Proverbs3
New King James Version
1My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands;
2For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you.
3Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,
4And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.
5Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
6In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
7Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
8It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.
9Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
10So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.
11My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His correction;
12For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.
13Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding;
14For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold.
15She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.
16Length of days is in her right hand, In her left hand riches and honor.
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, And happy are all who retain her.
19The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding He established the heavens;
20By His knowledge the depths were broken up, And clouds drop down the dew.
21My son, let them not depart from your eyes— Keep sound wisdom and discretion;
22So they will be life to your soul And grace to your neck.
23Then you will walk safely in your way, And your foot will not stumble.
24When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.
25Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;
26For the Lord will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught.
27Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so.
28Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it,” When you have it with you.
29Do not devise evil against your neighbor, For he dwells by you for safety’s sake.
30Do not strive with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm.
31Do not envy the oppressor, And choose none of his ways;
32For the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord, But His secret counsel is with the upright.
33The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the home of the just.
34Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble.
35The wise shall inherit glory, But shame shall be the legacy of fools.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Proverbs 3.
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