Proverbs 3
3
More Good Things Come From Wisdom
1My son, do not forget my teaching.
Keep my commands in your heart.
2They will help you live for many years.
They will bring you peace and success.
3Don’t let love and truth ever leave you.
Tie them around your neck.
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4Then you will find favor and a good name
in the eyes of God and people.
5Trust in the Lord with all your heart.
Do not depend on your own understanding.
6In all your ways obey him.
Then he will make your paths smooth and straight.
7Don’t be wise in your own eyes.
Have respect for the Lord and avoid evil.
8That will bring health to your body.
It will make your bones strong.
9Honor the Lord with your wealth.
Give him the first share of all your crops.
10Then your storerooms will be so full they can’t hold everything.
Your huge jars will spill over with fresh wine.
11My son, do not hate the Lord’s training.
Do not object when he corrects you.
12The Lord trains those he loves.
He is like a father who trains the son he is pleased with.
13Blessed is the one who finds wisdom.
Blessed is the one who gains understanding.
14Wisdom pays better than silver does.
She earns more than gold does.
15She is worth more than rubies.
Nothing you want can compare with her.
16Long life is in her right hand.
In her left hand are riches and honor.
17Her ways are pleasant ways.
All her paths lead to peace.
18She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her.
Those who hold her close will be blessed.
19By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations.
Through understanding he set the heavens in place.
20By his knowledge the seas were separated,
and the clouds dropped their dew.
21My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight.
Hold on to good sense and the understanding of what is right.
22They will be life for you.
They will be like a gracious necklace around your neck.
23Then you will go on your way in safety.
You will not trip and fall.
24When you lie down, you won’t be afraid.
When you lie down, you will sleep soundly.
25Don’t be terrified by sudden trouble.
Don’t be afraid when sinners are destroyed.
26The Lord will be at your side.
He will keep your feet from being caught in a trap.
27Don’t hold back good from those who are worthy of it.
Don’t hold it back when you can help.
28Suppose you already have something to give.
Don’t say to your neighbor,
“Come back tomorrow.
I’ll give it to you then.”
29Don’t plan to harm your neighbor.
He lives near you and trusts you.
30Don’t bring charges against anyone for no reason.
They have not harmed you.
31Don’t be jealous of a person who hurts others.
Don’t choose any of their ways.
32The Lord really hates sinful people.
But he makes honest people his closest friends.
33The Lord puts a curse on the houses of sinners.
But he blesses the homes of those who do what is right.
34He makes fun of proud people who make fun of others.
But he gives grace to those who are humble and treated badly.
35Wise people receive honor.
But foolish people get only shame.
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Proverbs 3: NIrV
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Proverbs 3
3
Trust the Lord
1My son, don’t forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commands;#Dt 30:16
2for they will bring you
many days, a full life,#3:2 Lit days, years of life#Ps 91:16; Pr 3:16; 4:10; 9:11; 10:27 and well-being.#Pr 4:1–4; 6:20–23; 7:1–3
3Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you.
Tie them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.#Pr 1:9; 6:21; 7:3; 2Co 3:3
4Then you will find favor and high regard
with God and people.#Dt 4:6; 1Sm 2:26; Lk 2:52; Rm 14:18
5Trust in the Lord with all your heart,#Ps 37:3,5
and do not rely on your own understanding;#Jr 9:23
6in all your ways know him,
and he will make your paths straight.#Pr 11:5
7Don’t be wise in your own eyes;#Pr 26:5,12; 28:11,26; Rm 12:16
fear the Lord and turn away from evil.#Jb 1:1; 28:28; Ps 37:27; Pr 16:6
8This will be healing for your body#3:8 Lit navel#Pr 4:22
and strengthening for your bones.#Jb 21:24
9Honor the Lord with your possessions
and with the first produce of your entire harvest;#Ex 23:19; Lv 23:9–14; Dt 26:2
10then your barns will be completely filled,
and your vats will overflow with new wine.#Dt 28:8; Mal 3:10
11Do not despise the Lord’s instruction, my son,
and do not loathe his discipline;#Pr 5:11–13; 15:5,31–33
12for the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.#Dt 8:5; Jb 5:17–18; Pr 13:24; Heb 12:5–7
Wisdom Brings Happiness
13Happy is a man who finds wisdom#Pr 8:32,34
and who acquires understanding,
14for she is more profitable than silver,
and her revenue is better than gold.#Jb 28:15–19; Pr 8:10,19; 16:16; 22:1
15She is more precious than jewels;#Jb 28:18
nothing you desire can equal her.#Pr 8:11; 20:15
16Long life#3:16 Lit Length of days is in her right hand;
in her left, riches and honor.#Pr 8:18; 21:21; 22:4
17Her ways are pleasant,#Mt 11:19
and all her paths, peaceful.
18She is a tree of life#Gn 2:9; Pr 11:30; 13:12; 15:4; Rv 2:7 to those who embrace her,
and those who hold on to her are happy.
19The Lord founded the earth by wisdom#Ps 104:24; Pr 8:27
and established the heavens by understanding.
20By his knowledge the watery depths broke open,#Gn 7:11
and the clouds dripped with dew.#Dt 33:28; Jb 36:28
21Maintain sound wisdom and discretion.
My son, don’t lose sight of them.#Pr 4:21
22They will be life for you#3:22 Or be your throat#Pr 4:22
and adornment#3:22 Or grace for your neck.
23Then you will go safely on your way;
your foot will not stumble.#Ps 91:12; Pr 4:12
24When you lie#3:24 LXX reads sit down, you will not be afraid;#Jb 11:19; Ps 3:5; Pr 6:22
you will lie down, and your sleep will be pleasant.
25Don’t fear sudden danger
or the ruin of the wicked when it comes,#Jb 5:21; Ps 91:5; 1Pt 3:14
26for the Lord will be your confidence#3:26 Or be at your side
and will keep your foot from a snare.#1Sm 2:9
Treat Others Fairly
27When it is in your power,#3:27 Lit in the power of your hands
don’t withhold good#Gl 6:10 from the one to whom it belongs.
28Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go away! Come back later.
I’ll give it tomorrow” — when it is there with you.#Lv 19:13; Dt 24:15
29Don’t plan any harm against your neighbor,#Pr 6:14; 14:22
for he trusts you and lives near you.
30Don’t accuse anyone without cause,#Pr 24:28; Rm 12:18
when he has done you no harm.
31Don’t envy a violent man#Ps 37:1; Pr 23:17; 24:1,19
or choose any of his ways;
32for the devious are detestable to the Lord,
but he is a friend#3:32 Or confidential counsel to the upright.#Ps 25:14; Pr 11:20; 12:22; 15:8–9
33The Lord’s curse is on the household of the wicked,#Zch 5:3–4; Mal 2:2
but he blesses the home of the righteous;
34He mocks those who mock
but gives grace to the humble.#Jms 4:6; 1Pt 5:5
35The wise will inherit honor,
but he holds up fools to dishonor.#3:35 Or but haughty fools dishonor, or but fools exalt dishonor
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