Proverbs 3

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

1My son, keep my teaching in your memory, and my rules in your heart:

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

2For they will give you increase of days, years of life, and peace.

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

3Let not mercy and good faith go from you; let them be hanging round your neck, recorded on your heart;

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

4So you will have grace and a good name in the eyes of God and men.

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

5Put all your hope in God, not looking to your reason for support.

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

6In all your ways give ear to him, and he will make straight your footsteps.

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

7Put no high value on your wisdom: let the fear of the Lord be before you, and keep yourself from evil:

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

8This will give strength to your flesh, and new life to your bones.

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

9Give honour to the Lord with your wealth, and with the first-fruits of all your increase:

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

10So your store-houses will be full of grain, and your vessels overflowing with new wine.

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

11My son, do not make your heart hard against the Lord's teaching; do not be made angry by his training:

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

12For to those who are dear to him the Lord says sharp words, and makes the son in whom he has delight undergo pain.

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

13Happy is the man who makes discovery of wisdom, and he who gets knowledge.

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

14For trading in it is better than trading in silver, and its profit greater than bright gold.

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

15She is of more value than jewels, and nothing for which you may have a desire is fair in comparison with her.

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

16Long life is in her right hand, and in her left are wealth and honour.

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

17Her ways are ways of delight, and all her goings are peace.

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

18She is a tree of life to all who take her in their hands, and happy is everyone who keeps her.

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

19The Lord by wisdom put in position the bases of the earth; by reason he put the heavens in their place.

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

20By his knowledge the deep was parted, and dew came dropping from the skies.

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

21My son, keep good sense, and do not let wise purpose go from your eyes.

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

22So they will be life for your soul, and grace for your neck.

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

23Then you will go safely on your way, and your feet will have no cause for slipping.

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

24When you take your rest you will have no fear, and on your bed sleep will be sweet to you.

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

25Have no fear of sudden danger, or of the storm which will come on evil-doers:

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

26For the Lord will be your hope, and will keep your foot from being taken in the net.

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

27Do not keep back good from those who have a right to it, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.

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

28Say not to your neighbour, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when you have it by you at the time.

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

29Do not make evil designs against your neighbour, when he is living with you without fear.

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

30Do not take up a cause at law against a man for nothing, if he has done you no wrong.

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

31Have no envy of the violent man, or take any of his ways as an example.

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

32For the wrong-hearted man is hated by the Lord, but he is a friend to the upright.

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

33The curse of the Lord is on the house of the evil-doer, but his blessing is on the tent of the upright.

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

34He makes sport of the men of pride, but he gives grace to the gentle-hearted.

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

35The wise will have glory for their heritage, but shame will be the reward of the foolish.