Proverbs 3

Common English Bible

3 My son, don’t forget my instruction.
    Let your heart guard my commands,
²     because they will help you live a long time
    and provide you with well-being.
³ Don’t let loyalty and faithfulness leave you.
    Bind them on your neck;
    write them on the tablet of your heart.
⁴ Then you will find favor and approval
    in the eyes of God and humanity.
⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
    don’t rely on your own intelligence.
⁶ Know him in all your paths,
    and he will keep your ways straight.
⁷ Don’t consider yourself wise.
    Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
⁸ Then your body^[a] will be healthy
    and your bones strengthened.
⁹ Honor the Lord with your wealth
    and with the first of all your crops.
¹⁰ Then your barns will be filled with plenty,
    and your vats will burst with wine.
¹¹ Don’t reject the instruction of the Lord, my son;
    don’t despise his correction.
¹² The Lord loves those he corrects,
    just like a father who treats his son with favor.

¹³ Happy are those who find wisdom
    and those who gain understanding.
¹⁴ Her profit is better than silver,
    and her gain better than gold.
¹⁵ Her value exceeds pearls;
    all you desire can’t compare with her.
¹⁶ In her right hand is a long life;
    in her left are wealth and honor.
¹⁷ Her ways are pleasant;
    all her paths are peaceful.
¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
    those who hold her tight are happy.
¹⁹ The Lord laid the foundations of the earth with wisdom,
    establishing the heavens with understanding.
²⁰ With his knowledge, the watery depths burst open,
    and the skies drop dew.

²¹ My son, don’t let them slip from your eyes;
    hold on to sound judgment and discretion.
²² They will be life for your whole being,
    and an ornament for your neck.
²³ Then you will walk safely on your path,
    and your foot won’t stumble.
²⁴ If you lie down, you won’t be terrified.
    When you lie down, your sleep will be pleasant.
²⁵ Don’t fear sudden terror
    or the ruin that comes to the wicked.
²⁶ The Lord will be your confidence;
    he will guard your feet from being snared.
²⁷ Don’t withhold good from someone who deserves it,
    when it is in your power to do so.
²⁸ Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go and come back;
    I’ll give it to you tomorrow,” when you have it.
²⁹ Don’t plan to harm your neighbor
    who trusts and lives near you.
³⁰ Don’t accuse anyone without reason,
    when they haven’t harmed you.
³¹ Don’t envy violent people
    or choose any of their ways.
³² Devious people are detestable to the Lord,
    but the virtuous are his close friends.
³³ The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
    but he blesses the home of the righteous.
³⁴ He mocks mockers,
    but he shows favor to the humble.
³⁵ The wise gain respect,
    but fools receive shame.