Proverbs 3

1My son, forget not my teaching, and let thy heart observe my commandments;

1My son, forget not my law, and let thy heart keep my commandments.

2for length of days, and years of life, and peace shall they add to thee.

2For they shall add to thee length of days, and years of life, and peace.

3Let not loving-kindness and truth forsake thee; bind them about thy neck, write them upon the tablet of thy heart:

3Let not mercy aud truth leave thee, put them about thy neck, and write them in the tables of thy heart.

4and thou shalt find favour and good understanding in the sight ofGod and man.

4And thou shalt find grace, and good understanding before God and men.

5Confide in Jehovah with all thy heart, and lean not unto thine own intelligence;

5Have confidence in the Lord with all thy heart, and lean not upon thy own prudence.

6in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will make plain thy paths.

6In all thy ways think on him, and he will direct thy steps.

7Be not wise in thine own eyes; fear Jehovah, and depart from evil:

7Be not wise in thy own conceit: fear God, and depart from evil:

8it shall be health for thy navel, and moisture for thy bones.

8For it shall be health to thy navel, and moistening to thy bones.

9Honour Jehovah with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase;

9Honour the Lord with thy substance, and give him of the first of all thy fruits;

10so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy vats shall overflow with new wine.

10And thy barns shall be filled with abundance, and thy presses shall run over with wine.

11My son, despise not the instruction of Jehovah, neither be weary of his chastisement;

11My son, reject not the correction of the Lord: and do not faint when thou art chastised by him:

12for whom Jehovah loveth he chasteneth, even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

12For whom the Lord loveth, he chastiseth: and as a father in the son he pleaseth himself.

13Blessed is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

13Blessed is the man that findeth wisdom, and is rich in prudence:

14For the gain thereof is better than the gain of silver, and her revenue than fine gold.

14The purchasing thereof is better than the merchandise of silver, and her fruit than the chief and purest gold:

15She is more precious than rubies; and all the things thou canst desire are not equal unto her.

15She is more precious than all riches: and all the things that are desired, are not to be compared to her.

16Length of days is in her right hand; in her left hand riches and honour.

16Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and glory.

17Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

17Her ways are beautiful ways, and all her paths are peaceable.

18She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her; and happy is he that retaineth her.

18She is a tree of life to them that lay hold on her: and he that shall retain her is blessed.

19Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens.

19The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth, hath established the heavens by prudence.

20By his knowledge the deeps were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.

20By his wisdom the depths have broken out, and the clouds grow thick with dew.

21My son, let them not depart from thine eyes; keep sound wisdom and discretion:

21My son, let not these things depart from thy eyes: keep the law and counsel:

22so shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace unto thy neck.

22And there shall be life to thy soul, and grace to thy mouth.

23Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, and thy foot shall not stumble;

23Then shalt thou walk confidently in thy way, and thy foot shall not stumble:

24when thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid, but thou shalt lie down and thy sleep shall be sweet.

24If thou sleep, thou shalt not fear: thou shalt rest, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

25Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the destruction of the wicked, when it cometh;

25Be not afraid of sudden fear, nor of the power of the wicked falling upon thee.

26for Jehovah shall be thy confidence, and he will keep thy foot from being taken.

26For the Lord will be at thy side, and will keep thy foot that thou be not taken.

27Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thy hand to do it.

27Do not withhold him from doing good, who is able: if thou art able, do good thyself also.

28Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to-morrow I will give, when thou hast it by thee.

28Say not to thy friend: Go, and come again: and to morrow I will give to thee: when thou canst give at present.

29Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.

29Practise not evil against thy friend, when he hath confidence in thee.

30Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

30Strive not against a man without cause, when he hath done thee no evil.

31Envy not the man of violence, and choose none of his ways.

31Envy not the unjust man, and do not follow his ways.

32For the perverse is an abomination to Jehovah; but his secret is with the upright.

32For every mocker is an abomination to the Lord, and his communication is with the simple.

33The curse of Jehovah is in the house of the wicked; but he blesseth the habitation of the righteous.

33Want is from the Lord in the house of the wicked: but the habitations of the just shall be blessed.

34He indeed scorneth the scorners; but he giveth grace unto the lowly.

34He shall scorn the scorners, and to the meek he will give grace.

35The wise shall inherit glory; but shame shall be the promotion of the foolish.

35The wise shall possess glory: the promotion of fools is disgrace.