Proverbs 3

HCSB

Proverbs 3

Trust the Lord

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My son, don’t forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commands;^(A)

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for they will bring you
many days, a full life,^(a)^(B) and well-being.^(C)

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Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you.
Tie them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.^(D)

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Then you will find favor and high regard
in the sight of God and man.^(E)

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Trust in the Lord with all your heart,^(F)
and do not rely on your own understanding;^(G)

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think about Him in all your ways,
and He will guide you on the right paths.^(b)^(H)

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Don’t consider yourself to be wise;^(I)
fear the Lord and turn away from evil.^(J)

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This will be healing for your body^(c)^(K)
and strengthening for your bones.^(L)

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Honor the Lord with your possessions
and with the first produce of your entire harvest;^(M)

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then your barns will be completely filled,
and your vats will overflow with new wine.^(N)

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Do not despise the Lord’s instruction, my son,
and do not loathe His discipline;^(O)

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for the Lord disciplines the one He loves,
just as a father, the son he delights in.^(P)

Wisdom Brings Happiness

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Happy is a man who finds wisdom^(Q)
and who acquires understanding,

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for she is more profitable than silver,
and her revenue is better than gold.^(R)

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She is more precious than jewels;^(S)
nothing you desire compares with her.^(T)

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Long life^(d) is in her right hand;
in her left, riches and honor.^(U)

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Her ways are pleasant,^(V)
and all her paths, peaceful.

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She is a tree of life^(W) to those who embrace her,
and those who hold on to her are happy.

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The Lord founded the earth by wisdom^(X)
and established the heavens by understanding.

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By His knowledge the watery depths broke open,^(Y)
and the clouds dripped with dew.^(Z)

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Maintain your competence and discretion.
My son, don’t lose sight of them.^(AA)

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They will be life for you^(e)^(f)^(AB)
and adornment^(g) for your neck.

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Then you will go safely on your way;
your foot will not stumble.^(AC)

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When you lie^(h) down, you will not be afraid;^(AD)
you will lie down, and your sleep will be pleasant.

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Don’t fear sudden danger
or the ruin of the wicked when it comes,^(AE)

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for the Lord will be your confidence⁽ⁱ⁾
and will keep your foot from a snare.^(AF)

Treat Others Fairly

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When it is in your power,^(j)
don’t withhold good^(AG) from the one it belongs to.

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Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go away! Come back later.
I’ll give it tomorrow”—when it is there with you.^(AH)

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Don’t plan any harm against your neighbor,^(AI)
for he trusts you and lives near you.

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Don’t accuse anyone without cause,^(AJ)
when he has done you no harm.

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Don’t envy a violent man^(AK)
or choose any of his ways;

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for the devious are detestable to the Lord,
but He is a friend^(k) to the upright.^(AL)

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The Lord’s curse is on the household of the wicked,^(AM)
but He blesses the home of the righteous;

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He mocks those who mock,
but gives grace to the humble.^(AN)

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The wise will inherit honor,
but He holds up fools to dishonor.^(l)

Footnotes:

a. Proverbs 3:2: Lit days, years of life

b. Proverbs 3:6: Lit will make your paths straight

c. Proverbs 3:8: Lit navel

d. Proverbs 3:16: Lit Length of days

e. Proverbs 3:22: Or be your throat

f. Proverbs 3:22: In Hb, nephesh can mean throat, soul, or life.

g. Proverbs 3:22: Or grace

h. Proverbs 3:24: LXX reads sit

i. Proverbs 3:26: Or be at your side

j. Proverbs 3:27: Lit in the power of your hands

k. Proverbs 3:32: Or confidential counsel

l. Proverbs 3:35: Or but haughty fools dishonor, or but fools exalt dishonor

Cross references:

A. Proverbs 3:1: Deuteronomy 30:16

B. Proverbs 3:2: Psalm 91:16; Proverbs 3:16; Proverbs 4:10; Proverbs 9:11; Proverbs 10:27

C. Proverbs 3:1: Proverbs 4:1-4; Proverbs 6:20-23; Proverbs 7:1-3

D. Proverbs 3:3: Proverbs 1:9; Proverbs 6:21; Proverbs 7:3; 2 Corinthians 3:3

E. Proverbs 3:4: Deuteronomy 4:6; Luke 2:52; Romans 14:18

F. Proverbs 3:5: Psalm 37:3; Psalm 37:5

G. Proverbs 3:5: Jeremiah 9:23

H. Proverbs 3:6: Proverbs 11:5

I. Proverbs 3:7: Proverbs 26:5; Proverbs 26:12; Proverbs 28:11; Proverbs 28:26; Romans 12:16

J. Proverbs 3:7: Job 1:1; Job 28:28; Psalm 37:27; Proverbs 16:6

K. Proverbs 3:8: Proverbs 4:22

L. Proverbs 3:8: Job 21:24

M. Proverbs 3:9: Exodus 23:19; Leviticus 23:9-14; Deuteronomy 26:2

N. Proverbs 3:10: Deuteronomy 28:8; Malachi 3:10

O. Proverbs 3:11: Proverbs 5:11-13; Proverbs 15:5; Proverbs 15:31-33

P. Proverbs 3:12: Deuteronomy 8:5; Job 5:17-18; Proverbs 13:24; Hebrews 12:5-7

Q. Proverbs 3:13: Proverbs 8:32; Proverbs 8:34

R. Proverbs 3:14: Job 28:15-19; Proverbs 8:10; Proverbs 8:19; Proverbs 16:16; Proverbs 22:1

S. Proverbs 3:15: Job 28:18

T. Proverbs 3:15: Proverbs 8:11; Proverbs 20:15

U. Proverbs 3:16: Proverbs 8:18; Proverbs 21:21; Proverbs 22:4

V. Proverbs 3:17: Matthew 11:19

W. Proverbs 3:18: Genesis 2:9; Proverbs 11:30; Proverbs 13:12; Proverbs 15:4

X. Proverbs 3:19: Psalm 104:24; Proverbs 8:27

Y. Proverbs 3:20: Genesis 7:11

Z. Proverbs 3:20: Deuteronomy 33:28; Job 36:28

AA. Proverbs 3:21: Proverbs 4:21

AB. Proverbs 3:22: Proverbs 4:22

AC. Proverbs 3:23: Psalm 91:12; Proverbs 4:12

AD. Proverbs 3:24: Job 11:19; Psalm 3:5; Proverbs 6:22

AE. Proverbs 3:25: Job 5:21; Psalm 91:5; 1 Peter 3:14

AF. Proverbs 3:26: 1 Samuel 2:9

AG. Proverbs 3:27: Galatians 6:10

AH. Proverbs 3:28: Leviticus 19:13; Deuteronomy 24:15

AI. Proverbs 3:29: Proverbs 6:14; Proverbs 14:22

AJ. Proverbs 3:30: Proverbs 24:28; Romans 12:18

AK. Proverbs 3:31: Psalm 37:1; Proverbs 23:17; Proverbs 24:1; Proverbs 24:19

AL. Proverbs 3:32: Psalm 25:14; Proverbs 11:20; Proverbs 12:22; Proverbs 15:8-9

AM. Proverbs 3:33: Malachi 2:2

AN. Proverbs 3:34: 1 Peter 5:5