Proverbs 3
3
Guidance for the Young
1My son, do not forget my law,
#Deut. 8:1But let your heart keep my commands;
2For length of days and long life
And #Ps. 119:165; Prov. 4:10peace they will add to you.
3Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
#Ex. 13:9; Deut. 6:8; Prov. 6:21Bind them around your neck,
#Prov. 7:3; Jer. 17:1; (2 Cor. 3:3)Write them on the tablet of your heart,
4#1 Sam. 2:26; Luke 2:52; Rom. 14:18And so find favor and high esteem
In the sight of God and man.
5#(Ps. 37:3, 5); Prov. 22:19Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
#Prov. 23:4; (Jer. 9:23, 24)And lean not on your own understanding;
6#(1 Chr. 28:9); Prov. 16:3; (Phil. 4:6; James 1:5)In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
7Do not be wise in your own #Rom. 12:16eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
8It will be health to your flesh,
And #Job 21:24strength to your bones.
9#Ex. 22:29; Deut. 26:2; (Mal. 3:10)Honor the Lord with your possessions,
And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
10#Deut. 28:8So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine.
11#Job 5:17; Ps. 94:12; Heb. 12:5, 6; Rev. 3:19My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
Nor detest His correction;
12For whom the Lord loves He corrects,
#Deut. 8:5; Prov. 13:24Just as a father the son in whom he delights.
13#Prov. 8:32, 34, 35Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
And the man who gains understanding;
14#Job 28:13For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver,
And her gain than fine gold.
15She is more precious than rubies,
And #Matt. 13:44all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.
16#Prov. 8:18; (1 Tim. 4:8)Length of days is in her right hand,
In her left hand riches and honor.
17#(Matt. 11:29)Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
And all her paths are peace.
18She is #Gen. 2:9; Prov. 11:30; 13:12; 15:4; Rev. 2:7a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who retain her.
19#Ps. 104:24; Prov. 8:27The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
By understanding He established the heavens;
20By His knowledge the depths were #Gen. 7:11broken up,
And clouds drop down the dew.
21My son, let them not depart from your eyes—
Keep sound wisdom and discretion;
22So they will be life to your soul
And grace to your neck.
23#(Ps. 37:24; 91:11, 12); Prov. 10:9Then you will walk safely in your way,
And your foot will not stumble.
24When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.
25#Ps. 91:5; 1 Pet. 3:14Do not be afraid of sudden terror,
Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;
26For the Lord will be your confidence,
And will keep your foot from being caught.
27#Rom. 13:7; (Gal. 6:10)Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
When it is in the power of your hand to do so.
28#Lev. 19:13; Deut. 24:15Do not say to your neighbor,
“Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it,”
When you have it with you.
29Do not devise evil against your neighbor,
For he dwells by you for safety’s sake.
30#Prov. 26:17; (Rom. 12:18)Do not strive with a man without cause,
If he has done you no harm.
31#Ps. 37:1; Prov. 24:1Do not envy the oppressor,
And choose none of his ways;
32For the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord,
#Ps. 25:14But His secret counsel is with the upright.
33#Lev. 26:14, 16; Deut. 11:28; Zech. 5:3, 4; Mal. 2:2The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked,
But #Job 8:6; Ps. 1:3He blesses the home of the just.
34#James 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:5Surely He scorns the scornful,
But gives grace to the humble.
35The wise shall inherit glory,
But shame shall be the legacy of fools.
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 3
3
Wisdom and Piety
1My child, do not forget my instruction,
and may your heart guard my commands.
2For length of days, years of life,
and peace they#That is, “my commands” (3:1) shall add to you.
3May loyal love#Or “kindness, mercy” and truth not forsake you;
bind them around your neck,
write them upon your heart.
4And you shall find favor and good sense#Or “understanding, prudence”
in the eyes of God and humankind.
5Trust Yahweh#Literally “trust toward Yahweh” with all your heart;
do not lean toward your own understanding.
6In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will straighten your paths.
7Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear Yahweh and retreat from evil.
8There shall be healing for your flesh,#Literally “navel”
and refreshment for your body.
9Honor Yahweh from your substance,#Or “wealth, property”
and from the firstfruits of all that will come to you,
10and your barns shall be full of plenty,
and your vats shall burst with new wine.
Happy Is the One Who Finds Wisdom
11Do not despise the discipline of Yahweh, my child.
Do not be weary of his reproof
12because whomever Yahweh will love, he will rebuke,
as a father delights in his son.
13Happy is the one#Literally “a man” who finds wisdom,
and one who obtains understanding.
14For her#Or “its”; both “wisdom” and “understanding” are feminine nouns and can be read as either “she” or “it” income is better than the income of silver,
and her revenue than that of gold.
15She is more precious than rubies,
and all your desires shall not compare with her.
16Length of days is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
17Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.
18She 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
19Yahweh in wisdom founded the earth;
he established the heavens in understanding.
20With his knowledge, depths broke open,
and clouds dropped dew.
21My child, may they#Grammatically, “they” most likely refers to clouds (3:20). In context, “they” may refer to wisdom and understanding (3:13). not escape from your sight;#Literally “eyes”
may you keep sound wisdom and prudence.
22They shall be life for your soul#Or “inner self”
and adornment#Or “favor” for your neck.
23Then you will walk in the confidence of your ways,
and your foot will not stumble.
24If you sit down, you will not panic,#Or “fear, dread”
and if you lie down, then your sleep shall be sweet.
25Do not be afraid of sudden panic,#Or “fear, dread”
or the storm of wickedness that will come.
26Yahweh will be your confidence#Literally “in your confidence”
and guard your foot from capture.
27Do not withhold good from its owner#Or “lord”
when it is in the power of your hand to do.
28Do not say to your neighbor,
“Go and return and tomorrow I will give it,”
when it is with you.#Literally “and there is with you”
29Do not plot harm against your neighbor
who dwells in confidence beside you.
30Do not quarrel with anyone without cause,
when he did not do you harm.
31Do not envy a man of violence,
and do not choose any of his ways,
32for he who is perverse is an abomination of Yahweh,
but those who are upright are his confidence.
33The curse of Yahweh is on the house of the wicked,
and the abode of the righteous ones he blesses.
34With those who scorn, he is scornful,
but to those who are humble, he gives favor.
35They will inherit the honor of the wise,
but stubborn fools, disgrace.
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