse mind is despised.

Read full chapter

Better is one who is lightly esteemed and has a servant,
Than one who honors himself and lacks bread.

Read full chapter

Better to be despised and have produce[a]
    than to be self-important and lack food.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 12.9 Cn: Heb servant

15 (A)Good understanding produces favor,
But the way of the treacherous is [a]their own disaster.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:15 Cf. LXX in destruction; MT constant

15 Good sense wins favor,
    but the way of the faithless is their ruin.[a](A)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 13.15 Cn Compare Gk Syr Vg Tg: Heb is enduring

18 Poverty and shame will come to one who (A)neglects [a]discipline,
But one who complies with rebuke will be honored.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:18 Or instruction

18 Poverty and disgrace are for the one who ignores instruction,
    but one who heeds reproof is honored.(A)

Read full chapter

35 The king’s favor is toward a (A)servant who acts wisely,
But his anger is toward him who acts shamefully.

Read full chapter

35 A servant who deals wisely has the king’s favor,
    but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.(A)

Read full chapter