Proverbs 3

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart guard my precepts.	1 My son, forget not my teaching, keep in mind my commands;
2 For they shall set before you length of days, and years of life, and peace.	2 For many days, and years of life, and peace, will they bring you.
3 Let not mercy and truth abandon you: encircle them around your throat, and inscribe them on the tablets of your heart.	3 Let not kindness and fidelity leave you; bind them around your neck;
4 And so shall you discover grace and good discipline, in the sight of God and men.	4 Then will you win favor and good esteem before God and man.
5 Have confidence in the Lord with all your heart, and do not depend upon your own prudence.	5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, on your own intelligence rely not;
6 In all your ways, consider him, and he himself will direct your steps.	6 In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths.
7 Do not seem wise to yourself. Fear God, and withdraw from evil.	7 Be not wise in your own eyes, fear the LORD and turn away from evil;
8 Certainly, it shall be health to your navel, and refreshment to your bones.	8 This will mean health for your flesh and vigor for your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your substance, and give to him from the first of all your fruits,	9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with first fruits of all your produce;
10 and then your storehouses will be filled with abundance, and your presses shall overflow with wine.	10 Then will your barns be filled with grain, with new wine your vats will overflow.
11 My son, do not discard the discipline of the Lord, and do not fall away when you are corrected by him.	11 The discipline of the LORD, my son, disdain not; spurn not his reproof;
12 For whomever the Lord loves, he corrects, and just as a father does with a son, he wins him over.	12 For whom the LORD loves he reproves, and he chastises the son he favors.
13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom and who advances to prudence.	13 Happy the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding!
14 Her acquisition is better than trading in silver, and her fruit is better than the first and purest gold.	14 For her profit is better than profit in silver, and better than gold is her revenue;
15 She is more precious than all riches, and all that can be desired cannot prevail in comparison to her.	15 She is more precious than corals, and none of your choice possessions can compare with her.
16 Length of days is at her right hand, and at her left hand is wealth and glory.	16 Long life is in her right hand, in her left are riches and honor;
17 Her ways are beautiful ways, and all her paths are peaceful.	17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace;
18 She is a tree of life to those who overtake her, and he who shall take hold of her is blessed.	18 She is a tree of life to those who grasp her, and he is happy who holds her fast.
19 The Lord founded the earth on wisdom. He secured the heavens with prudence.	19 The LORD by wisdom founded the earth, established the heavens by understanding;
20 By his wisdom, the abyss erupted and the clouds increased with dew.	20 By his knowledge the depths break open, and the clouds drop down dew.
21 My son, let not these things move away from your eyes. Preserve law as well as counsel.	21 My son, let not these slip out of your sight: keep advice and counsel in view;
22 And so shall there be life in your soul and grace in your voice.	22 So will they be life to your soul, and an adornment for your neck.
23 Then you shall walk confidently in your way, and your feet will not stumble.	23 Then you may securely go your way; your foot will never stumble;
24 When you slumber, you shall not fear. When you rest, your sleep also will be sweet.	24 When you lie down, you need not be afraid, when you rest, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Do not fear unexpected terror, nor the power of the impious falling upon you.	25 Be not afraid of sudden terror, of the ruin of the wicked when it comes;
26 For the Lord will be at your side, and he will guard your feet, so that you may not be seized.	26 For the LORD will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from the snare.
27 Do not prevent him who is able from doing good. When you are able, do good yourself too.	27 Refuse no one the good on which he has a claim when it is in your power to do it for him.
28 Do not say to your friend: “Go away, and then return. Tomorrow I will give to you.” When you are able to do so, give in the present.	28 Say not to your neighbor, "Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give," when you can give at once.
29 Do not undertake evil against your friend, even though he has trust in you.	29 Plot no evil against your neighbor, against him who lives at peace with you.
30 Do not contend against a man without cause, even though he has done no evil to you.	30 Quarrel not with a man without cause, with one who has done you no harm.
31 Do not rival an unjust man, and do not imitate his ways.	31 Envy not the lawless man and choose none of his ways:
32 For everyone who ridicules is an abomination to the Lord, and his communication is for the simple.	32 To the LORD the perverse man is an abomination, but with the upright is his friendship.
33 Destitution in the house of the impious is from the Lord. But the habitations of the just shall be blessed.	33 The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but the dwelling of the just he blesses;
34 He will ridicule those who ridicule, but he will bestow grace upon the mild.	34 When he is dealing with the arrogant, he is stern, but to the humble he shows kindness.
35 The wise will possess glory. The exaltation of the foolish is disgraceful.	35 Honor is the possession of wise men, but fools inherit shame.