Proverbs 3
1My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart guard my precepts.
2For they shall set before you length of days, and years of life, and peace.
3Let not mercy and truth abandon you: encircle them around your throat, and inscribe them on the tablets of your heart.
4And so shall you discover grace and good discipline, in the sight of God and men.
5Have confidence in the Lord with all your heart, and do not depend upon your own prudence.
6In all your ways, consider him, and he himself will direct your steps.
7Do not seem wise to yourself. Fear God, and withdraw from evil.
8Certainly, it shall be health to your navel, and refreshment to your bones.
9Honor the Lord with your substance, and give to him from the first of all your fruits,
10and then your storehouses will be filled with abundance, and your presses shall overflow with wine.
11My son, do not discard the discipline of the Lord, and do not fall away when you are corrected by him.
12For whomever the Lord loves, he corrects, and just as a father does with a son, he wins him over.
13Blessed is the man who finds wisdom and who advances to prudence.
14Her acquisition is better than trading in silver, and her fruit is better than the first and purest gold.
15She is more precious than all riches, and all that can be desired cannot prevail in comparison to her.
16Length of days is at her right hand, and at her left hand is wealth and glory.
17Her ways are beautiful ways, and all her paths are peaceful.
18She is a tree of life to those who overtake her, and he who shall take hold of her is blessed.
19The Lord founded the earth on wisdom. He secured the heavens with prudence.
20By his wisdom, the abyss erupted and the clouds increased with dew.
21My son, let not these things move away from your eyes. Preserve law as well as counsel.
22And so shall there be life in your soul and grace in your voice.
23Then you shall walk confidently in your way, and your feet will not stumble.
24When you slumber, you shall not fear. When you rest, your sleep also will be sweet.
25Do not fear unexpected terror, nor the power of the impious falling upon you.
26For the Lord will be at your side, and he will guard your feet, so that you may not be seized.
27Do not prevent him who is able from doing good. When you are able, do good yourself too.
28Do not say to your friend: “Go away, and then return. Tomorrow I will give to you.” When you are able to do so, give in the present.
29Do not undertake evil against your friend, even though he has trust in you.
30Do not contend against a man without cause, even though he has done no evil to you.
31Do not rival an unjust man, and do not imitate his ways.
32For everyone who ridicules is an abomination to the Lord, and his communication is for the simple.
33Destitution in the house of the impious is from the Lord. But the habitations of the just shall be blessed.
34He will ridicule those who ridicule, but he will bestow grace upon the mild.
35The wise will possess glory. The exaltation of the foolish is disgraceful.
1My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
2For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
3Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
4So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
8It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
9Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
10So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
11My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:
12For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
13Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
14For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
15She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
16Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
17Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
19The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
20By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
21My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
23Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
24When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
26For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
27Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
28Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.
29Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
30Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
31Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
32For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous.
33The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.
34Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
35The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.