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.
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GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 3
3
Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart
1 # See ch. 1:8 My son, do not forget my teaching,
#
Deut. 8:1; 30:16, 20 but let your heart keep my commandments,
2for #ver. 16; ch. 4:10; 9:11; 10:27; See Ps. 91:16 length of days and years of life
and #ch. 1:33; Ps. 119:165peace they will add to you.
3Let not #[Ps. 85:10] steadfast love and #[ch. 20:28; Isa. 59:14] faithfulness forsake you;
# [ch. 1:9; 6:21; 7:3] bind them around your neck;
# ch. 7:3; [Jer. 17:1; 2 Cor. 3:3] write them on the tablet of your heart.
4So you will #[1 Sam. 2:26; Luke 2:52; Rom. 14:18] find favor and #See Ps. 111:10good success#3:4 Or repute
in the sight of God and man.
5 #
Ps. 37:3, 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and #[Jer. 9:23]do not lean on your own understanding.
6In all your ways #1 Chr. 28:9 acknowledge him,
and he #[Ps. 73:24]will make straight your paths.
7 # [Rom. 12:16]; See ch. 12:15 Be not wise in your own eyes;
#
Job 1:1; 28:28 fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
8It will be #[ch. 4:22] healing to your flesh#3:8 Hebrew navel
and #See Job 21:24refreshment#3:8 Or medicine to your bones.
9Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with #Ex. 23:19; 34:26; Deut. 26:2the firstfruits of all your produce;
10then your #Deut. 28:8barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine.
11 # Cited Heb. 12:5, 6; See Job 5:17 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline
or be weary of his reproof,
12for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,
as #Deut. 8:5; [1 Cor. 11:32]a father the son in whom he delights.
Blessed Is the One Who Finds Wisdom
13 # ch. 8:34, 35 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
and the one who gets understanding,
14 # See Job 28:15-19 for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
and her profit better than #ch. 8:10, 19; 16:16; Ps. 19:10gold.
15She is more precious than #Job 28:18 jewels,
and #ch. 8:11nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 # ver. 2 Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are #ch. 8:18; 22:4riches and honor.
17Her #[Matt. 11:29, 30]ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.
18She is #ch. 11:30; 13:12; 15:4; Gen. 2:9; 3:22; Rev. 2:7; 22:2 a tree of life to those who #ch. 4:13lay hold of her;
those who hold her fast are called blessed.
19 # ch. 8:27; Ps. 104:5, 24; 136:5 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
by understanding #ch. 8:27; Ps. 104:5, 24; 136:5he established the heavens;
20by his knowledge #Gen. 7:11; [Job 38:8] the deeps broke open,
and #Job 36:28the clouds drop down the dew.
21My son, #ch. 4:21do not lose sight of these—
keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22and they will be #See ch. 4:22 life for your soul
and #[ch. 1:9]adornment for your neck.
23 # ch. 10:9; [ch. 28:18; Ps. 91:11] Then you will walk on your way securely,
# ch. 4:12; Ps. 91:12 and your foot will not stumble.
24 # [ch. 6:22; Ps. 3:5; 4:8]; See Job 11:19 If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, #Jer. 31:26your sleep will be sweet.
25 # [1 Pet. 3:14]; See Ps. 91:5 Do not be afraid of sudden terror
or of #[Job 5:21]the ruin#3:25 Hebrew storm of the wicked, when it comes,
26for the Lord will be your confidence
and will #See 1 Sam. 2:9keep your foot from being caught.
27 #
Gal. 6:10
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,#3:27 Hebrew Do not withhold good from its owners
when it is in your power to do it.
28 # [Lev. 19:13; Deut. 24:15] Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,
tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.
29 # ch. 6:14; 12:20; 14:22 Do not plan evil against your neighbor,
who #[Judg. 18:7, 27]dwells trustingly beside you.
30 # [Rom. 12:18] Do not contend with a man for no reason,
when he has done you no harm.
31 # See Ps. 37:1 Do not envy #Ps. 18:48; 140:1a man of violence
and do not choose any of his ways,
32for #ch. 2:15 the devious person is an abomination to the Lord,
but the upright are #See Job 29:4in his confidence.
33 #
Ps. 37:22; Zech. 5:4; Mal. 2:2; See Lev. 26:14-39 The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he #[Job 8:6]blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
34Toward the #See Ps. 1:1 scorners he #[James 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:5; See Ps. 138:6] is scornful,
# [James 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:5]; See Ps. 138:6 but to the humble he gives favor.#3:34 Or grace
35The wise will inherit honor,
but fools get#3:35 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain disgrace.
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