Proverbs

Trust in the LORD with All Your Heart

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

2for they will add length to your days,years and peace to your life.

3Never let loving devotionor faithfulness leave you;bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

4Then you will find favor and high regardin the sight of God and man.

5Trust in the LORD with all your heart,and lean not on your own understanding;

6in all your ways acknowledge Him,and He will make your paths straight.

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

8This will bring healing to your bodyand refreshmentto your bones.

9Honor the LORD with your wealthand with the firstfruits of all your crops;

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

11My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD,and do not loathe His rebuke;

12for the LORD disciplines the one He loves,as does a father the son in whom he delights.

The Blessings of Wisdom

13Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,the man who acquires understanding,

14for she is more profitable than silver,and her gain is better than fine gold.

15She is more precious than rubies;nothing you desire compares with her.

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

17All her ways are pleasant,and all her paths are peaceful.

18She is a tree of life to those who embrace her,and those who lay hold of her are blessed.

19The LORD founded the earth by wisdomand established the heavens by understanding.

20By His knowledge the watery depths were broken open,and the clouds dripped with dew.

21My son, do not lose sight of this:Preserve sound judgment and discernment.

22They will be life to your souland adornment to your neck.

23Then you will go on your way in safety,and your foot will not stumble.

24When you lie down, you will not be afraid;when you rest, your sleep will be sweet.

25Do not fear sudden dangeror the ruin that overtakes the wicked,

26for the LORD will be your confidenceand will keep your foot from the snare.

27Do not withhold good from the deservingwhen it is within your power to act.

28Do not tell your neighbor,“Come back tomorrow and I will provide”— when you already have the means.

29Do not devise evil against your neighbor,for he trustfully dwells beside you.

30Do not accuse a man without cause,when he has done you no harm.

31Do not envy a violent manor choose any of his ways;

32for the LORD detests the perverse,but He is a friend to the upright.

33The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked,but He blesses the home of the righteous.

34He mocks the mockers,but gives grace to the humble.

35The wise will inherit honor,but fools are held up to shame.

1My son, don’t forget my teaching,but let your heart keep my commandments,

2for they will add to you length of days,years of life, and peace.

3Don’t let kindness and truth forsake you.Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.

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

5Trust in the LORD with all your heart,and don’t lean on your own understanding.

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

7Don’t be wise in your own eyes.Fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

8It will be health to your body,and nourishment to your bones.

9Honor the LORD with your substance,with the first fruits of all your increase;

10so your barns will be filled with plenty,and your vats will overflow with new wine.

11My son, don’t despise the LORD’s discipline,neither be weary of his correction;

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

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

14For her good profit is better than getting silver,and her return is better than fine gold.

15She is more precious than rubies.None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her.

16Length of days is in her right hand.In her left hand are riches and honor.

17Her ways are ways of pleasantness.All her paths are peace.

18She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her.Happy is everyone who retains her.

19By wisdom the LORD founded the earth.By understanding, he established the heavens.

20By his knowledge, the depths were broken up,and the skies drop down the dew.

21My son, let them not depart from your eyes.Keep sound wisdom and discretion,

22so they will be life to your soul,and grace for your neck.

23Then you shall walk in your way securely.Your foot won’t stumble.

24When you lie down, you will not be afraid.Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.

25Don’t be afraid of sudden fear,neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes;

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

27Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due,when it is in the power of your hand to do it.

28Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again;tomorrow I will give it to you,” when you have it by you.

29Don’t devise evil against your neighbor,since he dwells securely by you.

30Don’t strive with a man without cause,if he has done you no harm.

31Don’t envy the man of violence.Choose none of his ways.

32For the perverse is an abomination to the LORD,but his friendship is with the upright.

33The LORD’s curse is in the house of the wicked,but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.

34Surely he mocks the mockers,but he gives grace to the humble.

35The wise will inherit glory,but shame will be the promotion of fools.