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Proverbs 3

New International Reader’s Version



1 My son, do not forget my teaching. Keep my commands in your heart. 2 They will help you live for many years. They will bring you peace and success. 3 Don’t let love and truth ever leave you. Tie them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will find favour and a good name in the eyes of God and people. 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart. Do not depend on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways obey him. Then he will make your paths smooth and straight. 7 Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Have respect for the LORD and avoid evil. 8 That will bring health to your body. It will make your bones strong. 9 Honour the LORD with your wealth. Give him the first share of all your crops. 10 Then your storerooms will be so full they can’t hold everything. Your huge jars will spill over with fresh wine. 11 My son, do not hate the LORD’s training. Do not object when he corrects you. 12 The LORD trains those he loves. He is like a father who trains the son he is pleased with. 13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom. Blessed is the one who gains understanding. 14 Wisdom pays better than silver does. She earns more than gold does. 15 She is worth more than rubies. Nothing you want can compare with her. 16 Long life is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honour. 17 Her ways are pleasant ways. All her paths lead to peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her. Those who hold her close will be blessed. 19 By wisdom the LORD laid the earth’s foundations. Through understanding he set the heavens in place. 20 By his knowledge the seas were separated, and the clouds dropped their dew. 21 My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight. Hold on to good sense and the understanding of what is right. 22 They will be life for you. They will be like a gracious necklace around your neck. 23 Then you will go on your way in safety. You will not trip and fall. 24 When you lie down, you won’t be afraid. When you lie down, you will sleep soundly. 25 Don’t be terrified by sudden trouble. Don’t be afraid when sinners are destroyed. 26 The LORD will be at your side. He will keep your feet from being caught in a trap. 27 Don’t hold back good from those who are worthy of it. Don’t hold it back when you can help. 28 Suppose you already have something to give. Don’t say to your neighbour, ‘Come back tomorrow. I’ll give it to you then.’ 29 Don’t plan to harm your neighbour. He lives near you and trusts you. 30 Don’t bring charges against anyone for no reason. They have not harmed you. 31 Don’t be jealous of a person who hurts others. Don’t choose any of their ways. 32 The LORD really hates sinful people. But he makes honest people his closest friends. 33 The LORD puts a curse on the houses of sinners. But he blesses the homes of those who do what is right. 34 He makes fun of proud people who make fun of others. But he gives grace to those who are humble and treated badly. 35 Wise people receive honour. But foolish people get only shame. 

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Proverbs 3

English Standard Version



1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, (De 8:1; De 30:16; De 30:20; Pr 1:8) 2 for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. (Ps 91:16; Ps 119:165; Pr 1:33; Pr 3:16; Pr 4:10; Pr 9:11; Pr 10:27) 3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. (Ps 85:10; Pr 1:9; Pr 6:21; Pr 7:3; Pr 20:28; Isa 59:14; Jer 17:1; 2Co 3:3) 4 So you will find favor and good success[1] in the sight of God and man. (1Sa 2:26; Ps 111:10; Lu 2:52; Ro 14:18) 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. (Ps 37:3; Ps 37:5; Jer 9:23) 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (1Ch 28:9; Ps 73:24) 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. (Job 1:1; Job 28:28; Pr 12:15; Ro 12:16) 8 It will be healing to your flesh[2] and refreshment[3] to your bones. (Job 21:24; Pr 4:22) 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; (Ex 23:19; Ex 34:26; De 26:2) 10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. (De 28:8) 11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, (Job 5:17; Heb 12:5) 12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. (De 8:5; 1Co 11:32) 



13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, (Pr 8:34) 14 for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. (Job 28:15; Ps 19:10; Pr 8:10; Pr 8:19; Pr 16:16) 15 She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. (Job 28:18; Pr 8:11) 16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. (Pr 3:2; Pr 8:18; Pr 22:4) 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. (Mt 11:29) 18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed. (Ge 2:9; Ge 3:22; Pr 4:13; Pr 11:30; Pr 13:12; Pr 15:4; Re 2:7; Re 22:2) 19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; (Ps 104:5; Ps 104:24; Ps 136:5; Pr 8:27) 20 by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew. (Ge 7:11; Job 36:28; Job 38:8) 21 My son, do not lose sight of these— keep sound wisdom and discretion, (Pr 4:21) 22 and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. (Pr 1:9; Pr 4:22) 23 Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble. (Ps 91:11; Ps 91:12; Pr 4:12; Pr 10:9; Pr 28:18) 24 If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. (Job 11:19; Ps 3:5; Ps 4:8; Pr 6:22; Jer 31:26) 25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin[4] of the wicked, when it comes, (Job 5:21; Ps 91:5; 1Pe 3:14) 26 for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught. (1Sa 2:9) 27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,[5] when it is in your power to do it. (Ga 6:10) 28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you. (Le 19:13; De 24:15) 29 Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you. (Jud 18:7; Jud 18:27; Pr 6:14; Pr 12:20; Pr 14:22) 30 Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm. (Ro 12:18) 31 Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways, (Ps 18:48; Ps 37:1; Ps 140:1) 32 for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence. (Job 29:4; Pr 2:15) 33 The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous. (Le 26:14; Job 8:6; Ps 37:22; Zec 5:4; Mal 2:2) 34 Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.[6] (Ps 1:1; Ps 138:6; Jas 4:6; 1Pe 5:5) 35 The wise will inherit honor, but fools get[7] disgrace. 

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