Proverbs 3

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:	1 My son, forget not my teaching, keep in mind my commands;
2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.	2 For many days, and years of life, and peace, will they bring you.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:	3 Let not kindness and fidelity leave you; bind them around your neck;
4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.	4 Then will you win favor and good esteem before God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.	5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, on your own intelligence rely not;
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.	6 In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.	7 Be not wise in your own eyes, fear the LORD and turn away from evil;
8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.	8 This will mean health for your flesh and vigor for your bones.
9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:	9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with first fruits of all your produce;
10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.	10 Then will your barns be filled with grain, with new wine your vats will overflow.
11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:	11 The discipline of the LORD, my son, disdain not; spurn not his reproof;
12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.	12 For whom the LORD loves he reproves, and he chastises the son he favors.
13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.	13 Happy the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding!
14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.	14 For her profit is better than profit in silver, and better than gold is her revenue;
15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.	15 She is more precious than corals, and none of your choice possessions can compare with her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.	16 Long life is in her right hand, in her left are riches and honor;
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.	17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace;
18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.	18 She is a tree of life to those who grasp her, and he is happy who holds her fast.
19 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.	19 The LORD by wisdom founded the earth, established the heavens by understanding;
20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.	20 By his knowledge the depths break open, and the clouds drop down dew.
21 My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:	21 My son, let not these slip out of your sight: keep advice and counsel in view;
22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.	22 So will they be life to your soul, and an adornment for your neck.
23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.	23 Then you may securely go your way; your foot will never stumble;
24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.	24 When you lie down, you need not be afraid, when you rest, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.	25 Be not afraid of sudden terror, of the ruin of the wicked when it comes;
26 For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.	26 For the LORD will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from the snare.
27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.	27 Refuse no one the good on which he has a claim when it is in your power to do it for him.
28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.	28 Say not to your neighbor, "Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give," when you can give at once.
29 Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.	29 Plot no evil against your neighbor, against him who lives at peace with you.
30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.	30 Quarrel not with a man without cause, with one who has done you no harm.
31 Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.	31 Envy not the lawless man and choose none of his ways:
32 For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.	32 To the LORD the perverse man is an abomination, but with the upright is his friendship.
33 The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.	33 The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but the dwelling of the just he blesses;
34 Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.	34 When he is dealing with the arrogant, he is stern, but to the humble he shows kindness.
35 The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.	35 Honor is the possession of wise men, but fools inherit shame.