Proverbs 3 New International Version (NIV)
Wisdom Bestows Well-Being
- 1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,
- 2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and
- prosperity. 3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck,
- write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and a good name
- in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
- and lean not on your own understanding;6 in all your ways submit to him,
- and he will make your paths straight.[a]
- 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.
- 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
- 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;
- 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
- 11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke,
- 12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.[b]
- 13 Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding,
- 14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.
- 15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare 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; those who hold her fast will be blessed.
- 19 By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place;
- 20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.
- 21 My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,
- preserve sound judgment and discretion;
- 22 they will be life for you,
- an ornament to grace your neck.
- 23 Then you will go on your way in safety,
- 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 Have no fear of sudden disaster
- or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
- 26 for the Lord will be at your side
- and will keep your foot from being snared.
- 27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.
- 28 Do not say to your neighbor,
- “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—
- when you already have it with you.
- 29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
- who lives trustfully near you.
- 30 Do not accuse anyone for no reason—
- when they have done you no harm.
- 31 Do not envy the violent or choose any of their ways.
- 32 For the Lord detests the perverse but takes the upright into his confidence.
- 33 The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous.
- 34 He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.
- 35 The wise inherit honor, but fools get only shame
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Some take-a-ways from Proverbs 3:
- Read His word daily (keep His commandments and repent when you don't)
- Work out your salvation daily (with fear and trembling of God's AWEsomeness)
- Let Love and Faithfulness abound in you daily (and in your daily walk)
- Fear the Lord and do not entertain anything perverse/evil
- Do not hate His discipline, but understand that He is treating us as a loving father would treat his son
- Do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight (keep the word close to you and your heart)
- Honor the Lord with your wealth (tithe). This is the only time that we can test the Lord (Malachi 3:10-11)
- Try and out give God in doing good (see what He does for you)
- Do not withhold good and charity from others when it is in your power to act (this will be a great sin against the saints, so repent if you do and ask for his path the next time)
- Do not envy the violent or worldly individuals (their wealth and prosperity is fleeting if their hope is not in the Lord)
- Do not choose their ways of living (worldly) for this does not prosper us, nor does it make our Father (in Heaven) happy
- Do not grieve the Holy Spirit that is in each of us that profess the name of Christ
- Finally, Trust in the Lord with all of your heart
- Lean not on your understanding
- In all of your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.
Blessings,Dante