Chapter
Verse

Proverbs chapter 3

English Standard Version

1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, 2for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. 3Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. 4So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. 8It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. 9Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; 10then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. 11 My son, do not despise the Lord 's discipline or be weary of his reproof, 12for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. 13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, 14 for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. 15She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. 16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. 17Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 18She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed. 19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; 20by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew. 21My son, do not lose sight of these — keep sound wisdom and discretion, 22and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. 23 Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble. 24 If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. 25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, 26for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught. 27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. 28 Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it" — when you have it with you. 29 Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you. 30 Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm. 31 Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways, 32for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence. 33 The Lord 's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous. 34Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor. 35The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace.
New International Version

New American Standard Bible

1My son, do not forget my teaching, But have your heart comply with my commandments; 2For length of days and years of life And peace they will add to you. 3Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. 4So you will find favor and a good reputation In the sight of God and man. 5Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. 7Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. 8It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones. 9Honor the Lord from your wealth, And from the first of all your produce; 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 Or loathe His rebuke, 12For whom the Lord loves He disciplines, Just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights. 13Blessed is a person who finds wisdom, And one who obtains understanding. 14For her profit is better than the profit of silver, And her produce better than gold. 15She is more precious than jewels, And nothing you desire compares with her. 16 Long life is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor. 17Her ways are pleasant ways, And all her paths are peace. 18She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are those who hold on to her. 19The Lord founded the earth by wisdom, He established the heavens by understanding. 20By His knowledge the ocean depths were burst open, And the clouds drip with dew. 21My son, see that they do not escape from your sight; Comply with sound wisdom and discretion, 22And they will be life to your soul And adornment to your neck. 23Then you will walk in your way securely, And your foot will not stumble. 24When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. 25Do not be afraid of sudden danger, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; 26For the Lord will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught. 27Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in your power to do it. 28Do not say to your neighbor, 'Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it to you,' When you have it with you. 29Do not devise harm against your neighbor, While he lives securely beside you. 30Do not contend with a person for no reason, If he has done you no harm. 31Do not envy a violent person, And do not choose any of his ways. 32For the devious are an abomination to the Lord; But He is intimate with the upright. 33The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the home of the righteous. 34Though He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet He gives grace to the needy. 35The wise will inherit honor, But fools increase dishonor.
Christian Standard Bible

New Living Translation

King James Version

New King James Version

1My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands; 2For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you. 3Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, 4 And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. 7Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. 8It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. 9 Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; 10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine. 11 My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His correction; 12For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights. 13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding; 14 For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold. 15She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. 16 Length of days is in her right hand, In her left hand riches and honor. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace. 18She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who retain her. 19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding He established the heavens; 20By His knowledge the depths were broken up, And clouds 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 to your neck. 23 Then you will walk safely in your way, And your foot will not stumble. 24When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. 25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; 26For the Lord will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught. 27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so. 28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it,When you have it with you. 29Do not devise evil against your neighbor, For he dwells by you for safety’s sake. 30 Do not strive with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm. 31 Do not envy the oppressor, And choose none of his ways; 32For the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord, But His secret counsel is with the upright. 33 The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the home of the just. 34 Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble. 35The wise shall inherit glory, But shame shall be the legacy of fools.

What does Proverbs chapter 3 mean?

This chapter begins with another encouragement for the reader to embrace the wisdom being imparted. Solomon's reference to "my son" most likely means his actual child or children. However, it was common for teachers in that era to refer to their students using father-son terminology. Typical of wisdom literature, the remarks that follow are segments of general-case advice. Wise living doesn't guarantee a person a worry-free experience (Proverbs 3:25–26). Still, it greatly increases one's chance of success. In that common-sense way, obeying these instructions will bring comparative peace and longevity (Proverbs 3:1–4).

The book of Proverbs often uses alternating patterns. These are sometimes used to contrast positive statements with negative ones. Here, Solomon presents several cycles of instructions and benefits. These emphasize the need to submit to godly wisdom, placing God and His will first and foremost in one's life. This includes being willing to see God's discipline as a sign of love, not a reason to despair (Proverbs 3:5–12).

Solomon also wrote the book of Ecclesiastes, which describes the results of trying to attain happiness through worldly means. In this passage, the reader is encouraged to see wisdom and discretion as unimaginably more valuable than wealth and material goods. Once again, true wisdom is grounded in the character and will of God. As in other parts of Proverbs, the term wisdom implies an ability to act according to godly knowledge. Discretion is the ability to carefully consider a situation, separating right from wrong and making the judicious choice. This passage also indicates that hardship can come even to those who follow godly wisdom. Still, among the advantages of godly wisdom are a clear conscience and confidence that God will stand beside a believer, no matter what (Proverbs 3:13–26).

The chapter ends with another set of instructions. These are focused on relationships, especially with other people. Among these are commands not to delay in doing good for others, especially when such honor is expected or owed. This passage touches on the fact that the ungodly often seem to have success—but this is nothing to envy. Even those who seem to prosper in their sin will eventually be held accountable to God. Those who are arrogant and foolish will one day be humiliated and disgraced; those who submit to godly wisdom will be blessed (Proverbs 3:27–35).
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