Proverbs 3

Berean Standard Bible

Chapter summary

Proverbs 3 begins with an address from a teacher or father urging a son to remember teachings, keep commandments, and maintain loving devotion and faithfulness. The text advises trusting in the LORD, honoring Him with wealth, accepting divine discipline, and embracing wisdom, which is described as more valuable than silver and gold. It details how the LORD founded the earth and established the heavens through wisdom and understanding. Further instructions direct the listener to preserve sound judgment, avoid withholding good from those who deserve it, refrain from plotting evil against neighbors, and avoid envying violent individuals. The chapter concludes by contrasting the fate of the wicked, who face a divine curse and shame, with the righteous and humble, who receive grace, blessing, and honor from the LORD.

Summary automatically generated from the Bible text.

Words of Jesus in red

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 devotion or faithfulness leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. ⁴Then you will find favor and high regard in 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 body and refreshment to your bones. ⁹Honor the LORD with your wealth and 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. 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 wisdom and 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 soul and 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 danger or the ruin that overtakes the wicked, ²⁶for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from the snare. ²⁷Do not withhold good from the deserving when 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 man or 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.

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Louis Segond 1910 and Berean Standard Bible: public domain. Cross references: open-cross-ref, Creative Commons BY 4.0.