Proverbs Chapter 3
King James Version (KJV)
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
1
I will mock when your fear cometh;
2
When your fear cometh as a storm,
3
And your calamity cometh on as a whirlwind;
4
When distress and anguish come upon you.
5
Then will they call upon me, but I will not answer;
6
They will seek me diligently, but they shall not find me:
7
For that they hated knowledge,
8
And did not choose the fear of Jehovah,
9
They would none of my counsel,
10
They despised all my reproof.
11
Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way,
12
And be filled with their own devices.
13
For the backsliding of the simple shall slay them,
14
And the careless ease of fools shall destroy them.
15
But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell securely,
16
And shall be quiet without fear of evil.
17
My son, if thou wilt receive my words,
18
And lay up my commandments with thee;
19
So as to incline thine ear unto wisdom,
20
And apply thy heart to understanding;
21
Yea, if thou cry after discernment,
22
And lift up thy voice for understanding;
23
If thou seek her as silver,
24
And search for her as for hid treasures:
25
Then shalt thou understand the fear of Jehovah,
26
And find the knowledge of God.
27
For Jehovah giveth wisdom;
28
Out of his mouth
29
cometh knowledge and understanding:
30
He layeth up sound wisdom for the upright;
31
He is a shield to them that walk in integrity;
32
That he may guard the paths of justice,
33
And preserve the way of his saints.
34
Then shalt thou understand righteousness and justice,
35
And equity,
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
My son, forget not my teaching, and let thy heart observe my commandments;
2
for length of days, and years of life, and peace shall they add to thee.
3
Let not loving-kindness and truth forsake thee; bind them about thy neck, write them upon the tablet of thy heart:
4
and thou shalt find favour and good understanding in the sight ofGod and man.
5
Confide in Jehovah with all thy heart, and lean not unto thine own intelligence;
6
in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will make plain thy paths.
7
Be not wise in thine own eyes; fear Jehovah, and depart from evil:
8
it shall be health for thy navel, and moisture for thy bones.
9
Honour Jehovah with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase;
10
so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy vats shall overflow with new wine.
11
My son, despise not the instruction of Jehovah, neither be weary of his chastisement;
12
for whom Jehovah loveth he chasteneth, even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
13
Blessed is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
14
For the gain thereof is better than the gain of silver, and her revenue than fine gold.
15
She is more precious than rubies; and all the things thou canst desire are not equal unto her.
16
Length of days is in her right hand; in her left hand riches and honour.
17
Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18
She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her; and happy is he that retaineth her.
19
Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens.
20
By his knowledge the deeps were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.
21
My son, let them not depart from thine eyes; keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22
so shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace unto thy neck.
23
Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, and thy foot shall not stumble;
24
when thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid, but thou shalt lie down and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25
Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the destruction of the wicked, when it cometh;
26
for Jehovah shall be thy confidence, and he will keep thy foot from being taken.
27
Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thy hand to do it.
28
Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to-morrow I will give, when thou hast it by thee.
29
Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
30
Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
31
Envy not the man of violence, and choose none of his ways.
32
For the perverse is an abomination to Jehovah; but his secret is with the upright.
33
The curse of Jehovah is in the house of the wicked; but he blesseth the habitation of the righteous.
34
He indeed scorneth the scorners; but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
35
The wise shall inherit glory; but shame shall be the promotion of the foolish.
lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM
1
[My] son, forget not my laws; but let thine heart keep my words:
2
for length of existence, and years of life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
3
Let not mercy and truth forsake thee; but bind them about thy neck:
4
so shalt thou find favour: and do thou provide things honest in the sight of the Lord, and of men.
5
Trust in God with all thine heart; and be not exalted in thine own wisdom.
6
In all thy ways acquaint thyself with her, that she may rightly direct thy paths.
7
Be not wise in thine own conceit; but fear God, and depart from all evil.
8
Then shall there be health to thy body, and good keeping to thy bones.
9
Honour the Lord with thy just labours, and give him the first of thy fruits of righteousness:
10
that thy storehouses may be completely filled with corn, and that thy presses may burst forth with wine.
11
[My] son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
12
for whom the Lord loves, he rebukes, and scourges every son whom he receives.
13
Blessed is the man who has found wisdom, and the mortal who knows prudence.
14
For it is better to traffic for her, than for treasures of gold and silver.
15
And she is more valuable than precious stones: no evil thing shall resist her: she is well known to all that approach her, and no precious thing is equal to her in value.
16
For length of existence and years of life are in her right hand; and in her left hand are wealth and glory:
17
Her ways are good ways, and all her paths are peaceful.
18
She is a tree of life to all that lay hold upon her; and she is [a] secure [help] to all that stay themselves on her, as on the Lord.
19
God by wisdom founded the earth, and by prudence he prepared the heavens.
20
By understanding were the depths broken up, and the clouds dropped water.
21
[My] son, let [them] not pass from [thee], but keep my counsel and understanding:
22
that thy soul may live, and that there may be grace round thy neck;
23
that thou mayest go confidently in peace in all thy ways, and that thy foot may not stumble.
24
For if thou rest, thou shalt be undismayed; and if thou sleep, thou shalt slumber sweetly.
25
And thou shalt not be afraid of alarm coming upon thee, neither of approaching attacks of ungodly men.
26
For the Lord shall be over all thy ways, and shall establish thy foot that thou be not moved.
27
Forbear not to do good to the poor, whensoever thy hand may have [power] to help [him].
28
Say not, Come back another time, to-morrow I will give; while thou art able to do [him] good: for thou knowest not what the next day will bring forth.
29
Devise not evil against thy friend, living near thee and trusting in thee.
30
Be not ready to quarrel with a man without a cause, lest he do thee some harm.
31
Procure not the reproaches of bad men, neither do thou covet their ways.
32
For every transgressor is unclean before the Lord; neither does he sit among the righteous.
33
The curse of God is in the houses of the ungodly; but the habitations of the just are blessed.
34
The Lord resists the proud; but he gives grace to the humble.
35
The wise shall inherit glory; but the ungodly have exalted [their own] dishonour.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
1
Fili mi, ne obliviscaris legis meæ, et præcepta mea cor tuum custodiat.
2
longitudinem enim dierum, et annos vitæ, et pacem apponent tibi.
3
Misericordia, et veritas te non deserant, circumda eas gutturi tuo, et describe in tabulis cordis tui:
4
et invenies gratiam, et disciplinam bonam coram Deo et hominibus.
5
Habe fiduciam in Domino ex toto corde tuo, et ne innitaris prudentiæ tuæ.
6
In omnibus viis tuis cogita illum, et ipse diriget gressus tuos.
7
Ne sis sapiens apud temetipsum: time Deum, et recede a malo:
8
sanitas quippe erit umbilico tuo, et irrigatio ossium tuorum.
9
Honora Dominum de tua substantia, et de primitiis omnium frugum tuarum da ei:
10
et implebuntur horrea tua saturitate, et vino torcularia tua redundabunt.
11
Disciplinam Domini, fili mi, ne abiicias: nec deficias cum ab eo corriperis:
12
quem enim diligit Dominus, corripit: et quasi pater in filio complacet sibi.
13
Beatus homo, qui invenit sapientiam, et qui affluit prudentia:
14
melior est acquisitio eius negotiatione argenti, et auri primi et purissimi fructus eius:
15
pretiosior est cunctis opibus: et omnia, quæ desiderantur, huic non valent comparari.
16
Longitudo dierum in dextera eius, et in sinistra illius divitiæ, et gloria.
17
Viæ eius viæ pulchræ, et omnes semitæ illius pacificæ.
18
Lignum vitæ est his, qui apprehenderint eam: et qui tenuerit eam, beatus.
19
Dominus sapientia fundavit terram, stabilivit cælos prudentia.
20
Sapientia illius eruperunt abyssi, et nubes rore concrescunt.
21
Fili mi, ne effluant hæc ab oculis tuis: Custodi legem atque consilium:
22
et erit vita animæ tuæ, et gratia faucibus tuis.
23
tunc ambulabis fiducialiter in via tua, et pes tuus non impinget:
24
si dormieris, non timebis: quiesces, et suavis erit somnus tuus.
25
ne paveas repentino terrore, et irruentes tibi potentias impiorum.
26
Dominus enim erit in latere tuo, et custodiet pedem tuum ne capiaris.
27
Noli prohibere benefacere eum, qui potest: si vales, et ipse benefac:
28
Ne dicas amico tuo: Vade, et revertere: cras dabo tibi: cum statim possis dare.
29
Ne moliaris amico tuo malum, cum ille in te habeat fiduciam.
30
Ne contendas adversus hominem frustra, cum ipse tibi nihil mali fecerit.
31
Ne æmuleris hominem iniustum, nec imiteris vias eius:
32
quia abominatio Domini est omnis illusor, et cum simplicibus sermocinatio eius.
33
Egestas a Domino in domo impii: habitacula autem iustorum benedicentur.
34
Ipse deludet illusores, et mansuetis dabit gratiam.
35
Gloriam sapientes possidebunt: stultorum exaltatio, ignominia.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
1
My son, don’t forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,
2
for they will add to you length of days, years of life, and peace.
3
Don’t let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4
So you will find favor, and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding.
6
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
7
Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8
It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.
9
Honor the LORD with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase;
10
so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11
My son, don’t despise the LORD’s discipline, neither be weary of his correction;
12
for whom the LORD loves, he corrects, even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.
13
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding.
14
For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold.
15
She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her.
16
Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor.
17
Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace.
18
She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her.
19
By wisdom the LORD founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens.
20
By his knowledge, the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.
21
My son, let them not depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22
so they will be life to your soul, and grace for your neck.
23
Then you shall walk in your way securely. Your foot won’t stumble.
24
When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.
25
Don’t be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes;
26
for the LORD will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being taken.
27
Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
28
Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you,” when you have it by you.
29
Don’t devise evil against your neighbor, since he dwells securely by you.
30
Don’t strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.
31
Don’t envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways.
32
For the perverse is an abomination to the LORD, but his friendship is with the upright.
33
The LORD’s curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.
34
Surely he mocks the mockers, but he gives grace to the humble.
35
The wise will inherit glory, but shame will be the promotion of fools.
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
My son! my law forget not, And my commands let thy heart keep,
2
For length of days and years, Life and peace they do add to thee.
3
Let not kindness and truth forsake thee, Bind them on thy neck, Write them on the tablet of thy heart,
4
And find grace and good understanding In the eyes of God and man.
5
Trust unto Jehovah with all thy heart, And unto thine own understanding lean not.
6
In all thy ways know thou Him, And He doth make straight thy paths.
7
Be not wise in thine own eyes, Fear Jehovah, and turn aside from evil.
8
Healing it is to thy navel, And moistening to thy bones.
9
Honour Jehovah from thy substance, And from the beginning of all thine increase;
10
And filled are thy barns <FI>with<Fi> plenty, And <FI>with<Fi> new wine thy presses break forth.
11
Chastisement of Jehovah, my son, despise not, And be not vexed with His reproof,
12
For whom Jehovah loveth He reproveth, Even as a father the son He is pleased with.
13
O the happiness of a man <FI>who<Fi> hath found wisdom, And of a man <FI>who<Fi> bringeth forth understanding.
14
For better <FI>is<Fi> her merchandise Than the merchandise of silver, And than gold--her increase.
15
Precious she <FI>is<Fi> above rubies, And all thy pleasures are not comparable to her.
16
Length of days <FI>is<Fi> in her right hand, In her left <FI>are<Fi> wealth and honour.
17
Her ways <FI>are<Fi> ways of pleasantness, And all her paths <FI>are<Fi> peace.
18
A tree of life she <FI>is<Fi> to those laying hold on her, And whoso is retaining her <FI>is<Fi> happy.
19
Jehovah by wisdom did found the earth, He prepared the heavens by understanding.
20
By His knowledge depths have been rent, And clouds do drop dew.
21
My son! let them not turn from thine eyes, Keep thou wisdom and thoughtfulness,
22
And they are life to thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
23
Then thou goest thy way confidently, And thy foot doth not stumble.
24
If thou liest down, thou art not afraid, Yea, thou hast lain down, And sweet hath been thy sleep.
25
Be not afraid of sudden fear, And of the desolation of the wicked when it cometh.
26
For Jehovah is at thy side, And He hath kept thy foot from capture.
27
Withhold not good from its owners, When thy hand <FI>is<Fi> toward God to do <FI>it<Fi> .
28
Say not thou to thy friend, `Go, and return, and to-morrow I give,' And substance with thee.
29
Devise not against thy neighbour evil, And he sitting confidently with thee.
30
Strive not with a man without cause, If he have not done thee evil.
31
Be not envious of a man of violence, Nor fix thou on any of his ways.
32
For an abomination to Jehovah <FI>is<Fi> the perverted, And with the upright <FI>is<Fi> His secret counsel.
33
The curse of Jehovah <FI>is<Fi> in the house of the wicked. And the habitation of the righteous He blesseth.
34
If the scorners He doth scorn, Yet to the humble He doth give grace.
35
Honour do the wise inherit, And fools are bearing away shame!
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).