Proverbs 3 New American Standard Bible

The Rewards of Wisdom

3 My son, ^(A)do not forget my ^[a]teaching,
But have your heart ^(B)comply with my commandments;
²For ^(C)length of days and years of life
And peace they will add to you.
³Do not let ^(D)kindness and truth leave you;
^(E)Bind them around your neck,
^(F)Write them on the tablet of your heart.
⁴So you will ^(G)find favor and a ^(H)good ^[b]reputation
In the sight of God and man.
⁵^(I)Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And ^(J)do not lean on your own understanding.
⁶In all your ways ^(K)acknowledge Him,
And He will ^(L)make your paths straight.
⁷^(M)Do not be wise in your own eyes;
^(N)Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
⁸It will be ^(O)healing to your ^[c]body
And ^(P)refreshment to your bones.
⁹^(Q)Honor the Lord from your wealth,
And from the ^(R)first of all your produce;
¹⁰Then your ^(S)barns will be filled with plenty,
And your ^(T)vats will overflow with new wine.
¹¹^(U)My son, do not reject the ^[d]discipline of the Lord
Or loathe His rebuke,
¹²For ^(V)whom the Lord loves He disciplines,
Just ^(W)as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.

¹³^(X)Blessed is a person who finds wisdom,
And one who obtains understanding.
¹⁴For ^[e]her ^(Y)profit is better than the profit of silver,
And her produce better than gold.
¹⁵She is ^(Z)more precious than ^[f]jewels,
And nothing you desire compares with her.
¹⁶^[g]^(AA)Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are ^(AB)riches and honor.
¹⁷Her ^(AC)ways are pleasant ways,
And all her paths are ^(AD)peace.
¹⁸She is a ^(AE)tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are those who hold on to her.
¹⁹The Lord founded the earth ^(AF)by wisdom,
He ^(AG)established the heavens by understanding.
²⁰By His knowledge the ^(AH)ocean depths were burst open,
And the ^(AI)clouds drip with dew.
²¹My son, see that ^(AJ)they do not escape from your sight;
Comply with sound wisdom and discretion,
²²And they will be ^(AK)life to your soul
And ^(AL)adornment to your neck.
²³Then you will ^(AM)walk in your way securely,
And your foot will not ^(AN)stumble.
²⁴When you ^(AO)lie down, you will not be afraid;
When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
²⁵^(AP)Do not be afraid of sudden danger,
Nor of ^(AQ)trouble from the wicked when it comes;
²⁶For the Lord will be ^[h]your confidence,
And will ^(AR)keep your foot from being caught.

²⁷^(AS)Do not withhold good from ^[i]those to whom it is due,
When it is in your power to do it.
²⁸^(AT)Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it to you,”
When you have it with you.
²⁹^(AU)Do not devise harm against your neighbor,
While he lives securely beside you.
³⁰^(AV)Do not contend with a person for no reason,
If he has done you no harm.
³¹^(AW)Do not envy a violent person,
And do not choose any of his ways.
³²For the ^(AX)devious are an abomination to the Lord;
But ^[j]He is ^(AY)intimate with the upright.
³³The ^(AZ)curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked,
But He ^(BA)blesses the home of the righteous.
³⁴Though ^(BB)He scoffs at the scoffers,
Yet ^(BC)He gives grace to the needy.
³⁵^(BD)The wise will inherit honor,
But fools ^[k]increase dishonor.