PROVERBS 3:1-25

¹My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

²For length of days, and years of life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

³Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

⁴So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

⁵Trust in the LORD with all thine heart, and lean not upon thine own understanding:

⁶In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

⁷Be not wise in thine own eyes; fear the LORD, and depart from evil:

⁸It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

⁹Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

¹⁰So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy vats shall overflow with new wine.

¹¹My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his reproof:

¹²For whom the LORD loveth he reproveth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

¹³Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

¹⁴For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

¹⁵She is more precious than rubies: and none of the things thou canst desire are to be compared unto her.

¹⁶Length of days is in her right had; in her left hand are riches and honour.

¹⁷Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

¹⁸She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

¹⁹The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens.

²⁰By his knowledge the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.

²¹My son, let not them depart from thine eyes; keep sound wisdom and discretion;

²²So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

²³Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, and thy foot shall not stumble.

²⁴When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

²⁵Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh: