Proverbs 3

Proverbs · Chapter 3

Proverbs 3:4

1My 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.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 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.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 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.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 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.27Withhold 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.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
4So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.Then you will find favor and high regard in the sight of God and man.So shalt thou find favor and good understanding In the sight of God and man.

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Hebrew words

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
and findוּמְצָא־u-me-tza'-H4672
to find

מָצָא (ma.tsa) 1) to find, attain to 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to find 1a1a) to find, secure, acquire, get (thing sought) 1a1b) to find (what is lost) 1a1c) to meet, encounter 1a1d) to find (a condition) 1a1e) to learn, devise 1a2) to find out 1a2a) to find out 1a2b) to detect 1a2c) to guess 1a3) to come upon, light upon 1a3a) to happen upon, meet, fall in with 1a3b) to hit 1a3c) to befall 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be found 1b1a) to be encountered, be lighted upon, be discovered 1b1b) to appear, be recognised 1b1c) to be discovered, be detected 1b1d) to be gained, be secured 1b2) to be, be found 1b2a) to be found in …

favorחֵ֖ןchenH2580
favor

חֵן (chen) 1) favour, grace, charm 1a) favour, grace, elegance 1b) favour, acceptance

and insightוְשֵֽׂכֶל־ve-se-khel-H7922
understanding

שֵׂ֫כֶל (se.khel) 1) prudence, insight, understanding 1a) prudence, good sense 1b) insight, understanding 1c) cunning, craft (bad sense) Aramaic equivalent: sokh.le.ta.nu (שׇׂכְלְתָנוּ "insight" H7924)

goodט֑וֹבTovH2896A
fine

טָב (tav) good Aramaic of tov (טוֹב "pleasant" H2896A)

in [the] eyes ofבְּעֵינֵ֖יbe-'ei-NEIH5869HNo entry
Godאֱלֹהִ֣ים'E-lo-HIMH0430G
God

אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) This name means "gods" (plural intensive-singular meaning), "God" Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

and humankindוְאָדָֽם׃ פve-'a-DAMH0120G
man

אָדָם (a.dam) 1) man, mankind 1a) man, human being 1b) man, mankind (much more frequently intended sense in OT) 1c) Adam, first man 1d) city in Jordan valley

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.