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
Currently Selected:
Proverbs 3: CSB
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Proverbs 3
3
Using Wisdom
1My son,
do not forget my teachings,
and keep my commands in mind,
2because they will bring you
long life, good years, and peace.
3Do not let mercy and truth leave you.
Fasten them around your neck.
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4Then you will find favor and much success
in the sight of God and humanity.
5Trust the Lord with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own understanding.
6In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths smooth.#3:6 Or “straight.”
7Do not consider yourself wise.
Fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
8 ⌞Then⌟ your body will be healed,
and your bones will have nourishment.
9Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the first and best part of all your income.#3:9 Or “harvest.”
10Then your barns will be full,
and your vats will overflow with fresh wine.
11Do not reject the discipline of the Lord, my son,
and do not resent his warning,
12because the Lord warns the one he loves,
even as a father warns a son with whom he is pleased.
13Blessed is the one who finds wisdom
and the one who obtains understanding.
14The profit ⌞gained⌟ from ⌞wisdom⌟ is greater than
the profit ⌞gained⌟ from silver.
Its yield is better than fine gold.
15 ⌞Wisdom⌟ is more precious than jewels,
and all your desires cannot equal it.
16Long life is in ⌞wisdom’s⌟ right hand.
In ⌞wisdom’s⌟ left hand are riches and honor.
17 ⌞Wisdom’s⌟ ways are pleasant ways,
and all its paths lead to peace.
18 ⌞Wisdom⌟ is a tree of life
for those who take firm hold of it.
Those who cling to it are blessed.
19By Wisdom the Lord laid the foundation of the earth.
By understanding he established the heavens.
20By his knowledge the deep waters were divided,
and the skies dropped dew.
21My son,
do not lose sight of these things.
Use priceless wisdom and foresight.
22Then they will mean life for you,
and they will grace your neck.
23Then you will go safely on your way,
and you will not hurt your foot.
24When you lie down, you will not be afraid.
As you lie there, your sleep will be sweet.
25Do not be afraid of sudden terror
or of the destruction of wicked people when it comes.
26The Lord will be your confidence.
He will keep your foot from getting caught.
27Do not hold back anything good
from those who are entitled to it
when you have the power to do so.
28When you have the good thing with you, do not tell your neighbor,
“Go away!
Come back tomorrow.
I’ll give you something then.”
29Do not plan to do something wrong to your neighbor
while he is sitting there with you and suspecting nothing.
30Do not quarrel with a person for no reason
if he has not harmed you.
31Do not envy a violent person.
Do not choose any of his ways.
32The devious person is disgusting to the Lord.
The Lord’s intimate advice is with decent people.
33The Lord curses the house of wicked people,
but he blesses the home of righteous people.
34When he mocks the mockers,
he is gracious to humble people.
35Wise people will inherit honor,
but fools will bear disgrace.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.