The Word Am I

The Proverbs

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

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- Chapter 3 -

A blessing of wisdom

1
My son, forget not my law, and let thy heart keep my commandments.
2
For they shall add to thee length of days, and years of life and peace.
3
Let not mercy and truth leave thee, put them about thy neck, and write them in the tables of thy heart:
4
And thou shalt And grace and good understanding before God and men.
5
Have confidence in the Lord with all thy heart, and lean not upon thy own prudence.
6
In all thy ways think on him, and he will direct thy steps.
7
I Be not wise in thy own conceit: fear God, and depart from evil:
8
For it shall be health to thy navel, and moistening to thy bones.
9
Honour the Lord with thy substance, and give him of the first of all thy fruits:
10
And thy barns shall be filled with abundance, and thy presses shall run over with wine.
11
My son, reject not the correction of the Lord: and do not faint when thou art chastised by him:
12
For whom the Lord loveth, he chastiseth: and as a father in the son he pleaseth himself.

Wisdom is more valuable than riches

13
Blessed is the man that findeth wisdom and is rich in prudence:
14
The purchasing thereof is better than the merchandise of silver, and her fruit than the chiefest and purest gold:
15
She is more precious than all riches: and all the things that are desired, are not to be compared with her.
16
Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and glory.
17
Her ways are beautiful ways, and all her paths are peaceable.
18
She is a tree of life to them that lay hold on her: and he that shall retain her is blessed.
19
The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth, hath established the heavens by prudence.
20
By his wisdom the depths have broken out, and the clouds grow thick with dew.

The ways of the wise

21
My son, let not these things depart from thy eyes: keep the law and counsel:
22
And there shall be life to thy soul, and grace to thy mouth.
23
Then shalt thou walk confidently in thy way, and thy foot shall not stumble:
24
If thou sleep, thou shalt not fear: thou shalt rest, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25
Be not afraid of sudden fear, nor of the power of the wicked falling upon thee.
26
For the Lord will be at thy side, and will keep thy foot that thou be not taken.
27
Do not withhold him from doing good, who is able: if thou art able, do good thyself also.
28
Say not to thy friend: Go, and come again: and tomorrow I will give to thee: when thou canst give at present.
29
Practise not evil against thy friend, when he hath confidence in thee.
30
Strive not against a man without cause, when he hath done thee no evil.
31
Envy not the unjust man, and do not follow his ways:
32
For every mocker is an abomination to the Lord, and his communication is with the simple.
33
Want is from the Lord in the house of the wicked: but the habitations of the just shall be blessed.
34
He shall scorn the scorners, and to the meek he will give grace.
35
The wise shall possess glory: the promotion of fools is disgrace.

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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