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
1 MY SON, forget not my law or teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;
2 For length of days and years of a life [worth living] and tranquility [inward and outward and continuing through old age till death], these shall they add to you.
3 Let not mercy and kindness [shutting out all hatred and selfishness] and truth [shutting out all deliberate hypocrisy or falsehood] forsake you; bind them about your neck, write them upon the tablet of your heart. [Col. 3:9-12.]
4 So shall you find favor, good understanding, and high esteem in the sight [or judgment] of God and man. [Luke 2:52.]
5 Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.
6 In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes; reverently fear and worship the Lord and turn [entirely] away from evil. [Prov. 8:13.]
8 It shall be health to your nerves and sinews, and marrow and moistening to your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your capital and sufficiency [from righteous labors] and with the firstfruits of all your income; [Deut. 26:2; Mal. 3:10; Luke 14:13, 14.]
10 So shall your storage places be filled with plenty, and your vats shall be overflowing with new wine. [Deut. 28:8.]
11 My son, do not despise or shrink from the chastening of the Lord [His correction by punishment or by subjection to suffering or trial]; neither be weary of or impatient about or loathe or abhor His reproof, [Ps. 94:12; Heb. 12:5, 6; Rev. 3:19.]
12 For whom the Lord loves He corrects, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.
13 Happy (blessed, fortunate, enviable) is the man who finds skillful and godly Wisdom, and the man who gets understanding [drawing it forth from God's Word and life's experiences],
14 For the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver, and the profit of it better than fine gold.
15 Skillful and godly Wisdom is more precious than rubies; and nothing you can wish for is to be compared to her. [Job 28:12-18.]
16 Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand are riches and honor. [Prov. 8:12-21; I Tim. 4:8.]
17 Her ways are highways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold on her; and happy (blessed, fortunate, to be envied) is everyone who holds her fast.
19 The Lord by skillful and godly Wisdom has founded the earth; by understanding He has established the heavens. [Col. 1:16.]
20 By His knowledge the deeps were broken up, and the skies distill the dew.
21 My son, let them not escape from your sight, but keep sound and godly Wisdom and discretion,
22 And they will be life to your inner self, and a gracious ornament to your neck (your outer self).
23 Then you will walk in your way securely and in confident trust, and you shall not dash your foot or stumble. [Ps. 91:11, 12; Prov. 10:9.]
24 When you lie down, you shall not be afraid; yes, you shall lie down, and your sleep shall be sweet.
25 Be not afraid of sudden terror and panic, nor of the stormy blast or the storm and ruin of the wicked when it comes [for you will be guiltless],
26 For the Lord shall be your confidence, firm and strong, and shall keep your foot from being caught [in a trap or some hidden danger].
27 Withhold not good from those to whom it is due [its rightful owners], when it is in the power of your hand to do it. [Rom. 13:7; Gal. 6:10.]
28 Do not say to your neighbor, Go, and come again; and tomorrow I will give it–when you have it with you. [Lev. 19:13; Deut. 24:15.]
29 Do not contrive or dig up or cultivate evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly and confidently beside you.
30 Contend not with a man for no reason–when he has done you no wrong. [Rom. 12:18.]
31 Do not resentfully envy and be jealous of an unscrupulous, grasping man, and choose none of his ways. [Ps. 37:1; 73:3; Prov. 24:1.]
32 For the perverse are an abomination [extremely disgusting and detestable] to the Lord; but His confidential communion and secret counsel are with the [uncompromisingly] righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with Him). [Ps. 25:14.]
33 The curse of the Lord is in and on the house of the wicked, but He declares blessed (joyful and favored with blessings) the home of the just and consistently righteous. [Ps. 37:22; Zech. 5:4; Mal. 2:2.]
34 Though He scoffs at the scoffers and scorns the scorners, yet He gives His undeserved favor to the low [in rank], the humble, and the afflicted. [James 4:6; I Pet. 5:5.]
35 The wise shall inherit glory (all honor and good) but shame is the highest rank conferred on [self-confident] fools. [Isa. 32:6.]
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