Admonition to Trust and Honor God
1 My son, do not forget my Torah, And let your heart watch over my commands;
2 For length of days and long life And peace they add to you.
3 Let not kindness and truth forsake you – Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,
4 Thus finding favour and good insight In the eyes of Elohim and man.
5 Trust in יהוה with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
6 Know Him in all your ways, And He makes all your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyesa; Fear יהוה and turn away from evilb.
8 It is healing to your navel, And moistening to your bones.
9 Esteem יהוה with your goods, And with the first-fruits of all your increase;
10 Then your storehouses shall be filled with plenty, And your vats overflow with new wine.
11 My son, do not despise the discipline of יהוה, And do not loathe His reproof;
12 For whom יהוה loves He reproves, As a father the son whom he delights in.
13 Blessed is the man who has found wisdom, And the man who gets understanding;
14 For the gain from it is better Than gain from silver, And its increase than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies, And all your delights are not comparable to her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand, Riches and esteem in her left hand.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways, And all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those taking hold of her, And blessed are all who retain her.
19 יהוה founded the earth by wisdom; He established the heavens by understanding;
20 By His knowledge the depths were broken up, And clouds drop down dew.
21 My son, let them not depart from your eyes; Watch over sound wisdom and discretion;
22 Then they become life to your being And an adorning to your neck.
23 Then you would walk safely in your way, And your foot would not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you need not be afraid. And you shall lie down and your sleep shall be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden dread, Nor of the ruin of the wrong when it comes;
26 For יהוה is at your side, And He shall guard your foot from being caught.
27 Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, When it is in the power of your hand to do so.
28 Do not say to your neighbour, “Go, and come back, and tomorrow I give it,” When you have it with you.
29 Do not plan evil against your neighbour, Seeing he dwells safely beside you.
30 Do not strive with a man without cause, If he has done you no evil.
31 Do not envy a cruel man, And choose none of his ways;
32 For the perverse one is an abomination to יהוה, And His secret counsel is with the straight.
33 The curse of יהוה is on the house of the wrong, But He blesses the home of the righteous.
34 He certainly scoffs the scoffers, But gives favour to the humble.
35 The wise do inherit esteem, But fools are bearing away shame!
— Proverbs 3 | The Scriptures 1998 (ISR1998)
The Scriptures 1998 Copyright © 1998 Institute for Scripture Research. All Rights reserved.
Cross References: Genesis 7:11; Exodus 20:6; Exodus 22:29; Leviticus 19:13; Leviticus 26:14; Numbers 9:20; Deuteronomy 11:21; Job 4:6; Job 11:19; Job 21:24; Job 28:15; Psalm 37:1; Proverbs 1:9; Proverbs 2:4; Proverbs 6:14; Proverbs 8:10-11; Proverbs 8:27-28; Proverbs 9:11; Isaiah 5:27; Daniel 12:3; Joel 2:24; Micah 2:1; Matthew 11:29; Luke 2:52; John 7:17; Romans 12:16; Romans 12:18; 2 Corinthians 3:3; Philippians 4:6; Hebrews 2:1; Hebrews 12:5-6; 1 Peter 3:14; 1 Peter 5:5; Revelation 2:7; Revelation 3:19
Commentary on Proverbs 3 by Matthew Henry
