PROVERBS 3 [†]  y My son, do not forget my teaching,

 z but let your heart keep my commandments,

2[^] for  a length of days and years of life

and  b peace they will add to you.

3[†] Let not  c steadfast love and  d faithfulness forsake you;

 e bind them around your neck;

 f write them on the tablet of your heart.

4 So you will  g find favor and  h good success [1]

in the sight of God and man.

5[^][†]  i Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

and  j do not lean on your own understanding.

6[†] In all your ways  k acknowledge him,

and he  l will make straight your paths.

7  m Be not wise in your own eyes;

 n fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.

8 It will be  o healing to your flesh [2]

and  p refreshment [3] to your bones.

9[†] Honor the LORD with your wealth

and with  q the firstfruits of all your produce;

10 then your  r barns will be filled with plenty,

and your vats will be bursting with wine.

11[^][†]  s My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline

or be weary of his reproof,

12 for the LORD reproves him whom he loves,

as  t a father the son in whom he delights.

13[†]  u Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,

and the one who gets understanding,

14  v for the gain from her is better than gain from silver

and her profit better than  w gold.

15 She is more precious than  x jewels,

and  y nothing you desire can compare with her.

16  z Long life is in her right hand;

in her left hand are  a riches and honor.

17[†] Her  b ways are ways of pleasantness,

and all her paths are peace.

18[^][†] She is  c a tree of life to those who  d lay hold of her;

those who hold her fast are called blessed.

19[†]  e The LORD by wisdom founded the earth;

by understanding  e he established the heavens;

20 by his knowledge  f the deeps broke open,

and  g the clouds drop down the dew.

21[†] My son,  h do not lose sight of these—

keep sound wisdom and discretion,

22 and they will be  i life for your soul

and  j adornment for your neck.

23  k Then you will walk on your way securely,

 l and your foot will not stumble.

24  m If you lie down, you will not be afraid;

when you lie down,  n your sleep will be sweet.

25[†]  o Do not be afraid of sudden terror

or of  p the ruin [4] of the wicked, when it comes,

26 for the LORD will be your confidence

and will  q keep your foot from being caught.

27  r Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, [5]

when it is in your power to do it.

28  s Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,

tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.

29  t Do not plan evil against your neighbor,

who  u dwells trustingly beside you.

30  v Do not contend with a man for no reason,

when he has done you no harm.

31  w Do not envy  x a man of violence

and do not choose any of his ways,

32 for  y the devious person is an abomination to the LORD,

but the upright are  z in his confidence.

33  a The LORD’s curse is on the house of the wicked,

but he  b blesses the dwelling of the righteous.

34[^][†] Toward the  c scorners he  d is scornful,

 e but to the humble he gives favor. [6]

35 The wise will inherit honor,

but fools get [7] disgrace.