Proverbs of Solomon 3 — The Holy Bible

The Laws of Wisdom

My son, do not forget my laws,

But let your heart keep my words;

For length of days, and years of life and peace

They will add to you.

Do not let almsgiving and faithfulness forsake you,

But hang them upon your neck;

And you will find grace

And provide good things before the Lord and men.

Trust in God with all your heart,

And do not exalt your own wisdom.

In all your ways know wisdom,

That she may cut a straight path for you;

And your foot will not stumble.

Do not rely on your own discernment,

But fear God, and turn away from every evil.

Then there shall be healing for your body

And care for your bones.

Honor the Lord from your righteous labors,

And offer Him the firstfruits from the fruits of your righteousness,

That your storehouses may be filled with abundance of grain,

And your winepresses may gush with wine.

The Instruction of Wisdom

My son, do not despise the instruction of the Lord,

Neither grow weary under His reproof.

For whom the Lord loves He instructs,

And chastises every son He receives.

Blessed is a man who finds wisdom,

And a mortal who sees discernment;

For the profits gained from wisdom are better

Than the treasures of gold and silver.

And wisdom is more valuable than precious stones,

And nothing evil will withstand her;

She is well known to all who come near her,

And no honor is worthy of her.

For length of days and years of life are in her right hand,

And in her left hand are riches and glory;

Righteousness proceeds from her mouth,

And she carries law and mercy upon her tongue.

Her ways are good ways,

And all her paths are in peace.

She is a tree of life for all who cleave to her,

And she is security for those who lean upon her as upon the Lord.

God by wisdom founded the earth

And prepared the heavens with discernment.

With perception the depths were broken up,

And the clouds flowed with dew.

The Cure for Carelessness

My son, do not be careless,

But keep my counsel and thinking,

That your soul may live,

And grace may be around your neck.

And there will be healing for your flesh

And care for your bones,

That you may walk confidently in peace in all your ways,

And your foot may not stumble.

For if you sit down, you will be without fear,

And if you lie down, your sleep will be pleasant.

And do not be afraid of intimidation when it comes upon you,

Nor of the attack of the ungodly when it comes at you;

For the Lord will be over all your ways,

And He will plant your feet firmly, that you may not be shaken.

Do not withhold doing good to the needy,

When you may give a helping hand;

Do not say, when you are able to do good,

“Come back tomorrow, and I will give you something”;

For you do not know what the next day will bring forth.

Do not devise evil things against your friend

Who dwells beside you and trusts in you.

Do not be ready to quarrel with a man in vain,

Lest he do you some harm.

Do not incur the reproach of evil men,

Neither seek their ways;

For every lawless man is unclean before the Lord,

And he does not sit among the righteous.

The curse of God is in the houses of the ungodly,

But He blesses the dwellings of the righteous.

The Lord opposes the arrogant,

But He gives grace to the humble.

The wise shall inherit glory,

But the ungodly exalt dishonor.