Proverbs 3:1-20

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.

Proverbs 3:1-20 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Cross References

• 1. See Proverbs 1:8
• 2. Deuteronomy 8:1; Deuteronomy 30:16, 20
• 3. ver. 16; Proverbs 4:10; Proverbs 9:11; Proverbs 10:27; See Psalms 91:16
• 4. Proverbs 1:33; Psalms 119:165
• 5. [Psalms 85:10]
• 6. [Proverbs 20:28; Isaiah 59:14]
• 7. [Proverbs 1:9; Proverbs 6:21; Proverbs 7:3]
• 8. Proverbs 7:3; [Jeremiah 17:1; 2 Corinthians 3:3]
• 9. [1 Samuel 2:26; Luke 2:52; Romans 14:18]
• 10. See Psalms 111:10
• 11. Psalms 37:3, 5
• 12. [Jeremiah 9:23]
• 13. 1 Chronicles 28:9
• 14. [Psalms 73:24]
• 15. [Romans 12:16]; See Proverbs 12:15
• 16. Job 1:1; Job 28:28
• 17. [Proverbs 4:22]
• 18. See Job 21:24
• 19. Exodus 23:19; Exodus 34:26; Deuteronomy 26:2
• 20. Deuteronomy 28:8
• 21. Cited Hebrews 12:5, 6; See Job 5:17
• 22. Deuteronomy 8:5; [1 Corinthians 11:32]
• 23. Proverbs 8:34, 35
• 24. See Job 28:15-19
• 25. Proverbs 8:10, 19; Proverbs 16:16; Psalms 19:10
• 26. Job 28:18
• 27. Proverbs 8:11
• 28. ver. 2
• 29. Proverbs 8:18; Proverbs 22:4
• 30. [Matthew 11:29, 30]
• 31. Proverbs 11:30; Proverbs 13:12; Proverbs 15:4; Genesis 2:9; Genesis 3:22; Revelation 2:7; Revelation 22:2
• 32. Proverbs 4:13
• 33. Proverbs 8:27; Psalms 104:5, 24; Psalms 136:5
• 34. Proverbs 8:27; Psalms 104:5, 24; Psalms 136:5
• 35. Genesis 7:11; [Job 38:8]
• 36. Job 36:28

Footnotes

• [a]. Or repute
• [b]. Hebrew navel
• [c]. Or medicine