Proverbs - Chapter 3

1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

1 My son, keep my teaching in your memory, and my rules in your heart:

2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

2 For they will give you increase of days, years of life, and peace.

3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

3 Let not mercy and good faith go from you; let them be hanging round your neck, recorded on your heart;

4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

4 So you will have grace and a good name in the eyes of God and men.

5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

5 Put all your hope in God, not looking to your reason for support.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

6 In all your ways give ear to him, and he will make straight your footsteps.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

7 Put no high value on your wisdom: let the fear of the Lord be before you, and keep yourself from evil:

8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

8 This will give strength to your flesh, and new life to your bones.

9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

9 Give honour to the Lord with your wealth, and with the first-fruits of all your increase:

10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

10 So your store-houses will be full of grain, and your vessels overflowing with new wine.

11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:

11 My son, do not make your heart hard against the Lord's teaching; do not be made angry by his training:

12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

12 For to those who are dear to him the Lord says sharp words, and makes the son in whom he has delight undergo pain.

13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

13 Happy is the man who makes discovery of wisdom, and he who gets knowledge.

14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

14 For trading in it is better than trading in silver, and its profit greater than bright gold.

15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

15 She is of more value than jewels, and nothing for which you may have a desire is fair in comparison with her.

16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

16 Long life is in her right hand, and in her left are wealth and honour.

17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

17 Her ways are ways of delight, and all her goings are peace.

18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

18 She is a tree of life to all who take her in their hands, and happy is everyone who keeps her.

19 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

19 The Lord by wisdom put in position the bases of the earth; by reason he put the heavens in their place.

20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

20 By his knowledge the deep was parted, and dew came dropping from the skies.

21 My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:

21 My son, keep good sense, and do not let wise purpose go from your eyes.

22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

22 So they will be life for your soul, and grace for your neck.

23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.

23 Then you will go safely on your way, and your feet will have no cause for slipping.

24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

24 When you take your rest you will have no fear, and on your bed sleep will be sweet to you.

25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.

25 Have no fear of sudden danger, or of the storm which will come on evil-doers:

26 For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

26 For the Lord will be your hope, and will keep your foot from being taken in the net.

27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

27 Do not keep back good from those who have a right to it, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.

28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.

28 Say not to your neighbour, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when you have it by you at the time.

29 Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.

29 Do not make evil designs against your neighbour, when he is living with you without fear.

30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

30 Do not take up a cause at law against a man for nothing, if he has done you no wrong.

31 Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.

31 Have no envy of the violent man, or take any of his ways as an example.

32 For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.

32 For the wrong-hearted man is hated by the Lord, but he is a friend to the upright.

33 The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.

33 The curse of the Lord is on the house of the evil-doer, but his blessing is on the tent of the upright.

34 Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.

34 He makes sport of the men of pride, but he gives grace to the gentle-hearted.

35 The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

35 The wise will have glory for their heritage, but shame will be the reward of the foolish.