CPDV - Proverbs - 3

3:1  My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart guard my precepts.

3:2  For they shall set before you length of days, and years of life, and peace.

3:3  Let not mercy and truth abandon you: encircle them around your throat, and inscribe them on the tablets of your heart.

3:4  And so shall you discover grace and good discipline, in the sight of God and men.

3:5  Have confidence in the Lord with all your heart, and do not depend upon your own prudence.

3:6  In all your ways, consider him, and he himself will direct your steps.

3:7  Do not seem wise to yourself. Fear God, and withdraw from evil.

3:8  Certainly, it shall be health to your navel, and refreshment to your bones.

3:9  Honor the Lord with your substance, and give to him from the first of all your fruits,

3:10  and then your storehouses will be filled with abundance, and your presses shall overflow with wine.

3:11  My son, do not discard the discipline of the Lord, and do not fall away when you are corrected by him.

3:12  For whomever the Lord loves, he corrects, and just as a father does with a son, he wins him over.

3:13  Blessed is the man who finds wisdom and who advances to prudence.

3:14  Her acquisition is better than trading in silver, and her fruit is better than the first and purest gold.

3:15  She is more precious than all riches, and all that can be desired cannot prevail in comparison to her.

3:16  Length of days is at her right hand, and at her left hand is wealth and glory.

3:17  Her ways are beautiful ways, and all her paths are peaceful.

3:18  She is a tree of life to those who overtake her, and he who shall take hold of her is blessed.

3:19  The Lord founded the earth on wisdom. He secured the heavens with prudence.

3:20  By his wisdom, the abyss erupted and the clouds increased with dew.

3:21  My son, let not these things move away from your eyes. Preserve law as well as counsel.

3:22  And so shall there be life in your soul and grace in your voice.

3:23  Then you shall walk confidently in your way, and your feet will not stumble.

3:24  When you slumber, you shall not fear. When you rest, your sleep also will be sweet.

3:25  Do not fear unexpected terror, nor the power of the impious falling upon you.

3:26  For the Lord will be at your side, and he will guard your feet, so that you may not be seized.

3:27  Do not prevent him who is able from doing good. When you are able, do good yourself too.

3:28  Do not say to your friend: “Go away, and then return. Tomorrow I will give to you.” When you are able to do so, give in the present.

3:29  Do not undertake evil against your friend, even though he has trust in you.

3:30  Do not contend against a man without cause, even though he has done no evil to you.

3:31  Do not rival an unjust man, and do not imitate his ways.

3:32  For everyone who ridicules is an abomination to the Lord, and his communication is for the simple.

3:33  Destitution in the house of the impious is from the Lord. But the habitations of the just shall be blessed.

3:34  He will ridicule those who ridicule, but he will bestow grace upon the mild.

3:35  The wise will possess glory. The exaltation of the foolish is disgraceful.