The Rewards of Wisdom

My son, (A)do not forget my [a]teaching,
But have your heart (B)comply with my commandments;
For (C)length of days and years of life
And peace they will add to you.
Do not let (D)kindness and truth leave you;
(E)Bind them around your neck,
(F)Write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will (G)find favor and a (H)good [b]reputation
In the sight of God and man.
(I)Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And (J)do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways (K)acknowledge Him,
And He will (L)make your paths straight.
(M)Do not be wise in your own eyes;
(N)Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
It will be (O)healing to your [c]body
And (P)refreshment to your bones.
(Q)Honor the Lord from your wealth,
And from the (R)first of all your produce;
10 Then your (S)barns will be filled with plenty,
And your (T)vats will overflow with new wine.
11 (U)My son, do not reject the [d]discipline of the Lord
Or loathe His rebuke,
12 For (V)whom the Lord loves He disciplines,
Just (W)as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.

13 (X)Blessed is a person who finds wisdom,
And one who obtains understanding.
14 For [e]her (Y)profit is better than the profit of silver,
And her produce better than gold.
15 She is (Z)more precious than [f]jewels,
And nothing you desire compares with her.
16 [g](AA)Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are (AB)riches and honor.
17 Her (AC)ways are pleasant ways,
And all her paths are (AD)peace.
18 She is a (AE)tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are those who hold on to her.
19 The Lord founded the earth (AF)by wisdom,
He (AG)established the heavens by understanding.
20 By His knowledge the (AH)ocean depths were burst open,
And the (AI)clouds drip with dew.
21 My son, see that (AJ)they do not escape from your sight;
Comply with sound wisdom and discretion,
22 And they will be (AK)life to your soul
And (AL)adornment to your neck.
23 Then you will (AM)walk in your way securely,
And your foot will not (AN)stumble.
24 When you (AO)lie down, you will not be afraid;
When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 (AP)Do not be afraid of sudden danger,
Nor of (AQ)trouble from the wicked when it comes;
26 For the Lord will be [h]your confidence,
And will (AR)keep your foot from being caught.

27 (AS)Do not withhold good from [i]those to whom it is due,
When it is in your power to do it.
28 (AT)Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it to you,”
When you have it with you.
29 (AU)Do not devise harm against your neighbor,
While he lives securely beside you.
30 (AV)Do not contend with a person for no reason,
If he has done you no harm.
31 (AW)Do not envy a violent person,
And do not choose any of his ways.
32 For the (AX)devious are an abomination to the Lord;
But [j]He is (AY)intimate with the upright.
33 The (AZ)curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked,
But He (BA)blesses the home of the righteous.
34 Though (BB)He scoffs at the scoffers,
Yet (BC)He gives grace to the needy.
35 (BD)The wise will inherit honor,
But fools [k]increase dishonor.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:1 Or law
  2. Proverbs 3:4 Lit understanding
  3. Proverbs 3:8 Lit navel
  4. Proverbs 3:11 Or instruction
  5. Proverbs 3:14 I.e., the profit from Wisdom (personified)
  6. Proverbs 3:15 Lit corals
  7. Proverbs 3:16 Lit Length of days
  8. Proverbs 3:26 Or at your side
  9. Proverbs 3:27 Lit its owners
  10. Proverbs 3:32 Lit His private counsel is
  11. Proverbs 3:35 Lit raise high

Wisdom Bestows Well-Being

My son,(A) do not forget my teaching,(B)
    but keep my commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years(C)
    and bring you peace and prosperity.(D)

Let love and faithfulness(E) never leave you;
    bind them around your neck,
    write them on the tablet of your heart.(F)
Then you will win favor and a good name
    in the sight of God and man.(G)

Trust in the Lord(H) with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths(I) straight.[a](J)

Do not be wise in your own eyes;(K)
    fear the Lord(L) and shun evil.(M)
This will bring health to your body(N)
    and nourishment to your bones.(O)

Honor the Lord with your wealth,
    with the firstfruits(P) of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled(Q) to overflowing,
    and your vats will brim over with new wine.(R)

11 My son,(S) do not despise the Lord’s discipline,(T)
    and do not resent his rebuke,
12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves,(U)
    as a father the son he delights in.[b](V)

13 Blessed are those who find wisdom,
    those who gain understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver
    and yields better returns than gold.(W)
15 She is more precious than rubies;(X)
    nothing you desire can compare with her.(Y)
16 Long life is in her right hand;(Z)
    in her left hand are riches and honor.(AA)
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
    and all her paths are peace.(AB)
18 She is a tree of life(AC) to those who take hold of her;
    those who hold her fast will be blessed.(AD)

19 By wisdom(AE) the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,(AF)
    by understanding he set the heavens(AG) in place;
20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
    and the clouds let drop the dew.

21 My son,(AH) do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,(AI)
    preserve sound judgment and discretion;
22 they will be life for you,(AJ)
    an ornament to grace your neck.(AK)
23 Then you will go on your way in safety,(AL)
    and your foot will not stumble.(AM)
24 When you lie down,(AN) you will not be afraid;(AO)
    when you lie down, your sleep(AP) will be sweet.
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster
    or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the Lord will be at your side(AQ)
    and will keep your foot(AR) from being snared.(AS)

27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
    when it is in your power to act.
28 Do not say to your neighbor,
    “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—
    when you already have it with you.(AT)
29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
    who lives trustfully near you.(AU)
30 Do not accuse anyone for no reason—
    when they have done you no harm.

31 Do not envy(AV) the violent
    or choose any of their ways.

32 For the Lord detests the perverse(AW)
    but takes the upright into his confidence.(AX)
33 The Lord’s curse(AY) is on the house of the wicked,(AZ)
    but he blesses the home of the righteous.(BA)
34 He mocks(BB) proud mockers(BC)
    but shows favor to the humble(BD) and oppressed.
35 The wise inherit honor,
    but fools get only shame.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:6 Or will direct your paths
  2. Proverbs 3:12 Hebrew; Septuagint loves, / and he chastens everyone he accepts as his child