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! my law forget not, And my commands let thy heart keep,

2For length of days and years, Life and peace they do add to thee.

3Let not kindness and truth forsake thee, Bind them on thy neck, Write them on the tablet of thy heart,

4And find grace and good understanding In the eyes of God and man.

5Trust unto Jehovah with all thy heart, And unto thine own understanding lean not.

6In all thy ways know thou Him, And He doth make straight thy paths.

7Be not wise in thine own eyes, Fear Jehovah, and turn aside from evil.

8Healing it is to thy navel, And moistening to thy bones.

9Honour Jehovah from thy substance, And from the beginning of all thine increase;

10And filled are thy barns [with] plenty, And [with] new wine thy presses break forth.

11Chastisement of Jehovah, my son, despise not, And be not vexed with His reproof,

12For whom Jehovah loveth He reproveth, Even as a father the son He is pleased with.

13O the happiness of a man [who] hath found wisdom, And of a man [who] bringeth forth understanding.

14For better [is] her merchandise Than the merchandise of silver, And than gold — her increase.

15Precious she [is] above rubies, And all thy pleasures are not comparable to her.

16Length of days [is] in her right hand, In her left [are] wealth and honour.

17Her ways [are] ways of pleasantness, And all her paths [are] peace.

18A tree of life she [is] to those laying hold on her, And whoso is retaining her [is] happy.

19Jehovah by wisdom did found the earth, He prepared the heavens by understanding.

20By His knowledge depths have been rent, And clouds do drop dew.

21My son! let them not turn from thine eyes, Keep thou wisdom and thoughtfulness,

22And they are life to thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

23Then thou goest thy way confidently, And thy foot doth not stumble.

24If thou liest down, thou art not afraid, Yea, thou hast lain down, And sweet hath been thy sleep.

25Be not afraid of sudden fear, And of the desolation of the wicked when it cometh.

26For Jehovah is at thy side, And He hath kept thy foot from capture.

27Withhold not good from its owners, When thy hand [is] toward God to do [it].

28Say not thou to thy friend, 'Go, and return, and to-morrow I give,' And substance with thee.

29Devise not against thy neighbour evil, And he sitting confidently with thee.

30Strive not with a man without cause, If he have not done thee evil.

31Be not envious of a man of violence, Nor fix thou on any of his ways.

32For an abomination to Jehovah [is] the perverted, And with the upright [is] His secret counsel.

33The curse of Jehovah [is] in the house of the wicked. And the habitation of the righteous He blesseth.

34If the scorners He doth scorn, Yet to the humble He doth give grace.

35Honour do the wise inherit, And fools are bearing away shame!