Proverbs 3

1 “My son, do not forget my laws, but let your heart keep my words,

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

3 Do not let acts of mercy and faithfulness leave you. Fasten them around your neck, and you will find favor.

4 Plan what is good before the Lord and before people.

5 Trust in God with your whole heart, and do not exalt yourself in your own wisdom.

6 In all your ways acknowledge Wisdom, so that she may direct your paths straight, and your foot will not stumble.

7 Do not be discerning in your own eyes. Fear God and turn away from every evil.

8 Then there will be healing for your body and care for your bones.

9 Honor the Lord from your righteous labors, and set apart firstfruits for him from your fruits of righteousness,

10 so that your storerooms may be completely filled with grain and your presses may overflow with wine.

11 My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline or lose heart when he corrects you.

12 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and scourges every son he receives.

13 Blessed is the person who found wisdom, and the mortal who saw discernment.

14 For trading for her is better than treasures of gold and silver.

15 She is more valuable than precious stones. No evil can stand against her. She is readily known by everyone who approaches her, and nothing precious is worth as much as she is.

16 Length of days and years of life are in her right hand, and wealth and glory are in her left. Righteousness comes from her mouth, and she carries law and mercy on her tongue.

17 Her ways are good ways, and all her paths are peaceful.

18 She is a tree of life to everyone who holds on to her, and she is secure for those who lean on her as on the Lord.

19 God founded the earth by wisdom and prepared the heavens with discernment.

20 By perception the depths burst open, and the clouds flowed with dew.

21 My son, do not drift away. Keep my counsel and reflection,

22 so that your soul may live and favor may be around your neck. There will be healing for your flesh and care for your bones,

23 so that you may travel all your ways confidently in peace and your foot will not stumble.

24 For if you sit down, you will be unafraid, and if you sleep, you will sleep pleasantly.

25 You will not fear sudden terror or attacks of the ungodly when they come.

26 For the Lord will be over all your ways and brace your foot so that you are not shaken.

27 Do not hold back from doing good to someone in need whenever your hand has the power to help.

28 Do not say, ‘Come back later, and tomorrow I will give,’ when you are able to do good, for you do not know what the next day will bring.

29 Do not devise evil against your friend who lives beside you and trusts you.

30 Do not be hostile toward anyone without cause, or he may do you some harm.

31 Do not incur the reproach of evil men or envy their ways.

32 For every lawbreaker is unclean before the Lord and does not sit in council among the righteous.

33 God’s curse is in the houses of the ungodly, but the homes of the righteous are blessed.

34 The Lord opposes the proud but gives favor to the humble.

35 The wise will inherit glory, but the ungodly have exalted dishonor.”