Mishle 3:1-20

1 Beni (my son), forget not my torah; but let thine lev keep my mitzvot;

2 For orekh yamim (length of days), and shnot chayyim, and shalom, shall they add to thee.

3 Let not chesed and emes forsake thee; bind them about thy neck; write them upon the luach (tablet) of thine lev;

4 So shalt thou find chen and seichel tov in the eyes of Elohim and adam.

5 Trust in Hashem with all thine lev, and lean not unto thine own binah (understanding).

6 In all thy drakhim acknowledge Him, and He shall make yosher thy orkhot (paths).

7 Be not chacham in thine own eyes; fear Hashem, and depart from rah.

8 It shall be rife’ut (health) to thy navel, and marrow to thy atzmot.

9 Honor Hashem with thy substance, and with the reshit (firstfruit) of all thine increase;

10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy vats shall burst out with tirosh.

11 Beni (my son), despise not the musar Hashem; neither be weary of His tokhakhah (reproof);

12 For whom Hashem loveth, He correcteth; even as an av the ben in whom he delighteth.

13 Ashrei (happy) is the man that findeth chochmah, and the man that getteth tevunah (understanding).

14 For the gain of it is better than the gain of kesef, and the increase thereof than fine gold.

15 She is more precious than peninim (pearls); and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

16 Orekh yamim is in her right hand; and in her left hand osher and kavod.

17 Her drakhim are drakhim of pleasantness, and all her netivot (trodden paths) are shalom.

18 She is an Etz Chayyim (Tree of Life) to them that lay hold upon her; and me’usher (blessed) is every one that holdeth her fast.

19 Hashem by chochmah hath founded Eretz (Earth); by tevunah (understanding) hath He established Shomayim.

20 By His da’as (knowledge) the tehomot (oceanic depths) were divided, and the clouds drop down the tal (dew).

Mishle 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.