Proverbs 3

King James Version

Full text for Proverbs Chapter 3

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

2For length of days, and long 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 unto thine own understanding.

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

7¶ Be 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 presses shall burst out with new wine.

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

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

13¶ Happy [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 all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

16Length of days [is] in her right hand; [and] in her left hand 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 hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

20By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

21¶ My 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 safely, 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.

26For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

27¶ Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do [it].

28Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.

29Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.

30Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

31Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.

32For the froward [is] abomination to the LORD: but his secret [is] with the righteous.

33The curse of the LORD [is] in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.

34Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.

35The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Proverbs chapter three exhorts the reader to keep God's commandments, emphasizing that obedience leads to long life, peace, and favour. It strongly encourages trusting in the Lord with all one's heart rather than relying on personal understanding, promising divine direction. The chapter also extols the supreme value of wisdom, portraying it as more precious than any material wealth and a source of life and pleasantness. Finally, it provides practical counsel on ethical conduct towards neighbours and warns against the consequences of wickedness.

Medium Summary

The chapter begins by urging the son to remember God's law and commandments, assuring that adherence brings length of days, peace, and favour with both God and man. It then pivots to the critical importance of absolute trust in the LORD, advising against self-reliance and promising that acknowledging Him in all ways will lead to directed paths. Honouring the Lord with one's substance and firstfruits is presented as a path to material abundance. The text also addresses divine chastening, explaining it as an act of love from the Lord, akin to a father's correction of a beloved son. A significant portion is dedicated to the incomparable value of wisdom, which is described as more precious than silver or rubies, offering long life, riches, honour, and paths of peace. The chapter concludes with practical instructions for righteous living, including generosity, honesty, and avoiding envy or strife with neighbours, contrasting the blessings upon the just with the curse upon the wicked.

Long Summary

Proverbs chapter three opens with a fatherly admonition to remember and keep God's law and commandments, promising that such obedience will add length of days, long life, and peace. It further instructs the reader to embrace mercy and truth, binding them to the heart, which will secure favour and good understanding from both God and man. A central theme is the imperative to trust in the LORD with all one's heart, cautioning against leaning on personal understanding, and assuring that acknowledging Him in all ways will result in divinely directed paths. The chapter also calls for reverent fear of the LORD and departing from evil, linking this to physical health and well-being. Material prosperity is linked to honouring the LORD with one's substance and the firstfruits of all increase, promising barns filled with plenty. The text then addresses the concept of divine chastening, explaining that the LORD corrects those He loves, much like a father delights in and corrects his son. A substantial section is devoted to extolling the supreme value of wisdom and understanding, declaring them more precious than silver, gold, or rubies, and superior to all desires. Wisdom is depicted as holding length of days, riches, honour, pleasantness, and peace, serving as a tree of life. The chapter underscores wisdom's foundational role by stating that the LORD used wisdom, understanding, and knowledge to create and establish the earth and heavens. The instruction to keep sound wisdom and discretion is reiterated, promising life, grace, safety, and sweet sleep, free from fear, because the LORD is one's confidence. Finally, the chapter provides practical ethical directives: to do good to those to whom it is due without delay, to avoid devising evil against neighbours, and to refrain from causeless strife. It warns against envying oppressors, concluding by contrasting the Lord's abhorrence of the froward with His secret counsel for the righteous, His curse on the wicked's house versus His blessing on the just's habitation, and His scorn for scorners while giving grace to the lowly, ensuring glory for the wise and shame for fools.

Core Concepts

  • Obedience and BlessingsThe chapter emphasizes that keeping God's law, commandments, mercy, and truth leads to a long life, peace, and favour in the sight of God and man.
  • Trust in the LordA core instruction is to trust in the LORD with all one's heart and not to rely on personal understanding. Acknowledging Him in all ways ensures that He will direct one's paths.
  • Value of WisdomWisdom is presented as supremely valuable, more precious than silver, gold, or rubies. It offers length of days, riches, honour, pleasantness, peace, and is likened to a tree of life.
  • Divine CorrectionThe text explains that the LORD's chastening and correction are expressions of His love. He corrects those whom He delights in, much like a father corrects his beloved son.
  • Honouring God with SubstanceBelievers are exhorted to honour the LORD with their wealth and the firstfruits of all their increase. This act of generosity is promised to result in abundant harvests and overflowing presses.
  • Ethical Conduct Towards NeighboursThe chapter provides practical moral guidance, urging generosity, honesty, and the avoidance of malice or strife towards neighbours. It warns against envying the oppressor and highlights the Lord's blessing on the just versus His curse on the wicked.