3:1 [My] son, forget not my laws; but let
thine heart keep my words:
3:2 for length of existence, and years of life, and peace, shall they add to
thee.
3:3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee; but bind them about thy neck:
3:4 so shalt thou find favour: and do thou provide things honest in the
sight of the Lord, and of men.
3:5 Trust in God with all thine heart; and be not exalted in thine own
wisdom.
3:6 In all thy ways acquaint thyself with her, that she may rightly direct
thy paths.
3:7 Be not wise in thine own conceit; but fear God, and depart from all
evil.
3:8 Then shall there be health to thy body, and good keeping to thy bones.
3:9 Honour the Lord with thy just labours, and give him the first of thy
fruits of righteousness:
3:10 that thy storehouses may be completely filled with corn, and that thy
presses may burst forth with wine.
3:11 [My] son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; nor faint when thou
art rebuked of him:
3:12 for whom the Lord loves, he rebukes, and scourges every son whom he
receives.
3:13 Blessed is the man who has found wisdom, and the mortal who knows
prudence.
3:14 For it is better to traffic for her, than for treasures of gold and
silver.
3:15 And she is more valuable than precious stones: no evil thing shall
resist her: she is well known to all that approach her, and no precious
thing is equal to her in value.
3:16 For length of existence and years of life are in her right hand; and in
her left hand are wealth and glory: out of her mouth proceeds righteousness,
and she carries law and mercy upon her tongue.
3:17 Her ways are good ways, and all her paths are peaceful.
3:18 She is a tree of life to all that lay hold upon her; and she is [a]
secure [help] to all that stay themselves on her, as on the Lord.
3:19 God by wisdom founded the earth, and by prudence he prepared the
heavens.
3:20 By understanding were the depths broken up, and the clouds dropped
water.
3:21 [My] son, let [them] not pass from [thee], but keep my counsel and
understanding:
3:22 that thy soul may live, and that there may be grace round thy neck; and
it shall be health to thy flesh, and safety to thy bones:
3:23 that thou mayest go confidently in peace in all thy ways, and that thy
foot may not stumble.
3:24 For if thou rest, thou shalt be undismayed; and if thou sleep, thou
shalt slumber sweetly.
3:25 And thou shalt not be afraid of alarm coming upon thee, neither of
approaching attacks of ungodly men.
3:26 For the Lord shall be over all thy ways, and shall establish thy foot
that thou be not moved.
3:27 Forbear not to do good to the poor, whensoever thy hand may have
[power] to help [him].
3:28 Say not, Come back another time, to-morrow I will give; while thou art
able to do [him] good: for thou knowest not what the next day will bring
forth.
3:29 Devise not evil against thy friend, living near thee and trusting in
thee.
3:30 Be not ready to quarrel with a man without a cause, lest he do thee
some harm.
3:31 Procure not the reproaches of bad men, neither do thou covet their
ways.
3:32 For every transgressor is unclean before the Lord; neither does he sit
among the righteous.
3:33 The curse of God is in the houses of the ungodly; but the habitations
of the just are blessed.
3:34 The Lord resists the proud; but he gives grace to the humble.
3:35 The wise shall inherit glory; but the ungodly have exalted [their own]
dishonour. |
3:1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine
heart keep my commandments:
3:2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
3:3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write
them upon the table of thine heart:
3:4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and
man.
3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own
understanding.
3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
3:8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
3:9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all
thine increase:
3:10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst
out with new wine.
3:11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his
correction:
3:12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in
whom he delighteth.
3:13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth
understanding.
3:14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and
the gain thereof than fine gold.
3:15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire
are not to be compared unto her.
3:16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and
honour.
3:17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
3:18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is
every one that retaineth her.
3:19 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he
established the heavens.
3:20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the
dew.
3:21 My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and
discretion:
3:22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
3:23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
3:24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie
down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
3:25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked,
when it cometh.
3:26 For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from
being taken.
3:27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power
of thine hand to do it.
3:28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will
give; when thou hast it by thee.
3:29 Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by
thee.
3:30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
3:31 Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
3:32 For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the
righteous.
3:33 The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth
the habitation of the just.
3:34 Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
3:35 The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of
fools. |