Proverbs 3

Advice to Children

1 My child, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in mind.

2 Then you will live a long time, and your life will be successful.

3 Don’t ever forget kindness and truth. Wear them like a necklace. Write them on your heart as if on a tablet.

4 Then you will be respected and will please both God and people.

5 Trust the Lord with all your heart, and don’t depend on your own understanding.

6 Remember the Lord in all you do, and he will give you success.

7 Don’t depend on your own wisdom. Respect the Lord and refuse to do wrong.

8 Then your body will be healthy, and your bones will be strong.

9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and the firstfruits from all your crops.

10 Then your barns will be full, and your wine barrels will overflow with new wine.

11 My child, do not reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t get angry when he corrects you.

12 The Lord corrects those he loves, just as parents correct the child they delight in.

13 Happy is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gets understanding.

14 Wisdom is worth more than silver; it brings more profit than gold.

15 Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you could want is equal to it.

16 With her right hand wisdom offers you a long life, and with her left hand she gives you riches and honor.

17 Wisdom will make your life pleasant and will bring you peace.

18 As a tree produces fruit, wisdom gives life to those who use it, and everyone who uses it will be happy.

19 The Lord made the earth, using his wisdom. He set the sky in place, using his understanding.

20 With his knowledge, he made springs flow into rivers and the clouds drop rain on the earth.

21 My child, hold on to wisdom and good sense. Don’t let them out of your sight.

22 They will give you life and beauty like a necklace around your neck.

23 Then you will go your way in safety, and you will not get hurt.

24 When you lie down, you won’t be afraid; when you lie down, you will sleep in peace.

25 You won’t be afraid of sudden trouble; you won’t fear the ruin that comes to the wicked,

26 because the Lord will keep you safe. He will keep you from being trapped.

27 Whenever you are able, do good to people who need help.

28 If you have what your neighbor asks for, don’t say, “Come back later. I will give it to you tomorrow.”

29 Don’t make plans to hurt your neighbor who lives nearby and trusts you.

30 Don’t accuse a person for no good reason; don’t accuse someone who has not harmed you.

31 Don’t be jealous of those who use violence, and don’t choose to be like them.

32 The Lord hates those who do wrong, but he is a friend to those who are honest.

33 The Lord will curse the evil person’s house, but he will bless the home of those who do right.

34 The Lord laughs at those who laugh at him, but he gives grace to those who are not proud.
35 Wise people will receive honor, but fools will be disgraced.

Proverbs 4

Wisdom Is Important

1 My children, listen to your father’s teaching; pay attention so you will understand.

2 What I am telling you is good, so do not forget what I teach you.

3 When I was a young boy in my father’s house and like an only child to my mother,

4 my father taught me and said, “Hold on to my words with all your heart. Keep my commands and you will live.

5 Get wisdom and understanding. Don’t forget or ignore my words.

6 Hold on to wisdom, and it will take care of you. Love it, and it will keep you safe.

7 Wisdom is the most important thing; so get wisdom. If it costs everything you have, get understanding.

8 Treasure wisdom, and it will make you great; hold on to it, and it will bring you honor.

9 It will be like flowers in your hair and like a beautiful crown on your head.”

10 My child, listen and accept what I say. Then you will have a long life.

11 I am guiding you in the way of wisdom, and I am leading you on the right path.

12 Nothing will hold you back; you will not be overwhelmed.

13 Always remember what you have been taught, and don’t let go of it.
Keep all that you have learned; it is the most important thing in life.

14 Don’t follow the ways of the wicked; don’t do what evil people do.

15 Avoid their ways, and don’t follow them. Stay away from them and keep on going,

16 because they cannot sleep until they do evil. They cannot rest until they harm someone.

17 They feast on wickedness and cruelty as if they were eating bread and drinking wine.

18 The way of the good person is like the light of dawn, growing brighter and brighter until full daylight.

19 But the wicked walk around in the dark; they can’t even see what makes them stumble.

20 My child, pay attention to my words; listen closely to what I say.

21 Don’t ever forget my words; keep them always in mind.

22 They are the key to life for those who find them; they bring health to the whole body.

23 Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life.

24 Don’t use your mouth to tell lies; don’t ever say things that are not true.

25 Keep your eyes focused on what is right, and look straight ahead to what is good.

26 Be careful what you do, and always do what is right.
27 Don’t turn off the road of goodness; keep away from evil paths.

Proverbs 5

Warning About Adultery

1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom; listen to my words of understanding.

2 Be careful to use good sense, and watch what you say.

3 The words of another man’s wife may seem sweet as honey; they may be as smooth as olive oil.

4 But in the end she will bring you sorrow, causing you pain like a two-edged sword.

5 She is on the way to death; her steps are headed straight to the grave.

6 She gives little thought to life. She doesn’t even know that her ways are wrong.

7 Now, my sons, listen to me, and don’t ignore what I say.

8 Stay away from such a woman. Don’t even go near the door of her house,

9 or you will give your riches to others, and the best years of your life will be given to someone cruel.

10 Strangers will enjoy your wealth, and what you worked so hard for will go to someone else.

11 You will groan at the end of your life when your health is gone.

12 Then you will say, “I hated being told what to do! I would not listen to correction!

13 I would not listen to my teachers or pay attention to my instructors.

14 I came close to being completely ruined in front of a whole group of people.”

15 Be faithful to your own wife, just as you drink water from your own well.

16 Don’t pour your water in the streets; don’t give your love to just any woman.

17 These things are yours alone and shouldn’t be shared with strangers.

18 Be happy with the wife you married when you were young. She gives you joy, as your fountain gives you water.

19 She is as lovely and graceful as a deer. Let her love always make you happy; let her love always hold you captive.

20 My son, don’t be held captive by a woman who takes part in adultery. Don’t fondle a woman who is not your wife.

21 The Lord sees everything you do, and he watches where you go.

22 An evil man will be caught in his wicked ways; the ropes of his sins will tie him up.
23 He will die because he does not control himself, and he will be held captive by his foolishness.