Proverbs 3

1 My son! my law forget not, And my commands let thy heart keep,

2 For length of days and years, Life and peace they do add to thee.

3 Let not kindness and truth forsake thee, Bind them on thy neck, Write them on the tablet of thy heart,

4 And find grace and good understanding In the eyes of God and man.

5 Trust unto Jehovah with all thy heart, And unto thine own understanding lean not.

6 In all thy ways know thou Him, And He doth make straight thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes, Fear Jehovah, and turn aside from evil.

8 Healing it is to thy navel, And moistening to thy bones.

9 Honour Jehovah from thy substance, And from the beginning of all thine increase;

10 And filled are thy barns [with] plenty, And [with] new wine thy presses break forth.

11 Chastisement of Jehovah, my son, despise not, And be not vexed with His reproof,

12 For whom Jehovah loveth He reproveth, Even as a father the son He is pleased with.

13 O the happiness of a man [who] hath found wisdom, And of a man [who] bringeth forth understanding.

14 For better [is] her merchandise Than the merchandise of silver, And than gold -- her increase.

15 Precious she [is] above rubies, And all thy pleasures are not comparable to her.

16 Length of days [is] in her right hand, In her left [are] wealth and honour.

17 Her ways [are] ways of pleasantness, And all her paths [are] peace.

18 A tree of life she [is] to those laying hold on her, And whoso is retaining her [is] happy.

19 Jehovah by wisdom did found the earth, He prepared the heavens by understanding.

20 By His knowledge depths have been rent, And clouds do drop dew.

21 My son! let them not turn from thine eyes, Keep thou wisdom and thoughtfulness,

22 And they are life to thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

23 Then thou goest thy way confidently, And thy foot doth not stumble.

24 If thou liest down, thou art not afraid, Yea, thou hast lain down, And sweet hath been thy sleep.

25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, And of the desolation of the wicked when it cometh.

26 For Jehovah is at thy side, And He hath kept thy foot from capture.

27 Withhold not good from its owners, When thy hand [is] toward God to do [it].

28 Say not thou to thy friend, `Go, and return, and to-morrow I give,' And substance with thee.

29 Devise not against thy neighbour evil, And he sitting confidently with thee.

30 Strive not with a man without cause, If he have not done thee evil.

31 Be not envious of a man of violence, Nor fix thou on any of his ways.

32 For an abomination to Jehovah [is] the perverted, And with the upright [is] His secret counsel.

33 The curse of Jehovah [is] in the house of the wicked. And the habitation of the righteous He blesseth.

34 If the scorners He doth scorn, Yet to the humble He doth give grace.

35 Honour do the wise inherit, And fools are bearing away shame!

Proverbs 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.