Proverbs 3:13-35

English Standard Version

Blessed Is the One Who Finds Wisdom

¹³^(A)Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
    and the one who gets understanding,
¹⁴^(B)for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
    and her profit better than ^(C)gold.
¹⁵She is more precious than ^(D)jewels,
    and ^(E)nothing you desire can compare with her.
¹⁶^(F)Long life is in her right hand;
    in her left hand are ^(G)riches and honor.
¹⁷Her ^(H)ways are ways of pleasantness,
    and all her paths are peace.
¹⁸She is ^(I)a tree of life to those who ^(J)lay hold of her;
    those who hold her fast are called blessed.

¹⁹^(K)The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
by understanding ^(L)he established the heavens;
²⁰by his knowledge ^(M)the deeps broke open,
and ^(N)the clouds drop down the dew.

²¹My son, ^(O)do not lose sight of these—
    keep sound wisdom and discretion,
²²and they will be ^(P)life for your soul
    and ^(Q)adornment for your neck.
²³^(R)Then you will walk on your way securely,
    ^(S)and your foot will not stumble.
²⁴^(T)If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
    when you lie down, ^(U)your sleep will be sweet.
²⁵^(V)Do not be afraid of sudden terror
    or of ^(W)the ruin^[a] of the wicked, when it comes,
²⁶for the Lord will be your confidence
    and will ^(X)keep your foot from being caught.
²⁷^(Y)Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,^[b]
    when it is in your power to do it.

²⁸^(Z)Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,
    tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.
²⁹^(AA)Do not plan evil against your neighbor,
    who ^(AB)dwells trustingly beside you.
³⁰^(AC)Do not contend with a man for no reason,
    when he has done you no harm.
³¹^(AD)Do not envy ^(AE)a man of violence
    and do not choose any of his ways,
³²for ^(AF)the devious person is an abomination to the Lord,
    but the upright are ^(AG)in his confidence.
³³^(AH)The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked,
    but he ^(AI)blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
³⁴Toward the ^(AJ)scorners he ^(AK)is scornful,
    ^(AL)but to the humble he gives favor.^[c]
³⁵The wise will inherit honor,
    but fools get^[d] disgrace.