Proverbs 3
Go where wisdom goes
Go all-in on trusting God
1Child, don’t forget what I taught you.Take it to heart, then do what I said.
2If you do, you’ll live longer,
And better, in peace and prosperity.
3Don’t let kindness and honesty slip out of your life.
Tie them around your neck if it helps, but keep them close to your heart.
4You’ll be respected if you do.
You’ll develop a good reputation with God and people alike.
5Trust the LORD, and go all-in. Put everything you’ve got into it.
Don’t bank too much on your own judgment.
6Make the LORD a part of your life, in everything you do.
And he’ll show you the way.
7Don’t think you’re so smart.
Respect the LORD and stay away from stuff you know is wrong.
8Then you’ll enjoy better health.
And you’ll grow stronger—clear down to your bones.
9Use whatever wealth you own to honor the LORD.
Give him the first and the best of whatever you earn.
10Then watch your barns fill up,
And your wine vats overflow.
11My child, when the LORD disciplines you, don’t ignore it.
Don’t get mad when he tells you that you did something wrong.
12When the LORD loves you, he corrects you when you’re wrong.
A father will do the same thing for the child he loves.
Wisdom makes life better
13You’re fortunate when you’ve got wisdom in your life.It’s wonderful when you’ve got good judgment.
14You can bank on wisdom more than silver.
And wisdom produces a better return than gold.
15She’s worth more than jewels.
She’s worth more than anything you could ever own.
16She can give you a longer life.
She can bring you honor and wealth.
17Your life with her will be pleasant.
Your journey will bring you peace.
18She is the Tree of Life[1] to people who reach out to her.
Those people are happy as long as they hang onto her.
Wisdom built the universe
19God’s wisdom built this world.His insight created the heavens above.
20His knowledge is why deep waters spring up from the ground
and skies drip with evening dew.[2]
Don’t lose your good judgment
21My child, keep these two virtues in your life:Wisdom and good judgment. Don’t lose sight of them.
22They’ll brighten your spirit,
Like a necklace of jewels would brighten your day.
23They’ll keep you safe on your journey,
And you won’t trip and fall.
24When you go to bed, you’ll have nothing to fear.
So, when you go to bed, sweet dreams.
Fear nothing
25When disaster strikes, don’t be afraid.When bad people turn on you, don’t fear them.
26Put your confidence in the LORD.
He won’t let you get caught in a trap.
Play nice
27Don’t withhold anything good that belongs to people who deserve it.If it’s in your power to help them, do it.
28Don’t tell your neighbor, “Hey, come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you.”
Don’t do that when you already have what your neighbor wants.
29Don’t work up some strategy for hurting your neighbor.
Let your neighbors live in peace beside you.
30Don’t get into an argument over something stupid
Especially if the person hasn’t done anything to hurt you.
31Don’t admire and envy a violent person.
And certainly, don’t copy that person’s behavior.
32The LORD detests scheming crooks.
But good people warm his heart and make him feel at home.
33Bad people live under the LORD’s curse of disapproval.
Good people live under the LORD’s umbrella of blessing.
34He disses the disrespectful.
He is kind to the humble.
35Wise people inherit respect.
Idiots get inducted to the hall of shame.
Notes
13:18
In the Creation story of Genesis, God put two trees in the Garden of Eden. “The fruit of one tree extended a person’s life” (Genesis 2:9). The other tree allowed them to tell the difference between right and wrong.
23:20
It didn’t rain much in many parts of Bible lands. But a night mist often fell even in the desert badlands.
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