Proverbs Chapter 3

From The Open Bible Project

3:1 My son, don't forget my teaching; but let your heart keep my commandments:

3:2 for length of days, and years of life, and peace, will they add to you.

• (a) Long life is the blessing of God which he gives to his, so far as it is expedient for them.

3:3 Don't let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.

• (b) By mercy and truth he means the commandments of the first and second table, or else the mercy and faithfulness that we ought to use toward our neighbours.
• (c) Keep them as a precious jewel.
• (d) Have them ever in remembrance.

3:4 So you will find favor, and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

3:5 Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don't lean on your own understanding.

3:6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

3:7 Don't be wise in your own eyes. Fear Yahweh, and depart from evil.

3:8 It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.

• (e) By this part he comprehends the whole body, as by health he means all the benefits promised in the law both corporal and spiritual.

3:9 Honor Yahweh with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase:

• (f) As was commanded in the law, (Exodus 23:19; Deuteronomy 26:2) and by this they acknowledged that God was the giver of all things, and that they were ready to bestow all at his commandment.

3:10 so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.

• (g) For the faithful distributor God gives in greater abundance.

3:11 My son, don't despise Yahweh's discipline, neither be weary of his reproof:

3:12 for whom Yahweh loves, he reproves; even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.

3:13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding.

3:14 For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold.

3:15 She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her.

3:16 Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor.

• (h) Meaning, that he seeks wisdom, that is, suffers himself to be governed by the Word of God, will have all prosperity both corporal and spiritual.

3:17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace.

3:18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her.

• (i) Which brings forth such fruit that they who eat of it have life and he alludes to the tree of life in paradise.

3:19 By wisdom Yahweh founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens.

• (k) By this he shows that this wisdom of which he speaks is everlasting, because it was before all creatures and that all things even the whole world were made by it.

3:20 By his knowledge, the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.

3:21 My son, let them not depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion:

3:22 so they will be life to your soul, and grace for your neck.

3:23 Then you shall walk in your way securely. Your foot won't stumble.

3:24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.

3:25 Don't be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes:

• (l) For when God destroys the wicked he will save his as he did Lot in Sodom.

3:26 for Yahweh will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being taken.

3:27 Don't withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.

• (m) Not only from them to whom the possession belongs but also you shall not keep it from them who have need of the use of it.

3:28 Don't say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you," when you have it by you.

3:29 Don't devise evil against your neighbor, seeing he dwells securely by you.

• (n) That is, puts his trust in you.

3:30 Don't strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.

3:31 Don't envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways.

• (o) Do not wish to be like him.

3:32 For the perverse is an abomination to Yahweh, but his friendship is with the upright.

• (p) That is, his covenant and fatherly affection which is hid and secret from the world.

3:33 Yahweh's curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.

3:34 Surely he mocks the mockers, but he gives grace to the humble.

• (q) He will show by his plagues that their scorn will turn to their own destruction, (Proverbs 1:26).

3:35 The wise will inherit glory, but shame will be the promotion of fools.