Proverbs

Proverbs 3 ©

1 An exhortation to obedience; 5 faith in God; 7 humility and godly fear; 9 religious oblations; 11 patience under affliction. 13 The excellency of wisdom; 21 the benefits of it. 27 An exhortation to active goodness; 29 peaceableness; against oppression. 33 The curse of the wicked, and blessing of the upright.

1

MY ason, forget not my law; but blet thine heart keep my commandments:

2

For clength of days, and 1long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

3

dLet not mercy and truth forsake thee: ebind them about thy neck; fwrite them upon the *table of thine heart:

4

So gshalt thou find favour and 2good understanding in the sight of God and man.

5

hTrust in the LORD with all thine heart; and ilean not unto thine own understanding.

6

In jall thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

7

kBe not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

8

lIt shall be 3health to thy navel, and 4marrow to thy bones.

9

mHonour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

10

So nshall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

11

¶My oson, despise not the *chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:

12

For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even pas a father the son in whom he delighteth.

13

qHappy is the man that findeth wisdom, and 5the man that getteth understanding.

14

For rthe merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

15

She is smore precious than rubies: and tall the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

16

uLength of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

17

vHer ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

18

She is wa tree of life to them that xlay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

19

The yLORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he 6established the heavens.

20

By his knowledge zthe depths are broken up, and athe clouds drop down bthe dew.

21

¶My son, clet not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:

22

dSo shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

23

eThen shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.

24

fWhen thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and gthy sleep shall be sweet.

25

Be hnot afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.

26

For ithe LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

27

jWithhold not good from 7them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

28

kSay not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.

29

8Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth *securely by thee.

30

lStrive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

31

mEnvy thou not 9the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.

32

For nthe *froward is abomination to the LORD: obut his secret is with the righteous.

33

¶The pcurse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but qhe blesseth the habitation of the just.

34

rSurely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.

35

The swise shall inherit glory: but shame 10shall be the promotion of fools.