Proverbs 3

Modern English Version

³ Do not let mercy and truth forsake you;
    bind them around your neck,
    write them on the tablet of your heart,
⁴ so you will find favor and good understanding
    in the sight of God and man.

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways acknowledge Him,
    and He will direct your paths.

⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes;
    fear the Lord and depart from evil.
⁸ It will be health to your body,
    and strength to your bones.

⁹ Honor the Lord with your substance,
    and with the first fruits of all your increase;
¹⁰ so your barns will be filled with plenty,
    and your presses will burst out with new wine.

¹¹ My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
    nor be weary of His correction;
¹² for whom the Lord loves He corrects,
    even as a father the son in whom he delights.

¹³ Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
    and the man who gets understanding;
¹⁴ for her benefit is more profitable than silver,
    and her gain than fine gold.
¹⁵ She is more precious than rubies,
    and all the things you may desire are not to be compared with her.
¹⁶ Length of days is in her right hand,
    and in her left hand riches and honor.
¹⁷ Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
    and all her paths are peace.
¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
    and happy is everyone who retains her.

¹⁹ The Lord by wisdom has founded the earth;
    by understanding He has established the heavens;
²⁰ by His knowledge the depths are broken up,
    and the 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 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 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 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
    when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
²⁸ Do not say to your neighbor,
    “Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give it,”
    when you have it with you.
²⁹ Do not devise evil against your neighbor,
    seeing he dwells securely by you.
³⁰ Do not strive with a man without cause,
    if he has done you no harm.

³¹ Do not envy the oppressor,
    and choose none of his ways;
³² for the perverse is an abomination to the Lord,
    but His secret counsel is with the righteous.
³³ The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked,
    but He blesses the habitation of the just.
³⁴ Surely He scorns the scornful,
    but He gives favor to the humble.
³⁵ The wise will inherit glory,
    but shame will be the legacy of fools.