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Guidance for the Young

My son, do not forget my law,
(A)But let your heart keep my commands;
For length of days and long life
And (B)peace they will add to you.

Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
(C)Bind them around your neck,
(D)Write them on the tablet of your heart,
(E)And so find favor and [a]high esteem
In the sight of God and man.

(F)Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
(G)And lean not on your own understanding;
(H)In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall [b]direct your paths.

Do not be wise in your own (I)eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
It will be health to your [c]flesh,
And (J)strength[d] to your bones.

(K)Honor the Lord with your possessions,
And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
10 (L)So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine.

11 (M)My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
Nor detest His correction;
12 For whom the Lord loves He corrects,
(N)Just as a father the son in whom he delights.

13 (O)Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
And the man who gains understanding;
14 (P)For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver,
And her gain than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies,
And (Q)all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.
16 (R)Length of days is in her right hand,
In her left hand riches and honor.
17 (S)Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
And all her paths are peace.
18 She is (T)a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who [e]retain her.

19 (U)The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
By understanding He established the heavens;
20 By His knowledge the depths were (V)broken up,
And clouds drop down the dew.

21 My son, let them not depart from your eyes—
Keep sound wisdom and discretion;
22 So they will be life to your soul
And grace to your neck.
23 (W)Then you will walk safely in your way,
And your foot will not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.
25 (X)Do not be afraid of sudden terror,
Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;
26 For the Lord will be your confidence,
And will keep your foot from being caught.

27 (Y)Do not withhold good from [f]those to whom it is due,
When it is in the power of your hand to do so.
28 (Z)Do not say to your neighbor,
“Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it,
When you have it with you.
29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor,
For he dwells by you for safety’s sake.
30 (AA)Do not strive with a man without cause,
If he has done you no harm.

31 (AB)Do not envy the oppressor,
And choose none of his ways;
32 For the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord,
(AC)But His secret counsel is with the upright.
33 (AD)The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked,
But (AE)He blesses the home of the just.
34 (AF)Surely He scorns the scornful,
But gives grace to the humble.
35 The wise shall inherit glory,
But shame shall be the legacy of fools.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:4 Lit. good understanding
  2. Proverbs 3:6 Or make smooth or straight
  3. Proverbs 3:8 Body, lit. navel
  4. Proverbs 3:8 Lit. drink
  5. Proverbs 3:18 hold her fast
  6. Proverbs 3:27 Lit. its owners

Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart

(A)My son, do not forget my teaching,
    (B)but let your heart keep my commandments,
for (C)length of days and years of life
    and (D)peace they will add to you.

Let not (E)steadfast love and (F)faithfulness forsake you;
    (G)bind them around your neck;
    (H)write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will (I)find favor and (J)good success[a]
    in the sight of God and man.

(K)Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and (L)do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways (M)acknowledge him,
    and he (N)will make straight your paths.
(O)Be not wise in your own eyes;
    (P)fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
It will be (Q)healing to your flesh[b]
    and (R)refreshment[c] to your bones.

Honor the Lord with your wealth
    and with (S)the firstfruits of all your produce;
10 then your (T)barns will be filled with plenty,
    and your vats will be bursting with wine.

11 (U)My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline
    or be weary of his reproof,
12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,
    as (V)a father the son in whom he delights.

Blessed Is the One Who Finds Wisdom

13 (W)Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
    and the one who gets understanding,
14 (X)for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
    and her profit better than (Y)gold.
15 She is more precious than (Z)jewels,
    and (AA)nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 (AB)Long life is in her right hand;
    in her left hand are (AC)riches and honor.
17 Her (AD)ways are ways of pleasantness,
    and all her paths are peace.
18 She is (AE)a tree of life to those who (AF)lay hold of her;
    those who hold her fast are called blessed.

19 (AG)The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
    by understanding (AH)he established the heavens;
20 by his knowledge (AI)the deeps broke open,
    and (AJ)the clouds drop down the dew.

21 My son, (AK)do not lose sight of these—
    keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 and they will be (AL)life for your soul
    and (AM)adornment for your neck.
23 (AN)Then you will walk on your way securely,
    (AO)and your foot will not stumble.
24 (AP)If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
    when you lie down, (AQ)your sleep will be sweet.
25 (AR)Do not be afraid of sudden terror
    or of (AS)the ruin[d] of the wicked, when it comes,
26 for the Lord will be your confidence
    and will (AT)keep your foot from being caught.
27 (AU)Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,[e]
    when it is in your power to do it.

28 (AV)Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,
    tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.
29 (AW)Do not plan evil against your neighbor,
    who (AX)dwells trustingly beside you.
30 (AY)Do not contend with a man for no reason,
    when he has done you no harm.
31 (AZ)Do not envy (BA)a man of violence
    and do not choose any of his ways,
32 for (BB)the devious person is an abomination to the Lord,
    but the upright are (BC)in his confidence.
33 (BD)The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked,
    but he (BE)blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
34 Toward the (BF)scorners he (BG)is scornful,
    (BH)but to the humble he gives favor.[f]
35 The wise will inherit honor,
    but fools get[g] disgrace.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:4 Or repute
  2. Proverbs 3:8 Hebrew navel
  3. Proverbs 3:8 Or medicine
  4. Proverbs 3:25 Hebrew storm
  5. Proverbs 3:27 Hebrew Do not withhold good from its owners
  6. Proverbs 3:34 Or grace
  7. Proverbs 3:35 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lời Khuyên Tin Cậy Và Tôn Trọng Chúa

Hỡi con ta, chớ quên lời dạy dỗ[a] của ta,
    Nhưng hãy giữ các điều răn ta trong lòng.
Vì chúng sẽ thêm cho con tuổi thọ[b] trong đời,
    Và an khang thịnh vượng.[c]
Chớ quên tình yêu thương và lòng trung tín,
    Hãy đeo chúng trên cổ con,
    Hãy ghi chúng vào lòng con.
Nhờ đó con sẽ tìm được ơn lành và tiếng[d] tốt
    Trước mắt Đức Chúa Trời lẫn người ta.
Hãy hết lòng tin cậy CHÚA,
    Chớ nương cậy nơi sự sáng suốt của con.
Hãy nhận biết Ngài trong mọi đường lối mình,
    Ngài sẽ làm cho đường lối của con ngay thẳng.
Chớ khôn ngoan theo mắt mình,
    Nhưng hãy kính sợ CHÚA và tránh điều ác.
Ấy sẽ là sự chữa bệnh cho thân thể[e] con,
    Và sự bổ dưỡng cho xương cốt con.
Hãy lấy tài sản và hoa quả đầu mùa của con
    Mà tôn vinh CHÚA.
10 Bấy giờ kho vựa của con sẽ đầy ắp,
    Và thùng chứa của con sẽ đầy tràn rượu mới.
11 Hỡi con ta, chớ khinh thường sự rèn luyện của CHÚA,
    Cũng đừng nản lòng vì lời quở trách của Ngài.
12 CHÚA khiển trách người Ngài thương,
    Như cha đối với con thân yêu của mình.
13 Phước cho người nào tìm được sự khôn ngoan,
    Và nhận được sự sáng suốt.
14 Vì giá trị của nó quý hơn bạc;
    Lợi ích từ nó tốt hơn vàng.
15 Sự khôn ngoan quý hơn hồng ngọc;[f]
    Tất cả mọi vật con ao ước đều không thể sánh được.
16 Tay phải nó nắm sự trường thọ;
    Tay trái cầm sự giàu sang và vinh hiển.
17 Những con đường của nó dễ chịu;
    Mọi lối đi của nó đều bình an.
18 Sự khôn ngoan là cây sự sống cho ai nắm được nó;
    Người nào giữ chặt lấy nó được gọi là người có phước.
19 CHÚA dùng sự khôn ngoan đặt nền cho quả đất,
    Bởi sự sáng suốt thiết lập các tầng trời.
20 Do sự hiểu biết của Ngài các vực sâu tuôn nước,
    Các đám mây kết tụ thành sương;
21 Hỡi con ta, hãy giữ lấy sự khôn ngoan và suy xét;
    Mắt con chớ rời xa những điều ấy.
22 Chúng sẽ là sự sống cho linh hồn con,
    Và đồ trang sức cho cổ con.
23 Bấy giờ con sẽ đi đường bình an,
    Và chân con sẽ không vấp ngã.
24 Khi đi ngủ con sẽ không sợ,
    Lúc nằm ngủ, con sẽ ngủ ngon.
25 Chớ sợ hãi điều kinh khủng bất ngờ,
    Cũng đừng sợ sự tan hoang ập xuống trên kẻ ác.
26 CHÚA sẽ là sự tin cậy của con;
    Ngài sẽ gìn giữ chân con khỏi mắc bẫy.
27 Đừng từ chối điều tốt đẹp cho người xứng đáng
    Khi tay con có quyền làm điều ấy.
28 Khi có đừng nói với láng giềng con:
    “Hãy đi rồi trở lại, ngày mai tôi sẽ cho anh.”
29 Chớ âm mưu hại người láng giềng
    Khi người sống an toàn cạnh con.
30 Đừng tranh chấp với ai vô cớ
    Khi người ta chẳng làm gì hại con.
31 Chớ ganh tị với người hung dữ,
    Cũng đừng chọn đường lối nào của nó.
32 CHÚA ghê tởm kẻ gian tà,
    Nhưng Ngài thân cận với người ngay thẳng.
33 Sự rủa sả của CHÚA ở trong nhà kẻ ác,
    Nhưng Ngài ban phước cho nơi ở của người công chính.
34 Đối với người nhạo báng, Ngài chế nhạo chúng;
    Nhưng Ngài ban ơn cho kẻ khiêm nhu.
35 Người khôn ngoan sẽ hưởng sự vinh hiển,
    Nhưng kẻ ngu dại sẽ nhận điều xấu hổ.

Footnotes

  1. 3:1 Nt: Torah, Kinh Luật
  2. 3:2 Nt: các ngày dài và năm
  3. 3:2 Nt: shalom
  4. 3:4 Nt: shekel, hiểu biết
  5. 3:8 Nt: cuốn rốn
  6. 3:15 Ctd: nữ trang