Zhēnyán 3

1 Wǒ ér , búyào wàngjì wǒde fǎ zé . ( huò zuò zhǐjiào ) nǐ xīn yào jǐn shǒu wǒde jièmìng .

2 Yīnwei tā bìjiāng chángjiǔ de rìzi , shēngmìng de nián shǔ , yǔ píngān , jiā gĕi nǐ .

3 Bùkĕ shǐ cíaì chéngshí líkāi nǐ . yào jì zaì nǐ jǐngxiàng shang , kè zaì nǐ xīn bǎn shang .

4 Zhèyàng , nǐ bì zaì shén hé shìrén yǎnqián méng ēn chǒng , yǒu cōngming .

5 Nǐ yào zhuān xīn yǎng laì Yēhéhuá , bùkĕ yǐkào zìjǐ de cōngming .

6 Zaì nǐ yīqiè suǒ xíng de shì shang , dōu yào rèn déng tā , tā bì zhī yǐn nǐde lù .

7 Búyào zì yǐwéi yǒu zhìhuì . yào jìngwèi Yēhéhuá , yuǎn lí è shì .

8 Zhè biàn yīzhì nǐde dù qí , zīrùn nǐde bǎi gú .

9 Nǐ yào yǐ cáiwù , hé yīqiè chū shú de tǔchǎn , zūnróng Yēhéhuá .

10 Zhèyàng , nǐde cāng fáng , bì chōngmǎn yǒuyú , nǐde jiǔ zhà , yǒu xīn jiǔ yíng yì .

11 Wǒ ér , nǐ bùkĕ qīng kàn Yēhéhuá de guǎngjiào , ( huò zuò chéng zhì ) yĕ bùkĕ yànfán tāde zébeì .

12 Yīnwei Yēhéhuá suǒ aì de , tā bì zébeì . zhēng rú fùqin zébeì suǒ xǐaì de érzi .

13 Dé zhìhuì , dé cōngming de , zhè rén biàn wèi yǒu fú .

14 Yīnwei dé zhìhuì shēng guō dé yínzi , qí lì yì jiàng rú jīng jīn .

15 Bǐ zhēnzhū ( huò zuò hóngbǎoshí ) bǎoguì . nǐ yīqiè suǒ xǐaì de , dōu bùzú bǐjiào .

16 Tā yòushǒu yǒu zhǎng shòu . zuǒshǒu yǒu fù guì .

17 Tāde dào shì ān lè , tāde lù quán shì píngān .

18 Tā yǔ chí shǒu tāde zuò shēngmìng shù . chí déng tāde jū gĕ yǒu fú .

19 Yēhéhuá yǐ zhìhuì lì dì . yǐ cōngming déng tiān .

20 Yǐ zhīshi shǐ shēn yuān liĕ kāi , shǐ tiānkōng dī xià gān lù .

21 Wǒ ér , yào jǐn shǒu zhēn zhìhuì hé móu lüè . bùkĕ shǐ tā líkāi nǐde yǎnmù .

22 Zhèyàng , tā bì zuò nǐde shēngmìng , jǐngxiàng de mĕi shì .

23 Nǐ jiù tǎnrán xíng lù , bù zhì pèng jiǎo .

24 Nǐ tǎng xià , bì bù jùpà . nǐ tǎng wò , shuì de xiāng tián .

25 Hūrán lái de jīngkǒng , búyào haìpà . è rén zāo huǐmiè , yĕ búyào kǒngjù .

26 Yīnwei Yēhéhuá shì nǐ suǒ yǐkào de . tā bì bǎoshǒu nǐde jiǎo bù xiàn rù wǎngluó .

27 Nǐ shǒu ruò yǒu xíng shàn de lìliang , bùkĕ tuīcí , jiù dāng xiàng nà yīngdé de rén shīxíng .

28 Nǐ nàli ruò yǒu xiàn chéng de , bùkĕ duì línshè shuō , qù ba , míngtiān zaì lái , wǒ bì gĕi nǐ .

29 Nǐde línshè , jì zaì nǐ fù jìn ān jū , nǐ bùkĕ shèjì haì tā .

30 Rén wèicéng jiā haì yǔ nǐ , bùkĕ wú gù yǔ tā xiāng zhēng .

31 Bùkĕ jídù qiángbào de rén , yĕ bùkĕ xuǎnzé tā suǒ xíng de lù .

32 Yīnwei guāi pì rén wèi Yēhéhuá suǒ zēngwù . zhèngzhí rén wèi tā suǒ qéng mì .

33 Yēhéhuá zhòuzǔ è rén de jiā tíng , cì fú yǔ yì rén de jū suǒ .

34 Tā jīqiào nà hǎo jīqiào de rén , cì ēn gĕi qiābēi de rén .

35 Zhìhuì rén bì chéngshòu zūnróng . yúmeì rén gāo shēng yĕ chéngwéi xiūrǔ .

Zhēnyán 3 Commentary

Chapter 3

Exhortations to obedience and faith. (1-6) To piety, and to improve afflictions. (7-12) To gain wisdom. (13-20) Guidance of Wisdom. (21-26) The wicked and the upright. (27-35)

Verses 1-6 In the way of believing obedience to God's commandments health and peace may commonly be enjoyed; and though our days may not be long upon earth, we shall live for ever in heaven. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee; God's mercy in promising, and his truth in performing: live up to them, keep up thine interest in them, and take the comfort of them. We must trust in the Lord with all our hearts, believing he is able and wise to do what is best. Those who know themselves, find their own understandings a broken reed, which, if they lean upon, will fail. Do not design any thing but what is lawful, and beg God to direct thee in every case, though it may seem quite plain. In all our ways that prove pleasant, in which we gain our point, we must acknowledge God with thankfulness. In all our ways that prove uncomfortable, and that are hedged up with thorns, we must acknowledge him with submission. It is promised, He shall direct thy paths; so that thy way shall be safe and good, and happy at last.

Verses 7-12 There is not a greater enemy to the fear of the Lord in the heart, than self-conceit of our own wisdom. The prudence and sobriety which religion teaches, tend not only to the health of the soul, but to the health of the body. Worldly wealth is but poor substance, yet, such as it is, we must honour God with it; and those that do good with what they have, shall have more to do more good with. Should the Lord visit us with trials and sickness, let us not forget that the exhortation speaks to us as to children, for our good. We must not faint under an affliction, be it ever so heavy and long, not be driven to despair, or use wrong means for relief. The father corrects the son whom he loves, because he loves him, and desires that he may be wise and good. Afflictions are so far from doing God's children any hurt, that, by the grace of God, they promote their holiness.

Verses 13-20 No precious jewels or earthly treasures are worthy to be compared with true wisdom, whether the concerns of time or eternity be considered. We must make wisdom our business; we must venture all in it, and be willing to part with all for it. This Wisdom is the Lord Jesus Christ and his salvation, sought and obtained by faith and prayer. Were it not for unbelief, remaining sinfulness, and carelessness, we should find all our ways pleasantness, and our paths peace, for his are so; but we too often step aside from them, to our own hurt and grief. Christ is that Wisdom, by whom the worlds were made, and still are in being; happy are those to whom he is made of God wisdom. He has wherewithal to make good all his promises.

Verses 21-26 Let us not suffer Christ's words to depart from us, but keep sound wisdom and discretion; then shall we walk safely in his ways. The natural life, and all that belongs to it, shall be under the protection of God's providence; the spiritual life, and all its interests, under the protection of his grace, so that we shall be kept from falling into sin or trouble.

Verses 27-35 Our business is to observe the precepts of Christ, and to copy his example; to do justice, to love mercy, and to beware of covetousness; to be ready for every good work, avoiding needless strife, and bearing evils, if possible, rather than seeking redress by law. It will be found there is little got by striving. Let us not envy prosperous oppressors; far be it from the disciples of Christ to choose any of their ways. These truths may be despised by the covetous and luxurious, but everlasting contempt will be the portion of such scorners, while Divine favour is shown to the humble believer.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PROVERBS 3

In this chapter, Wisdom, or Christ, delivers out some fresh lessons and instructions to his children; as not to forget his doctrine, but heartily attend to his precepts and ordinances, seeing these are the means of lengthening out their days, and of enjoying peace, Pr 3:1,2; as well as had the promise of the mercy and truth of God, and the continuance of them, annexed to them; and therefore are exhorted to keep close to them, and show the greatest value and affection for them, which was the way to find favour with, and to be taken notice of by, God and man, Pr 3:3,4; and then he proceeds to exhort them to a hearty trust in the Lord, without dependence on themselves; and to seek direction from him in every step they took, which they might expect to have, Pr 3:5,6; to humility and the fear of God, and fleeing from evil, which they would find would much contribute to their health, Pr 3:7,8; to liberality in supporting the worship of God, and the interest of religion, which would turn to account and profit to them, Pr 3:9,10; to patience in bearing the chastisement of the Lord, as coming from a loving father, Pr 3:11,12; then follows a commendation of wisdom, and the happiness of the man possessed of it is declared, Pr 3:13; from the profit, preciousness, pleasure, and usefulness of it, Pr 3:14-18; and from its concern in the works of creation and providence, Pr 3:19,20; and from that comfort, honour, safety, and security, which come by the doctrines and instructions of Wisdom, and a steady regard to them, Pr 3:21-26; and the chapter is concluded with exhortations to beneficence, charity, concord, and peace with neighbours, Pr 3:27-30; and to shun the ways of wicked men, urged from the different state and condition of wicked men and fools, and of the just, the lowly, and wise, Pr 3:31-35.