Proverbs 3
Names of God Bible
Using Wisdom
3 My son,
do not forget my teachings,
and keep my commands in mind,
2 because they will bring you
long life, good years, and peace.
3 Do not let mercy and truth leave you.
Fasten them around your neck.
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will find favor and much success
in the sight of Elohim and humanity.
5 Trust Yahweh with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths smooth.[a]
7 Do not consider yourself wise.
Fear Yahweh, and turn away from evil.
8 Then your body will be healed,
and your bones will have nourishment.
9 Honor Yahweh with your wealth
and with the first and best part of all your income.[b]
10 Then your barns will be full,
and your vats will overflow with fresh wine.
11 Do not reject the discipline of Yahweh, my son,
and do not resent his warning,
12 because Yahweh warns the one he loves,
even as a father warns a son with whom he is pleased.
13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom
and the one who obtains understanding.
14 The 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.
16 Long 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.
19 By Wisdom Yahweh laid the foundation of the earth.
By understanding he established the heavens.
20 By his knowledge the deep waters were divided,
and the skies dropped dew.
21 My son,
do not lose sight of these things.
Use priceless wisdom and foresight.
22 Then they will mean life for you,
and they will grace your neck.
23 Then you will go safely on your way,
and you will not hurt your foot.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid.
As you lie there, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror
or of the destruction of wicked people when it comes.
26 Yahweh will be your confidence.
He will keep your foot from getting caught.
27 Do not hold back anything good
from those who are entitled to it
when you have the power to do so.
28 When you have the good thing with you, do not tell your neighbor,
“Go away!
Come back tomorrow.
I’ll give you something then.”
29 Do not plan to do something wrong to your neighbor
while he is sitting there with you and suspecting nothing.
30 Do not quarrel with a person for no reason
if he has not harmed you.
31 Do not envy a violent person.
Do not choose any of his ways.
32 The devious person is disgusting to Yahweh.
Yahweh’s intimate advice is with decent people.
33 Yahweh curses the house of wicked people,
but he blesses the home of righteous people.
34 When he mocks the mockers,
he is gracious to humble people.
35 Wise people will inherit honor,
but fools will bear disgrace.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 3:6 Or “straight.”
- Proverbs 3:9 Or “harvest.”
Proverbs 3
Lexham English Bible
Wisdom and Piety
3 My child, do not forget my instruction,
and may your heart guard my commands.
2 For length of days, years of life,
and peace they[a] shall add to you.
3 May loyal love[b] and truth not forsake you;
bind them around your neck,
write them upon your heart.
4 And you shall find favor and good sense[c]
in the eyes of God and humankind.
5 Trust Yahweh[d] with all your heart;
do not lean toward your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will straighten your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear Yahweh and retreat from evil.
8 There shall be healing for your flesh,[e]
and refreshment for your body.
9 Honor Yahweh from your substance,[f]
and from the firstfruits of all that will come to you,
10 and your barns shall be full of plenty,
and your vats shall burst with new wine.
Happy Is the One Who Finds Wisdom
11 Do not despise the discipline of Yahweh, my child.
Do not be weary of his reproof
12 because whomever Yahweh will love, he will rebuke,
as a father delights in his son.
13 Happy is the one[g] who finds wisdom,
and one who obtains understanding.
14 For her[h] income is better than the income of silver,
and her revenue than that of gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies,
and all your desires shall not compare with her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life for those who seize her;
those who take hold of her are considered happy.
Role of Wisdom in Creation and Society
19 Yahweh in wisdom founded the earth;
he established the heavens in understanding.
20 With his knowledge, depths broke open,
and clouds dropped dew.
21 My child, may they[i] not escape from your sight;[j]
may you keep sound wisdom and prudence.
22 They shall be life for your soul[k]
and adornment[l] for your neck.
23 Then you will walk in the confidence of your ways,
and your foot will not stumble.
24 If you sit down, you will not panic,[m]
and if you lie down, then your sleep shall be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden panic,[n]
or the storm of wickedness that will come.
26 Yahweh will be your confidence[o]
and guard your foot from capture.
27 Do not withhold good from its owner[p]
when it is in the power of your hand to do.
28 Do not say to your neighbor,
“Go and return and tomorrow I will give it,”
when it is with you.[q]
29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor
who dwells in confidence beside you.
30 Do not quarrel with anyone without cause,
when he did not do you harm.
31 Do not envy a man of violence,
and do not choose any of his ways,
32 for he who is perverse is an abomination of Yahweh,
but those who are upright are his confidence.
33 The curse of Yahweh is on the house of the wicked,
and the abode of the righteous ones he blesses.
34 With those who scorn, he is scornful,
but to those who are humble, he gives favor.
35 They will inherit the honor of the wise,
but stubborn fools, disgrace.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 3:2 That is, “my commands” (3:1)
- Proverbs 3:3 Or “kindness, mercy”
- Proverbs 3:4 Or “understanding, prudence”
- Proverbs 3:5 Literally “trust toward Yahweh”
- Proverbs 3:8 Literally “navel”
- Proverbs 3:9 Or “wealth, property”
- Proverbs 3:13 Literally “a man”
- Proverbs 3:14 Or “its”; both “wisdom” and “understanding” are feminine nouns and can be read as either “she” or “it”
- Proverbs 3:21 Grammatically, “they” most likely refers to clouds (3:20). In context, “they” may refer to wisdom and understanding (3:13).
- Proverbs 3:21 Literally “eyes”
- Proverbs 3:22 Or “inner self”
- Proverbs 3:22 Or “favor”
- Proverbs 3:24 Or “fear, dread”
- Proverbs 3:25 Or “fear, dread”
- Proverbs 3:26 Literally “in your confidence”
- Proverbs 3:27 Or “lord”
- Proverbs 3:28 Literally “and there is with you”
The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group.
2012 by Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software