Proverbs 3
What Happens in This Chapter
A father keeps teaching his son. He tells him to trust the LORD, honor him with what he owns, and accept correction as a father's care. Then he praises wisdom, saying she is worth more than silver, gold, or jewels, and that the LORD used wisdom to make the world. The chapter ends with plain rules about how to treat neighbors, and what happens to wise people and to fools.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
1My son, do not forget what I teach you. Keep my rules in your heart.
2For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
2They will add many years to your life. They will bring you peace.
3Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
3Never stop being loving and true. Tie them around your neck. Write them on your heart.
The old words here are "mercy and truth." They mean steady love that does not quit, and being someone others can count on.
4So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
4Then God and people will think well of you. They will be glad with you.
5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
5Trust the LORD with your whole heart. Do not lean only on what you think you know.
6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
6Remember him in everything you do. He will make your path straight.
7Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
7Do not think you are wise all by yourself. Respect the LORD and turn away from evil.
8It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
8This will bring healing to your body. It will bring new strength to your bones.
The KJV says "health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones." That was a way of saying your whole body, inside and out.
9Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
9Honor the LORD with the things you own. Give him the first part of every harvest.
10So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
10Then your barns will be full of food. Your wine jars will overflow with new wine.
11My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
11My son, do not push away the LORD when he corrects you. Do not get tired of it.
12For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
12The LORD corrects the ones he loves. A father does the same for a son he loves.
13Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
13The person who finds wisdom is happy. So is the person who gains understanding.
14For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
14Wisdom pays better than silver. What she gives is better than fine gold.
15She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
15She is worth more than rubies, which are costly red jewels. Nothing you want compares with her.
16Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
16In her right hand she holds long life. In her left hand she holds riches and honor.
17Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
17Her ways are good and pleasant ways. All her paths are peaceful.
18She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
18She is like a tree that gives life to those who hold on to her. Everyone who keeps her is happy.
19The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
19The LORD made the earth by wisdom. He set the heavens in place by understanding.
20By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
20By what he knows, the deep waters burst open. The clouds drip with dew.
21My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
21My son, do not let these things out of your sight. Keep good sense and careful thinking.
22So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
22They will be life to you inside. They will be like a lovely chain on your neck.
23Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
23Then you will walk your road safely. Your foot will not trip.
24When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
24When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Your sleep will be sweet.
25Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
25Do not be afraid when danger comes suddenly. Do not fear the ruin that falls on wicked people.
26For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
26The LORD will be the one you trust. He will keep your foot out of the trap.
27Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
27Do good for people who should get it from you. Do it when you are able to help.
28Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.
28Do not tell your neighbor, "Come back tomorrow and I will give it." Do not say that when you have it now.
29Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
29Do not make plans to hurt your neighbor. He lives beside you and trusts you.
30Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
30Do not fight with a man for no reason. He has done you no harm.
31Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
31Do not wish you had what a cruel man has. Do not choose to live the way he does.
32For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.
32The LORD hates people who twist what is right. But he is a close friend to honest people.
"Froward" in the old English does not mean forward. It means crooked or twisted, the opposite of honest.
33The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.
33The LORD's curse is on the house of wicked people. But he blesses the home of people who do right.
34Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
34He laughs at people who make fun of others. But he is kind to humble people.
35The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
35Wise people will be given honor. Foolish people will get shame instead.
"Shame shall be the promotion of fools" sounds like fools get raised up. It means the opposite: shame is all they end up with.
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