The Word Am I

The Proverbs

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- Chapter 3 -

A blessing of wisdom

1
My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart guard my precepts.
2
For they shall set before you length of days, and years of life, and peace.
3
Let not mercy and truth abandon you: encircle them around your throat, and inscribe them on the tablets of your heart.
4
And so shall you discover grace and good discipline, in the sight of God and men.
5
Have confidence in the Lord with all your heart, and do not depend upon your own prudence.
6
In all your ways, consider him, and he himself will direct your steps.
7
Do not seem wise to yourself. Fear God, and withdraw from evil.
8
Certainly, it shall be health to your navel, and refreshment to your bones.
9
Honor the Lord with your substance, and give to him from the first of all your fruits,
10
and then your storehouses will be filled with abundance, and your presses shall overflow with wine.
11
My son, do not discard the discipline of the Lord, and do not fall away when you are corrected by him.
12
For whomever the Lord loves, he corrects, and just as a father does with a son, he wins him over.

Wisdom is more valuable than riches

13
Blessed is the man who finds wisdom and who advances to prudence.
14
Her acquisition is better than trading in silver, and her fruit is better than the first and purest gold.
15
She is more precious than all riches, and all that can be desired cannot prevail in comparison to her.
16
Length of days is at her right hand, and at her left hand is wealth and glory.
17
Her ways are beautiful ways, and all her paths are peaceful.
18
She is a tree of life to those who overtake her, and he who shall take hold of her is blessed.
19
The Lord founded the earth on wisdom. He secured the heavens with prudence.
20
By his wisdom, the abyss erupted and the clouds increased with dew.

The ways of the wise

21
My son, let not these things move away from your eyes. Preserve law as well as counsel.
22
And so shall there be life in your soul and grace in your voice.
23
Then you shall walk confidently in your way, and your feet will not stumble.
24
When you slumber, you shall not fear. When you rest, your sleep also will be sweet.
25
Do not fear unexpected terror, nor the power of the impious falling upon you.
26
For the Lord will be at your side, and he will guard your feet, so that you may not be seized.
27
Do not prevent him who is able from doing good. When you are able, do good yourself too.
28
Do not say to your friend: “Go away, and then return. Tomorrow I will give to you.” When you are able to do so, give in the present.
29
Do not undertake evil against your friend, even though he has trust in you.
30
Do not contend against a man without cause, even though he has done no evil to you.
31
Do not rival an unjust man, and do not imitate his ways.(a)
32
For everyone who ridicules is an abomination to the Lord, and his communication is for the simple.
33
Destitution in the house of the impious is from the Lord. But the habitations of the just shall be blessed.
34
He will ridicule those who ridicule, but he will bestow grace upon the mild.
35
The wise will possess glory. The exaltation of the foolish is disgraceful.

Footnotes

(a)3:31 Or, ‘Do not compete with an unjust man,’ or, ‘Do not rival an unjust man.’(Conte)

A blessing of wisdom

1
My son, don’t forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,
2
for they will add to you length of days, years of life, and peace.
3
Don’t let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4
So you will find favor, and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding.
6
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
7
Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8
It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.
9
Honor the LORD with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase;
10
so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11
My son, don’t despise the LORD’s discipline, neither be weary of his correction;
12
for whom the LORD loves, he corrects, even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.

Wisdom is more valuable than riches

13
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding.
14
For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold.
15
She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to 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. All her paths are peace.
18
She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her.
19
By wisdom the LORD founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens.
20
By his knowledge, the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.

The ways of the wise

21
My son, let them not depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22
so they will be life to your soul, and grace for your neck.
23
Then you shall walk in your way securely. Your foot won’t stumble.
24
When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.
25
Don’t be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes;
26
for the LORD will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being taken.
27
Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
28
Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you,” when you have it by you.
29
Don’t devise evil against your neighbor, since he dwells securely by you.
30
Don’t strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.
31
Don’t envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways.
32
For the perverse is an abomination to the LORD, but his friendship is with the upright.
33
The LORD’s curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.
34
Surely he mocks the mockers, but he gives grace to the humble.
35
The wise will inherit glory, but shame will be the promotion of fools.
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