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Using Wisdom

My son,
    do not forget my teachings,
        and keep my commands in mind,
because they will bring you
    long life, good years, and peace.

Do not let mercy and truth leave you.
    Fasten them around your neck.
    Write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will find favor and much success
    in the sight of Elohim and humanity.

Trust Yahweh with all your heart,
    and do not rely on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make your paths smooth.[a]
Do not consider yourself wise.
    Fear Yahweh, and turn away from evil.
Then your body will be healed,
    and your bones will have nourishment.

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

  1. Proverbs 3:6 Or “straight.”
  2. Proverbs 3:9 Or “harvest.”

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

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