Proverbs 3

The Rewards of Wisdom

1 My son, ^ado not forget my ▼

▼Or law

teaching,
But have your heart ^ccomply with my commandments;
2 For ^dlength of days and years of life
And peace they will add to you.
3 Do not let ^ekindness and truth leave you;
^fBind them around your neck,
^gWrite them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will ^hfind favor and a ⁱgood ▼

▼Lit understanding

reputation
In the sight of God and man.
5 ^kTrust in the Lord with all your heart
And ^ldo not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways ^macknowledge Him,
And He will ⁿmake your paths straight.
7 ^oDo not be wise in your own eyes;
^pFear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 It will be ^qhealing to your ▼

▼Lit navel

body
And ^srefreshment to your bones.
9 ^tHonor the Lord from your wealth,
And from the ^ufirst of all your produce;
10 Then your ^vbarns will be filled with plenty,
And your ^wvats will overflow with new wine.
11 ^xMy son, do not reject the ▼

▼Or instruction

discipline of the Lord
Or loathe His rebuke,
12 For ^zwhom the Lord loves He disciplines,
Just ^aaas a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.

13 ^abBlessed is a person who finds wisdom,
And one who obtains understanding.
14 For ▼

▼I.e., the profit from Wisdom (personified)

her ^adprofit is better than the profit of silver,
And her produce better than gold.
15 She is ^aemore precious than ▼

▼Lit corals

jewels,
And nothing you desire compares with her.
16 ▼

▼Lit Length of days

, ^ahLong life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are ^airiches and honor.
17 Her ^ajways are pleasant ways,
And all her paths are ^akpeace.
18 She is a ^altree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are those who hold on to her.
19 The Lord founded the earth ^amby wisdom,
He ^anestablished the heavens by understanding.
20 By His knowledge the ^aoocean depths were burst open,
And the ^apclouds drip with dew.
21 My son, see that ^aqthey do not escape from your sight;
Comply with sound wisdom and discretion,
22 And they will be ^arlife to your soul
And ^asadornment to your neck.
23 Then you will ^atwalk in your way securely,
And your foot will not ^austumble.
24 When you ^avlie down, you will not be afraid;
When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 ^awDo not be afraid of sudden danger,
Nor of ^axtrouble from the wicked when it comes;
26 For the Lord will be ▼

▼Or at your side

your confidence,
And will ^azkeep your foot from being caught.

27 ^baDo not withhold good from ▼

▼Lit its owners

those to whom it is due,
When it is in your power to do it.
28 ^bcDo not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it to you,”
When you have it with you.
29 ^bdDo not devise harm against your neighbor,
While he lives securely beside you.
30 ^beDo not contend with a person for no reason,
If he has done you no harm.
31 ^bfDo not envy a violent person,
And do not choose any of his ways.
32 For the ^bgdevious are an abomination to the Lord;
But ▼

▼Lit His private counsel is

He is ^biintimate with the upright.
33 The ^bjcurse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked,
But He ^bkblesses the home of the righteous.
34 Though ^blHe scoffs at the scoffers,
Yet ^bmHe gives grace to the needy.
35 ^bnThe wise will inherit honor,
But fools ▼

▼Lit raise high

increase dishonor.