A Proverbs for Today

Proverbs 3

I love the book of Proverbs, especially Chapter 3. A couple of years ago my friend Meredith and I memorized this Chapter. Now it did not happen over night, it took weeks of breaking it down and memorizing it. But in this Chapter there are so many verses to just chew on and really take them to heart.

Proverbs 3 - ESV Version (from Bible Gateway. com)

Trust in the LORD with All Your Heart

¹^A)">(A) My son, do not forget my teaching,
^B)">(B) but let your heart keep my commandments,
²for^C)">(C) length of days and years of life
and^D)">(D) peace they will add to you.

³Let not^E)">(E) steadfast love and^F)">(F) faithfulness forsake you;
^G)">(G) bind them around your neck;
^H)">(H) write them on the tablet of your heart.
⁴So you will^I)">(I) find favor and^J)">(J) good success^a]">[a]
in the sight of God and man.

⁵^K)">(K) Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and^L)">(L) do not lean on your own understanding.
⁶In all your ways^M)">(M) acknowledge him,
and he^N)">(N) will make straight your paths.
⁷^O)">(O) Be not wise in your own eyes;
^P)">(P) fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
⁸It will be^Q)">(Q) healing to your flesh^b]">[b]
and^R)">(R) refreshment^c]">[c] to your bones.

⁹Honor the LORD with your wealth
and with^S)">(S) the firstfruits of all your produce;
¹⁰then your^T)">(T) barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine.

¹¹^U)">(U) My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline
or be weary of his reproof,
¹²for the LORD reproves him whom he loves,
as^V)">(V) a father the son in whom he delights.

Blessed Is the One Who Finds Wisdom

¹³^W)">(W) Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
and the one who gets understanding,
¹⁴^X)">(X) for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
and her profit better than^Y)">(Y) gold.
¹⁵She is more precious than^Z)">(Z) jewels,
and^AA)">(AA) nothing you desire can compare with her.
¹⁶^AB)">(AB) Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are^AC)">(AC) riches and honor.
¹⁷Her^AD)">(AD) ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.
¹⁸She is^AE)">(AE) a tree of life to those who^AF)">(AF) lay hold of her;
those who hold her fast are called blessed.

¹⁹^AG)">(AG) The LORD by wisdom founded the earth;
by understanding he established the heavens;
²⁰by his knowledge^AH)">(AH) the deeps broke open,
and^AI)">(AI) the clouds drop down the dew.

²¹My son,^AJ)">(AJ) do not lose sight of these—
keep sound wisdom and discretion,
²²and they will be^AK)">(AK) life for your soul
and^AL)">(AL) adornment for your neck.
²³^AM)">(AM) Then you will walk on your way securely,
^AN)">(AN) and your foot will not stumble.
²⁴^AO)">(AO) If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down,^AP)">(AP) your sleep will be sweet.
²⁵^AQ)">(AQ) Do not be afraid of sudden terror
or of^AR)">(AR) the ruin^d]">[d] of the wicked, when it comes,
²⁶for the LORD will be your confidence
and will^AS)">(AS) keep your foot from being caught.
²⁷^AT)">(AT) Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,^e]">[e]
when it is in your power to do it.

²⁸^AU)">(AU) Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again,
tomorrow I will give it"—when you have it with you.
²⁹^AV)">(AV) Do not plan evil against your neighbor,
who^AW)">(AW) dwells trustingly beside you.
³⁰^AX)">(AX) Do not contend with a man for no reason,
when he has done you no harm.
³¹^AY)">(AY) Do not envy^AZ)">(AZ) a man of violence
and do not choose any of his ways,
³²for^BA)">(BA) the devious person is an abomination to the LORD,
but the upright are^BB)">(BB) in his confidence.
³³^BC)">(BC) The LORD’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he^BD)">(BD) blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
³⁴Toward the^BE)">(BE) scorners he^BF)">(BF) is scornful,
^BG)">(BG) but to the humble he gives favor.^f]">[f]
³⁵The wise will inherit honor,
but fools get^g]">[g] disgrace.

God Bless and Happy Thursday!

Jenn