Proverbs 3
New Living Translation
Trusting in the Lord
3 My child,[a] never forget the things I have taught you.
Store my commands in your heart.
2 If you do this, you will live many years,
and your life will be satisfying.
3 Never let loyalty and kindness leave you!
Tie them around your neck as a reminder.
Write them deep within your heart.
4 Then you will find favor with both God and people,
and you will earn a good reputation.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.
7 Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.
Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 Then you will have healing for your body
and strength for your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the best part of everything you produce.
10 Then he will fill your barns with grain,
and your vats will overflow with good wine.
11 My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline,
and don’t be upset when he corrects you.
12 For the Lord corrects those he loves,
just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.[b]
13 Joyful is the person who finds wisdom,
the one who gains understanding.
14 For wisdom is more profitable than silver,
and her wages are better than gold.
15 Wisdom is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 She offers you long life in her right hand,
and riches and honor in her left.
17 She will guide you down delightful paths;
all her ways are satisfying.
18 Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
happy are those who hold her tightly.
19 By wisdom the Lord founded the earth;
by understanding he created the heavens.
20 By his knowledge the deep fountains of the earth burst forth,
and the dew settles beneath the night sky.
21 My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment.
Hang on to them,
22 for they will refresh your soul.
They are like jewels on a necklace.
23 They keep you safe on your way,
and your feet will not stumble.
24 You can go to bed without fear;
you will lie down and sleep soundly.
25 You need not be afraid of sudden disaster
or the destruction that comes upon the wicked,
26 for the Lord is your security.
He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.
27 Do not withhold good from those who deserve it
when it’s in your power to help them.
28 If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say,
“Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.”
29 Don’t plot harm against your neighbor,
for those who live nearby trust you.
30 Don’t pick a fight without reason,
when no one has done you harm.
31 Don’t envy violent people
or copy their ways.
32 Such wicked people are detestable to the Lord,
but he offers his friendship to the godly.
33 The Lord curses the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the upright.
34 The Lord mocks the mockers
but is gracious to the humble.[c]
35 The wise inherit honor,
but fools are put to shame!
Proverbs 3
GOD’S WORD Translation
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 God and humanity.
5 Trust the Lord 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 the Lord, and turn away from evil.
8 ⌞Then⌟ your body will be healed,
and your bones will have nourishment.
9 Honor the Lord 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 the Lord, my son,
and do not resent his warning,
12 because the Lord 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 the Lord 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 The Lord 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 the Lord.
The Lord’s intimate advice is with decent people.
33 The Lord 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.
Proverbs 3
New International Reader's Version
More Good Things Come From Wisdom
3 My son, do not forget my teaching.
Keep my commands in your heart.
2 They will help you live for many years.
They will bring you peace and success.
3 Don’t let love and truth ever leave you.
Tie them around your neck.
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will find favor and a good name
in the eyes of God and people.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart.
Do not depend on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways obey him.
Then he will make your paths smooth and straight.
7 Don’t be wise in your own eyes.
Have respect for the Lord and avoid evil.
8 That will bring health to your body.
It will make your bones strong.
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth.
Give him the first share of all your crops.
10 Then your storerooms will be so full they can’t hold everything.
Your huge jars will spill over with fresh wine.
11 My son, do not hate the Lord’s training.
Do not object when he corrects you.
12 The Lord trains those he loves.
He is like a father who trains the son he is pleased with.
13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom.
Blessed is the one who gains understanding.
14 Wisdom pays better than silver does.
She earns more than gold does.
15 She is worth more than rubies.
Nothing you want can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand.
In her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways.
All her paths lead to peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her.
Those who hold her close will be blessed.
19 By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations.
Through understanding he set the heavens in place.
20 By his knowledge the seas were separated,
and the clouds dropped their dew.
21 My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight.
Hold on to good sense and the understanding of what is right.
22 They will be life for you.
They will be like a gracious necklace around your neck.
23 Then you will go on your way in safety.
You will not trip and fall.
24 When you lie down, you won’t be afraid.
When you lie down, you will sleep soundly.
25 Don’t be terrified by sudden trouble.
Don’t be afraid when sinners are destroyed.
26 The Lord will be at your side.
He will keep your feet from being caught in a trap.
27 Don’t hold back good from those who are worthy of it.
Don’t hold it back when you can help.
28 Suppose you already have something to give.
Don’t say to your neighbor,
“Come back tomorrow.
I’ll give it to you then.”
29 Don’t plan to harm your neighbor.
He lives near you and trusts you.
30 Don’t bring charges against anyone for no reason.
They have not harmed you.
31 Don’t be jealous of a person who hurts others.
Don’t choose any of their ways.
32 The Lord really hates sinful people.
But he makes honest people his closest friends.
33 The Lord puts a curse on the houses of sinners.
But he blesses the homes of those who do what is right.
34 He makes fun of proud people who make fun of others.
But he gives grace to those who are humble and treated badly.
35 Wise people receive honor.
But foolish people get only shame.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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