Proverbs 3 - ESV Bible - My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your...

1 ¹My son, do not forget my teaching, ²but let your heart keep my commandments,

2 for ³length of days and years of life and ⁴peace they will add to you.

3 Let not ⁵steadfast love and ⁶faithfulness forsake you; ⁷bind them around your neck; ⁸write them on the tablet of your heart.

4 So you will ⁹find favor and ¹⁰good success^a in the sight of God and man.

5 ¹¹Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and ¹²do not lean on your own understanding.

6 In all your ways ¹³acknowledge him, and he ¹⁴will make straight your paths.

7 ¹⁵Be not wise in your own eyes; ¹⁶fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.

8 It will be ¹⁷healing to your flesh^b and ¹⁸refreshment^c to your bones.

9 Honor the LORD with your wealth and with ¹⁹the firstfruits of all your produce;

10 then your ²⁰barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.

11 ²¹My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline or be weary of his reproof,

12 for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as ²²a father the son in whom he delights.

13 ²³Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding,

14 ²⁴for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than ²⁵gold.

15 She is more precious than ²⁶jewels, and ²⁷nothing you desire can compare with her.

16 ²⁸Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are ²⁹riches and honor.

17 Her ³⁰ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

18 She is ³¹a tree of life to those who ³²lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.

19 ³³The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding ³⁴he established the heavens;

20 by his knowledge ³⁵the deeps broke open, and ³⁶the clouds drop down the dew.

21 My son, ³⁷do not lose sight of these-- keep sound wisdom and discretion,

22 and they will be ³⁸life for your soul and ³⁹adornment for your neck.

23 ⁴⁰Then you will walk on your way securely, ⁴¹and your foot will not stumble.

24 ⁴²If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, ⁴³your sleep will be sweet.

25 ⁴⁴Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of ⁴⁵the ruin^d of the wicked, when it comes,

26 for the LORD will be your confidence and will ⁴⁶keep your foot from being caught.

27 ⁴⁷Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,^e when it is in your power to do it.

28 ⁴⁸Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it"--when you have it with you.

29 ⁴⁹Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who ⁵⁰dwells trustingly beside you.

30 ⁵¹Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm.

31 ⁵²Do not envy ⁵³a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways,

32 for ⁵⁴the devious person is an abomination to the LORD, but the upright are ⁵⁵in his confidence.

33 ⁵⁶The LORD's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he ⁵⁷blesses the dwelling of the righteous.

34 Toward the ⁵⁸scorners he ⁵⁹is scornful, ⁶⁰but to the humble he gives favor.^f

35 The wise will inherit honor, but fools get^g disgrace.

Proverbs 3 ESV