Proverbs 3:19-35
New American Standard Bible
19 The Lord founded the earth (A)by wisdom,
He (B)established the heavens by understanding.
20 By His knowledge the (C)ocean depths were burst open,
And the (D)clouds drip with dew.
21 My son, see that (E)they do not escape from your sight;
Comply with sound wisdom and discretion,
22 And they will be (F)life to your soul
And (G)adornment to your neck.
23 Then you will (H)walk in your way securely,
And your foot will not (I)stumble.
24 When you (J)lie down, you will not be afraid;
When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 (K)Do not be afraid of sudden danger,
Nor of (L)trouble from the wicked when it comes;
26 For the Lord will be [a]your confidence,
And will (M)keep your foot from being caught.
27 (N)Do not withhold good from [b]those to whom it is due,
When it is in your power to do it.
28 (O)Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it to you,”
When you have it with you.
29 (P)Do not devise harm against your neighbor,
While he lives securely beside you.
30 (Q)Do not contend with a person for no reason,
If he has done you no harm.
31 (R)Do not envy a violent person,
And do not choose any of his ways.
32 For the (S)devious are an abomination to the Lord;
But [c]He is (T)intimate with the upright.
33 The (U)curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked,
But He (V)blesses the home of the righteous.
34 Though (W)He scoffs at the scoffers,
Yet (X)He gives grace to the needy.
35 (Y)The wise will inherit honor,
But fools [d]increase dishonor.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 3:26 Or at your side
- Proverbs 3:27 Lit its owners
- Proverbs 3:32 Lit His private counsel is
- Proverbs 3:35 Lit raise high
Proverbs 3:19-35
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
God’s Wisdom in Creation
19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
by understanding he established the heavens;(A)
20 by his knowledge the deeps broke open,
and the clouds drop down the dew.(B)
The True Security
21 My child, do not let these escape from your sight:
keep sound wisdom and prudence,
22 and they will be life for your soul
and adornment for your neck.(C)
23 Then you will walk on your way securely,
and your foot will not stumble.(D)
24 If you sit down,[a] you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Then you will not be afraid of sudden panic
or of the storm that strikes the wicked,(E)
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 is due,[b]
when it is in your power to do it.(F)
28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go and come again;
tomorrow I will give it,” when you have it with you.(G)
29 Do not plan harm against your neighbor
who lives trustingly beside you.(H)
30 Do not quarrel with anyone without cause,
when no harm has been done to you.(I)
31 Do not envy the violent,
and do not choose any of their ways,(J)
32 for the perverse are an abomination to the Lord,
but the upright are in his confidence.(K)
33 The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the abode of the righteous.(L)
34 Toward the scorners he is scornful,
but to the humble he shows favor.(M)
35 The wise will inherit honor,
but stubborn fools, disgrace.
Proverbs 3:19-35
The Message
19-20 With Lady Wisdom, God formed Earth;
with Madame Insight, he raised Heaven.
They knew when to signal rivers and springs to the surface,
and dew to descend from the night skies.
Never Walk Away
21-26 Dear friend, guard Clear Thinking and Common Sense with your life;
don’t for a minute lose sight of them.
They’ll keep your soul alive and well,
they’ll keep you fit and attractive.
You’ll travel safely,
you’ll neither tire nor trip.
You’ll take afternoon naps without a worry,
you’ll enjoy a good night’s sleep.
No need to panic over alarms or surprises,
or predictions that doomsday’s just around the corner,
Because God will be right there with you;
he’ll keep you safe and sound.
27-29 Never walk away from someone who deserves help;
your hand is God’s hand for that person.
Don’t tell your neighbor “Maybe some other time”
or “Try me tomorrow”
when the money’s right there in your pocket.
Don’t figure ways of taking advantage of your neighbor
when he’s sitting there trusting and unsuspecting.
30-32 Don’t walk around with a chip on your shoulder,
always spoiling for a fight.
Don’t try to be like those who shoulder their way through life.
Why be a bully?
“Why not?” you say. Because God can’t stand twisted souls.
It’s the straightforward who get his respect.
33-35 God’s curse blights the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the righteous.
He gives proud skeptics a cold shoulder,
but if you’re down on your luck, he’s right there to help.
Wise living gets rewarded with honor;
stupid living gets the booby prize.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson