Proverbs 3

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,a ²for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.b ³Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.c

⁴Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.d ⁵Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;e ⁶in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.f

⁷Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.g ⁸This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.h ⁹Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;i ¹⁰then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.j

¹¹My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke,k ¹²because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.l

Wisdom is more precious than jewels

¹³Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding,m ¹⁴for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.n 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.o ¹⁷Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.p ¹⁸She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.q

¹⁹By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place;r 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;s 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.t ²⁵Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,u ²⁶for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.v

²⁷Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.w ²⁸Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”— when you already have it with you.x 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.y ³²For the Lord detests the perverse but takes the upright into his confidence.z

³³The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous.aa ³⁴He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.ab ³⁵The wise inherit honor, but fools get only shame.