Proverbs3
New American Standard
1 My son, do not forget my teaching, But have your heart comply with my commandments;
2 For length of days and years of life And peace they will add to you.
3 Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will find favor and a good reputation In the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones.
9 Honor the Lord from your wealth, And from the first of all your produce;
10 Then your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord Or loathe His rebuke,
12 For whom the Lord loves He disciplines, Just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.
13 Blessed is a person who finds wisdom, And one who obtains understanding.
14 For her profit is better than the profit of silver, And her produce better than gold.
15 She is more precious than jewels, And nothing you desire compares with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways, And all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are those who hold on to her.
19 The Lord founded the earth by wisdom, He established the heavens by understanding.
20 By His knowledge the ocean depths were burst open, And the clouds drip with dew.
21 My son, see that they do not escape from your sight; Comply with sound wisdom and discretion,
22 And they will be life to your soul And adornment to your neck.
23 Then you will walk in your way securely, And your foot will not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden danger, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;
26 For the Lord will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught.
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in your power to do it.
28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it to you,” When you have it with you.
29 Do not devise harm against your neighbor, While he lives securely beside you.
30 Do not contend with a person for no reason, If he has done you no harm.
31 Do not envy a violent person, And do not choose any of his ways.
32 For the devious are an abomination to the Lord; But He is intimate with the upright.
33 The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the home of the righteous.
34 Though He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet He gives grace to the needy.
35 The wise will inherit honor, But fools increase dishonor.
Study
Proverbs 3Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Proverbs 3. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Exhortations to obedience and faith. (1–6). To piety, and to improve afflictions. (7–12). To gain wisdom. (13–20). Guidance of Wisdom. (21–26). The wicked and the upright. (27–35).
vv1-6
In the way of believing obedience to God's commandments health and peace may commonly be enjoyed; and though our days may not be long upon earth, we shall live for ever in heaven. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee; God's mercy in promising, and his truth in performing: live up to them, keep up thine interest in them, and take the comfort of them. We must trust in the Lord with all our hearts, believing he is able and wise to do what is best. Those who know themselves, find their own understandings a broken reed, which, if they lean upon, will fail. Do not design any thing but what is lawful, and beg God to direct thee in every case, though it may seem quite plain. In all our ways that prove pleasant, in which we gain our point, we must acknowledge God with thankfulness. In all our ways that prove uncomfortable, and that are hedged up with thorns, we must acknowledge him with submission. It is promised, He shall direct thy paths; so that thy way shall be safe and good, and happy at last.
vv7-12
There is not a greater enemy to the fear of the Lord in the heart, than self-conceit of our own wisdom. The prudence and sobriety which religion teaches, tend not only to the health of the soul, but to the health of the body. Worldly wealth is but poor substance, yet, such as it is, we must honour God with it; and those that do good with what they have, shall have more to do more good with. Should the Lord visit us with trials and sickness, let us not forget that the exhortation speaks to us as to children, for our good. We must not faint under an affliction, be it ever so heavy and long, not be driven to despair, or use wrong means for relief. The father corrects the son whom he loves, because he loves him, and desires that he may be wise and good. Afflictions are so far from doing God's children any hurt, that, by the grace of God, they promote their holiness.
vv13-20
No precious jewels or earthly treasures are worthy to be compared with true wisdom, whether the concerns of time or eternity be considered. We must make wisdom our business; we must venture all in it, and be willing to part with all for it. This Wisdom is the Lord Jesus Christ and his salvation, sought and obtained by faith and prayer. Were it not for unbelief, remaining sinfulness, and carelessness, we should find all our ways pleasantness, and our paths peace, for his are so; but we too often step aside from them, to our own hurt and grief. Christ is that Wisdom, by whom the worlds were made, and still are in being; happy are those to whom he is made of God wisdom. He has wherewithal to make good all his promises.
Key Words
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
אַל: not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
שָׁכַח: to mislay, i.e. to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention
תּוֹרָה: a precept or statute, especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch
לֵב: the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything
נָצַר: to guard, in a good sense (to protect, maintain, obey, etc.) or a bad one (to conceal, etc.)
מִצְוָה: a command, whether human or divine (collectively, the Law)
כִּי: (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
אֹרֶךְ: length
יוֹם: a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
Cross References
Proverbs 3Directly quotes and explains Solomon's exhortation not to despise the Lord's chastening.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Quoted verbatim to prove God disciplines the sons He loves and delights in.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Explicitly quotes the LXX translation: God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Quotes this proverb directly to instruct believers to clothe themselves with humility.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Paul echoes the caution 'be not wise in your own conceits' from this verse.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Contrasts the law on stone tablets with being written on the table of the heart.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Matches the promise of filled barns/overflowing blessings for giving God his due.
Supported by JFB
Wisdom is allegorized as the 'tree of life,' referencing Eden's life-giving tree.
Supported by JFB
Godliness holds promise for the present life (peace/days) and the life to come.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Pentateuch parallel comparing divine discipline to a father chastening his son.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Expands on Wisdom's role in establishing the heavens and earth at creation.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Parallels 'his secret is with the righteous' with 'the secret of the Lord is with them that fear him.'
Supported by JFB
A direct call to trust in the Lord and do good, dwelling safely.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels the promise of sweet, peaceful sleep under the safe protection of God.
Supported by JFB
New Testament command to render to all their dues, echoing withholding not good.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB