Proverbs 3 (English Standard Version)

Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart

1 ¹My son, do not forget my teaching, ²but let your heart keep my commandments, 2 for ³length of days and years of life and ⁴peace they will add to you. 3 Let not ⁵steadfast love and ⁶faithfulness forsake you; ⁷bind them around your neck; ⁸write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you will ⁹find favor and ¹⁰good success^a in the sight of God and man. 5 ¹¹Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and ¹²do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways ¹³acknowledge him, and he ¹⁴will make straight your paths. 7 ¹⁵Be not wise in your own eyes; ¹⁶fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. 8 It will be ¹⁷healing to your flesh^b and ¹⁸refreshment^c to your bones. 9 Honor the LORD with your wealth and with ¹⁹the firstfruits of all your produce; 10 then your ²⁰barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. 11 ²¹My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline or be weary of his reproof, 12 for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as ²²a father the son in whom he delights.

Blessed Is the One Who Finds Wisdom

13 ²³Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, 14 ²⁴for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than ²⁵gold. 15 She is more precious than ²⁶jewels, and ²⁷nothing you desire can compare with her. 16 ²⁸Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are ²⁹riches and honor. 17 Her ³⁰ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is ³¹a tree of life to those who ³²lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed. 19 ³³The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding ³⁴he established the heavens; 20 by his knowledge ³⁵the deeps broke open, and ³⁶the clouds drop down the dew. 21 My son, ³⁷do not lose sight of these-- keep sound wisdom and discretion, 22 and they will be ³⁸life for your soul and ³⁹adornment for your neck. 23 ⁴⁰Then you will walk on your way securely, ⁴¹and your foot will not stumble. 24 ⁴²If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, ⁴³your sleep will be sweet. 25 ⁴⁴Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of ⁴⁵the ruin^d of the wicked, when it comes, 26 for the LORD will be your confidence and will ⁴⁶keep your foot from being caught. 27 ⁴⁷Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,^e when it is in your power to do it. 28 ⁴⁸Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it"--when you have it with you. 29 ⁴⁹Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who ⁵⁰dwells trustingly beside you. 30 ⁵¹Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm. 31 ⁵²Do not envy ⁵³a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways, 32 for ⁵⁴the devious person is an abomination to the LORD, but the upright are ⁵⁵in his confidence. 33 ⁵⁶The LORD's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he ⁵⁷blesses the dwelling of the righteous. 34 Toward the ⁵⁸scorners he ⁵⁹is scornful, ⁶⁰but to the humble he gives favor.^f 35 The wise will inherit honor, but fools get^g disgrace.