Proverbs 3 - Modern English Version

The Rewards of Wisdom

¹ My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,

² for length of days and long life and peace will they give you.

³ Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.

⁴ So will you find favor and high regard in the sight of God and man.

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.

⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

⁷ Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil.

⁸ It will be healing to your flesh, and strength to your bones.

⁹ Honor the Lord with your substance, and with the firstfruits of all your increase;

¹⁰ then will your barns be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.

¹¹ My son, despise not the discipline of the Lord or be weary of His correction,

¹² for whom the Lord loves He corrects, as a father the son in whom he delights.

¹³ Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gets understanding,

¹⁴ for her profit is better than the profit of silver, and her increase better than fine gold.

¹⁵ She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.

¹⁶ Length of days is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.

¹⁷ Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; blessed are those who retain her.

¹⁹ The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens;

²⁰ by His knowledge the depths were broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

²¹ My son, let them not depart from your sight; keep sound wisdom and discretion,

²² and they will be life to your soul and adornment for your neck.

²³ Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble.

²⁴ When you sit down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

²⁵ Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the desolation by the wicked when it comes,

²⁶ for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.

²⁷ Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.

²⁸ Do not say to your neighbor, “Go and come again; tomorrow I will give it,” when you have it with you.

²⁹ Do not devise evil against your neighbor who dwells securely beside you.

³⁰ Do not strive with a man without cause, when he has done you no harm.

³¹ Do not envy the oppressor and do not choose any of his ways,

³² for the perverse is an abomination to the Lord, but His counsel is with the upright.

³³ The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the dwelling of the righteous.

³⁴ Surely He scorns the scornful, but He gives grace to the humble.

³⁵ The wise will inherit honor, but fools get shame.