Proverbs 3

Wisdom Bestows Well-Being

¹My son, do not forget my teaching,

but keep my commands in your heart,

²for they will prolong your life many years

and bring you peace and prosperity.

³Let love and faithfulness never leave you;

bind them around your neck,

write them on the tablet of your heart.

⁴Then you will win favor and a good name

in the sight of God and man.

⁵Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

⁶in all your ways submit to him,

and he will make your paths straight.

⁷Do not be wise in your own eyes;

fear the Lord and shun evil.

⁸This will bring health to your body

and nourishment to your bones.

⁹Honor the Lord with your wealth,

with the firstfruits of all your crops;

¹⁰then your barns will be filled to overflowing,

and your vats will brim over with new wine.

¹¹My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline,

and do not resent his rebuke,

¹²because the Lord disciplines those he loves,

as a father the son he delights in.

¹³Blessed are those who find wisdom,

those who gain understanding,

¹⁴for she is more profitable than silver

and yields better returns than gold.

¹⁵She is more precious than rubies;

nothing you desire can compare with her.

¹⁶Long life is in her right hand;

in her left hand are riches and honor.

¹⁷Her ways are pleasant ways,

and all her paths are peace.

¹⁸She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;

those who hold her fast will be blessed.

¹⁹By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,

by understanding he set the heavens in place;

²⁰by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,

and the clouds let drop the dew.

²¹My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,

preserve sound judgment and discretion;

²²they will be life for you,

an ornament to grace your neck.

²³Then you will go on your way in safety,

and your foot will not stumble.

²⁴When you lie down, you will not be afraid;

when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

²⁵Have no fear of sudden disaster

or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,

²⁶for the Lord will be at your side

and will keep your foot from being snared.

²⁷Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,

when it is in your power to act.

²⁸Do not say to your neighbor,

“Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—

when you already have it with you.

²⁹Do not plot harm against your neighbor,

who lives trustfully near you.

³⁰Do not accuse anyone for no reason—

when they have done you no harm.

³¹Do not envy the violent

or choose any of their ways.

³²For the Lord detests the perverse

but takes the upright into his confidence.

³³The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,

but he blesses the home of the righteous.

³⁴He mocks proud mockers

but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.

³⁵The wise inherit honor,

but fools get only shame.