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Proverbs 3

World English Bible

WEB

1My son, don’t forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, 2for they will add to you length of days, years of life, and peace. 3Don’t let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart. 4So you will find favor, and good understanding in the sight of God and man. 5Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding. 6In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. 7Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Fear Yahweh, and depart from evil. 8It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones. 9Honor Yahweh with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase; 10so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine. 11My son, don’t despise Yahweh’s discipline, neither be weary of his correction; 12for whom Yahweh loves, he corrects, even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights. 13Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding. 14For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold. 15She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her. 16Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor. 17Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace. 18She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her. 19By wisdom Yahweh 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 them not depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion, 22so they will be life to your soul, and grace for your neck. 23Then you shall walk in your way securely. Your foot won’t stumble. 24When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet. 25Don’t be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes; 26for Yahweh will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being taken. 27Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it. 28Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you,” when you have it by you. 29Don’t devise evil against your neighbor, since he dwells securely by you. 30Don’t strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm. 31Don’t envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways. 32For the perverse is an abomination to Yahweh, but his friendship is with the upright. 33Yahweh’s curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the habitation of the righteous. 34Surely he mocks the mockers, but he gives grace to the humble. 35The wise will inherit glory, but shame will be the promotion of fools.

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Proverbs Chapter 3 is a profound exhortation to embrace wisdom and trust in the Lord. The chapter begins with a call to remember God’s teachings and to keep His commandments close to our hearts. The promise of a long and peaceful life is tied to this obedience, as stated in verses 1-2. The writer encourages us to cultivate love and faithfulness, binding them around our necks and writing them on the tablet of our hearts, which reflects the importance of internalizing God’s word (#Proverbs #Wisdom).

The chapter emphasizes the necessity of trusting in the Lord with all our hearts and not relying on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). This trust leads to divine guidance in all our ways, as God promises to make our paths straight. The text also warns against pride and encourages humility, reminding us to fear the Lord and turn away from evil (Proverbs 3:7-8). The blessings of wisdom are further elaborated, portraying her as more valuable than silver or gold, and promising life, honor, and peace to those who find her (Proverbs 3:13-18).

Finally, the chapter concludes with practical advice on generosity and kindness, urging us to honor the Lord with our wealth and to be compassionate towards others. It reassures us that God’s discipline is a sign of His love, encouraging us to accept His correction as a pathway to growth and understanding (Proverbs 3:11-12). Overall, Proverbs 3 serves as a powerful reminder of the blessings that come from living a life rooted in faith and wisdom, guiding us to a deeper relationship with God and a more fulfilling life.

Study

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Referenced by

  1. Deuteronomy 6:8-9v3Deuteronomy 6:8-9 speaks of binding God's words as a sign on the hand and as frontlets between the eyes, similar to Proverbs 3:3 which advises binding steadfast love and faithfulness around the neck and writing them on the heart.
  2. Joshua 9:14v5Joshua 9:14 highlights the failure of the Israelites to seek the Lord's counsel before making a treaty with the Gibeonites. Proverbs 3:5-6 emphasizes the importance of trusting in the Lord and seeking His guidance in all decisions.
  3. 1 Samuel 27:1v5In 1 Samuel 27:1, David decides to flee to the land of the Philistines out of fear for his life, showing a moment of doubt. Proverbs 3:5-6 encourages trust in the Lord rather than relying on one's own understanding, highlighting a contrast between David's actions and the wisdom of trusting God.
  4. 1 Samuel 30:8v5David inquires of the Lord in 1 Samuel 30:8, seeking guidance, which aligns with Proverbs 3:5-6's exhortation to trust in the Lord and acknowledge Him for direction.
  5. 1 Kings 3:28v51 Kings 3:28 shows the people recognizing the wisdom of God in Solomon's judgment. Proverbs 3:5-6 advises trusting in the Lord with all your heart and not leaning on your own understanding, which aligns with the recognition of divine wisdom in Solomon.
  6. 2 Chronicles 31:10v92 Chronicles 31:10 highlights the abundance of offerings and the resulting blessings, which aligns with Proverbs 3:9-10 that promises plenty and abundance when honoring the Lord with one's wealth and firstfruits.
  7. Job 28:12v13Job 28:12 questions where wisdom can be found, while Proverbs 3:13-15 extols the value of wisdom, describing it as more precious than rubies and providing happiness to those who find it.
  8. Psalms 3:5v24Psalm 3:5 speaks of lying down and sleeping in peace, which is echoed in Proverbs 3:24, where it is promised that one will lie down and not be afraid, and their sleep will be sweet. Both passages convey trust in God's protection leading to peace.
  9. Psalms 4:8v24Psalm 4:8 expresses peace and safety in sleep due to trust in God, a sentiment echoed in Proverbs 3:24, which speaks of peaceful sleep as a result of wisdom and trust in the Lord.
  10. Psalms 5:8v5Psalm 5:8 is a prayer for guidance and righteousness, similar to Proverbs 3:5-6 which advises trusting in the Lord for direction.
  11. Psalms 14:5v25Psalm 14:5 speaks of the fear of the wicked when God is with the righteous, paralleling Proverbs 3:25-26, which assures the righteous of God's protection.
  12. Psalms 25:14v32Psalm 25:14 speaks of the secret of the Lord being with those who fear Him. Proverbs 3:32 also mentions that God is intimate with the upright, emphasizing the relationship between reverence and divine intimacy.
  13. Psalms 32:8v5Psalm 32:8 promises guidance and instruction from the Lord, which complements Proverbs 3:5-6's assurance that God will direct the paths of those who trust in Him.
  14. Psalms 62:8v5Psalm 62:8 encourages trusting in God at all times and pouring out one's heart to Him, which aligns with Proverbs 3:5-6's call to trust in the Lord with all your heart.
  15. Psalms 104:24v19Psalm 104:24 praises the wisdom of God in creation, which is similarly highlighted in Proverbs 3:19-20 where wisdom is described as foundational to creation.
  16. Psalms 115:9-11v5Psalm 115:9-11 calls Israel to trust in the Lord, which is a theme also found in Proverbs 3:5-6, where trust in the Lord is encouraged for guidance and protection.
  17. Ecclesiastes 12:1v5Ecclesiastes 12:1 encourages remembering the Creator in youth, while Proverbs 3:5-6 advises trusting in the Lord with all one's heart, emphasizing reliance on God throughout life.
  18. Daniel 6:23v5Daniel 6:23 highlights Daniel's faith and trust in God, which led to his deliverance. Proverbs 3:5-6 encourages trust in the Lord with all one's heart, promising that He will make paths straight.
  19. Hebrews 12:5-6v11Hebrews 12:5-6 quotes Proverbs 3:11-12, emphasizing the Lord's discipline as an expression of His love and fatherly care.
  20. James 4:6v34James 4:6 states that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble, directly quoting Proverbs 3:34, which emphasizes God's favor towards the humble.

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