Proverbs 3 (New American Standard)

The Rewards of Wisdom

1 My son, ¹do not forget my ^ateaching, But let your heart ²keep my commandments ; 2 For ³length of days and years of life And peace they will add to you. 3 Do not let ⁴kindness and truth leave you; ⁵Bind them around your neck, ⁶Write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you will ⁷find favor and ⁸good ^brepute In the sight of God and man. 5 ⁹Trust in the LORD with all your heart And ¹⁰do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways ¹¹acknowledge Him, And He will ¹²make your paths straight. 7 ¹³Do not be wise in your own eyes ; ¹⁴Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. 8 It will be ¹⁵healing to your ^cbody And ¹⁶refreshment to your bones. 9 ¹⁷Honor the LORD from your wealth And from the ¹⁸first of all your produce ; 10 So your ¹⁹barns will be filled with plenty And your ²⁰vats will overflow with new wine. 11 ²¹My son, do not reject the ^ddiscipline of the LORD Or loathe His reproof, 12 For ²²whom the LORD loves He reproves, Even ²³as a father corrects the son in whom he delights. 13 ²⁴How blessed is the man who finds wisdom And the man who gains understanding. 14 For her ²⁵profit is better than the profit of silver And her gain better than fine gold. 15 She is ²⁶more precious than ^ejewels ; And nothing you desire compares with her. 16 ^f27Long life is in her right hand ; In her left hand are ²⁸riches and honor. 17 Her ²⁹ways are pleasant ways And all her paths are ³⁰peace. 18 She is a ³¹tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who hold her fast. 19 The LORD ³²by wisdom founded the earth, By understanding He ³³established the heavens. 20 By His knowledge the ³⁴deeps were broken up And the ³⁵skies drip with dew. 21 My son, ³⁶let them not ^gvanish from your sight ; Keep sound wisdom and discretion, 22 So they will be ³⁷life to your soul And ³⁸adornment to your neck. 23 Then you will ³⁹walk in your way securely And your foot will not ⁴⁰stumble. 24 When you ⁴¹lie down, you will not be afraid ; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. 25 ⁴²Do not be afraid of sudden fear Nor of the ^h43onslaught of the wicked when it comes ; 26 For the LORD will be ⁱyour confidence And will ⁴⁴keep your foot from being caught. 27 ⁴⁵Do not withhold good from ^jthose to whom it is due, When it is in your power to do it. 28 ⁴⁶Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it," When you have it with you. 29 ⁴⁷Do not devise harm against your neighbor, While he lives securely beside you. 30 ⁴⁸Do not contend with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm. 31 ⁴⁹Do not envy a man of violence And do not choose any of his ways. 32 For the ⁵⁰devious are an abomination to the LORD ; But ^kHe is ⁵¹intimate with the upright. 33 The ⁵²curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, But He ⁵³blesses the dwelling of the righteous. 34 Though ⁵⁴He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet ⁵⁵He gives grace to the afflicted. 35 ⁵⁶The wise will inherit honor, But fools ^ldisplay dishonor.