Proverbs 3

My son, do not forget what I teach you. Keep my commands in your heart.

1My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

Note"My son" is the standard way a teacher addresses a student in ancient wisdom writing; it need not mean a literal father and child. The word behind "law" or "teaching" is Hebrew *torah*, which means instruction given by a teacher or parent, not a statute passed by a government.

2They will add many days to your life, long years, and peace.

2For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

3Never let loyal love and faithfulness leave you. Tie them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.

3Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

Note"Loyal love and faithfulness" translates a fixed Hebrew word pair, *hesed* and *emet*: sticking by someone you are committed to, and being reliable in what you say and do. Tying words around the neck and writing them on a tablet were the two ordinary ways of not losing something in that world, a cord worn on the body, and a wax or clay writing surface. The point of both images is keeping something constantly to hand.

4Then both God and people will think well of you and respect your good sense.

4So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

NoteThe Hebrew phrase rendered "good sense" can mean either the good judgment a person actually has or the good standing others grant them. Translators are divided, and the verse works either way.

5Trust the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.

5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6In everything you do, keep him in mind, and he will make your paths straight.

6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Note"Keep him in mind" is literally "know him", recognize him, take account of him. "Make your paths straight" is a road image: level ground with the obstacles cleared away, so travel is easy rather than morally upright.

7Do not think you are wise on your own. Respect the LORD and turn away from evil.

7Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Note"Fear" of God in Hebrew covers a range from dread to reverence to loyal respect toward a superior; in Proverbs it functions as a near-technical term for taking God seriously as the reference point for how you live.

8That will bring healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.

8It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

NoteThe King James "navel" and "marrow" are literal renderings; the words point to the body's core and to moisture or refreshment. In Hebrew the bones stand for a person's physical strength and vitality, so "refreshment to your bones" means being restored from the inside out.

9Honor the LORD with your wealth, and with the first and best part of everything your land produces.

9Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

Note"Firstfruits" were the first portion of a harvest, brought to God before the rest was used. Giving the first of a crop, rather than the leftovers, was the standard way of showing that the giver counted the whole harvest as owed.

10Then your barns will be filled full, and your vats will overflow with new wine.

10So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

NoteThe vats were stone basins cut below a winepress, into which the juice of trodden grapes ran. "New wine" is the fresh juice of the current pressing, and an overflowing vat was the visible sign of a very good year.

11My son, do not brush aside the LORD's discipline, and do not get worn down by his correction.

11My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:

NoteThe Hebrew word behind "discipline" (*musar*) covers the whole business of training a child or student: instruction, warning, correction, and punishment together. It is the ordinary vocabulary of education, not only of penalty.

12The LORD corrects the one he loves, the way a father corrects the son he delights in.

12For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

13The man who finds wisdom is fortunate, and so is the man who gains understanding.

13Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

NoteThe word translated "fortunate" (or "happy," "blessed") describes someone whose situation is enviable, the state you would congratulate a person for. It is not a statement about their mood.

14Trading for wisdom pays better than trading for silver, and what she yields is worth more than fine gold.

14For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

NoteThe imagery here is commercial: profit, return on an investment, the margin a trader makes. Wisdom is being priced against the two standard stores of value, silver and gold. Wisdom is "she" throughout this section because the Hebrew noun is grammatically feminine, and the poem takes that up and speaks of her as a person.

15She is more valuable than rubies. Nothing you could want compares with her.

15She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

NoteThe stone named here (*peninim*) cannot be identified with certainty; the guesses include rubies, red coral, and pearls. All that is clear is that it was a costly ornament.

16Long life is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor.

16Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

NoteWisdom is pictured as a figure holding gifts out in both hands, the way a king or a patron would. The right hand was the place of honor, so the most valuable gift, long life, is in it.

17Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths lead to peace.

17Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

18She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her. Everyone who holds on to her is fortunate.

18She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

Note"Tree of life" was a familiar image across the ancient Near East for a source of continuing life and health, and it appears in the garden story of Genesis 2–3. Here it is used as a comparison, not as a claim about a particular tree.

19By wisdom the LORD laid the foundation of the earth. By understanding he set the heavens in place.

19The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

NoteThe language is that of building: laying a foundation and setting a structure firmly in place. In this picture the earth rests on foundations and the sky is a fixed structure overhead.

20By his knowledge the deep waters burst open, and the clouds drip with dew.

20By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

Note"The deep waters" translates the Hebrew word for the great subterranean and primeval waters. The verse can be read either of springs bursting up out of the ground, or of the waters breaking open in the flood story; the Hebrew allows both.

21My son, do not let these things out of your sight. Hold on to sound judgment and good sense.

21My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:

Note"Sound judgment" translates *tushiyah*, a hard word meaning something like practical competence, the resourcefulness that gets a real result. "Good sense" is the ability to think ahead and keep yourself out of trouble.

22They will be life to you, and like a fine chain around your neck.

22So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

23Then you will walk your road safely, and your foot will not stumble.

23Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.

24When you lie down, you will not be afraid. You will lie down and sleep well.

24When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

25Do not be afraid of sudden danger, or of the ruin that comes on the wicked when it arrives.

25Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.

26The LORD will be the one you count on, and he will keep your foot out of the trap.

26For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

Note"The one you count on" renders a Hebrew word for the place confidence sits, much as English says the heart or the gut. The trap is a hunter's snare, hidden on the ground to catch a bird or animal by the foot.

27Do not hold back good from those who have it coming, when it is in your power to give it.

27Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

NoteThe Hebrew says literally "do not withhold good from its owners", the good is spoken of as already belonging to the person who needs it, so failing to hand it over is treated as keeping back what is theirs.

28Do not tell your neighbor, "Go away and come back tomorrow, and I will give it to you then," when you already have it with you.

28Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.

29Do not plan harm against your neighbor, since he lives next to you and trusts you.

29Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.

30Do not pick a fight with someone for no reason, when he has done you no harm.

30Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

NoteThe verb covers both picking a quarrel and bringing a legal case against someone, so this can mean either starting a fight or dragging a man into court without grounds.

31Do not envy a violent man, and do not choose to live as he does.

31Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.

32The LORD hates a person who is twisted, but he takes the honest into his confidence.

32For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.

Note"Twisted" describes a person who is crooked or devious, the opposite of straight dealing. "Takes into his confidence" translates *sod*, a word for the private circle where plans are discussed before they are announced, the honest person is let in on what is going on.

33The LORD's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of those who do right.

33The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.

Note"House" and "home" are different Hebrew words: the first is a built house and household, the second is a dwelling place with older overtones of a shepherd's camp or pasture. Both stand for the whole family living there, not the building.

34He mocks those who mock, but he shows kindness to the humble.

34Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.

Note"Those who mock" are a recurring character type in Proverbs: not casual jokers but people who make a habit of contempt and refuse all correction. The line turns their own behavior back on them.

35The wise will receive honor, but fools will get shame as their reward.

35The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

NoteThe second half of this verse is obscure in Hebrew (literally something like "but fools, shame is lifting up") and translators differ on whether it means fools inherit disgrace, put disgrace on display, or are exalted only in disgrace.