Chapter 3
Confidence in God Leads to Prosperity
1 My son, do not forget my teaching,
take to heart my commands;
2 For many days, and years of life,(A)
and peace, will they bring you.
3 Do not let love and fidelity forsake you;
bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then will you win favor and esteem
before God and human beings.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
on your own intelligence do not rely;
6 In all your ways be mindful of him,
and he will make straight your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes,(B)
fear the Lord and turn away from evil;
8 This will mean health for your flesh
and vigor for your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth,
with first fruits of all your produce;(C)
10 Then will your barns be filled with plenty,
with new wine your vats will overflow.
11 The discipline of the Lord, my son, do not spurn;(D)
do not disdain his reproof;
12 For whom the Lord loves he reproves,
as a father, the son he favors.(E)
The Benefits of Finding Wisdom
13 Happy the one who finds wisdom,
the one who gains understanding!(F)
14 Her profit is better than profit in silver,
and better than gold is her revenue;
15 She is more precious than corals,
and no treasure of yours can compare with her.(G)
16 Long life is in her right hand,
in her left are riches and honor;
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace;
18 She is a tree of life to those who grasp her,
and those who hold her fast are happy.(H)
19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth,
established the heavens by understanding;
20 By his knowledge the depths are split,
and the clouds drop down dew.
Justice Toward One’s Neighbor Brings Blessing
21 My son, do not let these slip from your sight:
hold to deliberation and planning;
22 So will they be life to your soul,
and an adornment for your neck.
23 Then you may go your way securely;
your foot will never stumble;
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid,
when you rest, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror,
of the ruin of the wicked when it comes;
26 For the Lord will be your confidence,
and will keep your foot from the snare.
27 Do not withhold any goods from the owner
when it is in your power to act.
28 Say not to your neighbor, “Go, come back tomorrow,
and I will give it to you,” when all the while you have it.
29 Do not plot evil against your neighbors,
when they live at peace with you.
30 Do not contend with someone without cause,
with one who has done you no harm.
31 Do not envy the violent
and choose none of their ways:(I)
32 To the Lord the devious are an abomination,
but the upright are close to him.
33 The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked,
but the dwelling of the just he blesses;
34 Those who scoff, he scoffs at,(J)
but the lowly he favors.
35 The wise will possess glory,
but fools will bear shame.
Footnotes
- 3:1–12
- 3:1
- 3:12
- 3:13–20
- 3:18
- 3:20
- 3:21–35
As in other instructions, the father in vv. 21–26 urges the son to seek wisdom, which in this case means practicing the virtues of “deliberation and planning,” a specification of wisdom. Practicing these virtues brings protection from violence (vv. 22–26) and friendship with God (vv. 32–35). The language is like Ps 91.
Verses 27–35 are arranged according to a clear order. Serving God requires serving one’s neighbor through kindness (vv. 27–28), maintaining peace with the good (vv. 29–31), having no envy of the wicked (v. 31), because the Lord’s friendship and kindness are with the just, not with the wicked. Matching the six exhortations of vv. 1–12, vv. 27–34 contain six prohibitions. The righteous/wicked contrast is progressively developed: in contrast to the wicked, the righteous are in God’s inner circle, their houses are blessed, they deal with a merciful God, and obtain honor.
- 3:22
Cross references
- 3:2 : Prv 4:10; 9:11; 10:27.
- 3:7 : Rom 11:25; 12:16.
- 3:9 : Ex 34:26; Lv 27:30; Dt 26:2; Sir 7:31; 35:7.
- 3:11 : Hb 12:5–6.
- 3:12 : Jdt 8:27; Rev 3:19.
- 3:13 : Prv 8:34–35.
- 3:15 : Prv 8:11, 19; Wis 7:8–11.
- 3:18 : Prv 4:13; 8:35; 11:30; Gn 2:9; 3:22.
- 3:31 : Prv 23:17; 24:1, 19; Ps 37:1.
- 3:34 : Prv 1:26.
