Proverbs, 3

1. My child, do not forget my teaching, let your heart keep my principles,

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

2. since they will increase your length of days, your years of life and your well-being.

2. for length of days and years of life and abundant welfare will they give you.

3. Let faithful love and constancy never leave you: tie them round your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

3. Let not loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them about your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

4. Thus you will find favour and success in the sight of God and of people.

4. So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man.

5. Trust wholeheartedly in Yahweh, put no faith in your own perception;

5. Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.

6. acknowledge him in every course you take, and he will see that your paths are smooth.

6. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

7. Do not congratulate yourself on your own wisdom, fear Yahweh and turn your back on evil:

7. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.

8. health-giving, this, to your body, relief to your bones.

8. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.

9. Honour Yahweh with what goods you have and with the first-fruits of all your produce;

9. Honor the LORD with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce;

10. then your barns will be filled with corn, your vats overflowing with new wine.

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

11. My child, do not scorn correction from Yahweh, do not resent his reproof;

11. My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline or be weary of his reproof,

12. for Yahweh reproves those he loves, as a father the child whom he loves.

12. for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

13. Blessed are those who have discovered wisdom, those who have acquired understanding!

13. Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gets understanding,

14. Gaining her is more rewarding than silver, her yield is more valuable than gold.

14. for the gain from it is better than gain from silver and its profit better than gold.

15. She is beyond the price of pearls, nothing you could covet is her equal.

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

16. In her right hand is length of days; in her left hand, riches and honour.

16. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.

17. Her ways are filled with delight, her paths all lead to contentment.

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

18. She is a tree of life for those who hold her fast, those who cling to her live happy lives.

18. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called happy.

19. In wisdom, Yahweh laid the earth's foundations, in understanding he spread out the heavens.

19. The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens;

20. Through his knowledge the depths were cleft open, and the clouds distil the dew.

20. by his knowledge the deeps broke forth, and the clouds drop down the dew.

21. My child, hold to sound advice and prudence, never let them out of sight;

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

22. they will give life to your soul and beauty to your neck.

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

23. You will go on your way in safety, your feet will not stumble.

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

24. When you go to bed, you will not be afraid; once in bed, your sleep will be sweet.

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

25. Have no fear either of sudden terror or of attack mounted by wicked men,

25. Do not be afraid of sudden panic, or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes;

26. since Yahweh will be your guarantor, he will keep your steps from the snare.

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

27. Refuse no kindness to those who have a right to it, if it is in your power to perform it.

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

28. Do not say to your neighbour, 'Go away! Come another time! I will give it you tomorrow,' if you can do it now.

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 plot harm against your neighbour who is living unsuspecting beside you.

29. Do not plan evil against your neighbor who dwells trustingly beside you.

30. Do not pick a groundless quarrel with anyone who has done you no harm.

30. Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm.

31. Do not envy the man of violence, never model your conduct on his;

31. Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways;

32. for the wilful wrong-doer is abhorrent to Yahweh, who confides only in the honest.

32. for the perverse man is an abomination to the LORD, but the upright are in his confidence.

33. Yahweh's curse lies on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the upright.

33. The LORD's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the abode of the righteous.

34. He mocks those who mock, but accords his favour to the humble.

34. Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he shows favor.

35. Glory is the portion of the wise, all that fools inherit is contempt.

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