OEB PRO Chapter 3

The Wisdom of Trusting and Honouring the Lord

3 My son, do not forget my teaching,

keep my commandments in mind;

2 for a long and happy life

and fulness of peace will they bring you.

3 Let not kindness and faithfulness leave you.

Bind them about your neck;

4 so favour and good repute will you find

alike with God and people.

5 Trust the Lord with all your heart.

Lean not on your own understanding:

6 in all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will smooth your paths.

7 Do not pride yourself on your wisdom;

fear the Lord and turn from evil.

8 Then there will be health to your body,

and refreshment to your bones.

9 If you honour the Lord with your wealth,

with the first-fruits of all that comes in to you,

10 your barns will be filled with corn,

and with wine will your vats overflow.

The Worth of Wisdom

11 Reject not, my son, the Lord’s chastening.

Do not spurn His reproof.

12 For whom the Lord loves, he chastens,

he reproves the child he delights in.

13 Happy those who find wisdom,

they who obtain understanding.

14 For she brings a gain fairer than silver,

a revenue better than gold.

15 More precious is she than corals,

and with her can no treasures compare.

16 In her right hand is long life,

in her left are riches and honour.

17 Her ways are pleasant ways,

and all her paths are peace.

18 She is a tree of life to those who grasp her.

Happy they who hold her fast.

19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth,

by understanding established the heavens.

20 By knowledge he broke up the deeps.

and the clouds he made drip with dew. *************

The Security that comes from Wisdom

21 Observe, my child, discretion and wisdom,

let them never out of your sight;

22 so will they be life to you.

An ornament round your neck.

23 You will then go your way securely.

Without ever striking your foot.

24 You will sit down unafraid,

and your sleep will be sweet where you lie.

25 You will fear no sudden terror,

nor the tempest that falls on the wicked.

26 For the Lord is the ground of your hope.

He will keep your foot from the snare.

27 Withhold from your neighbour no good

Which you have in your power to do them.

28 Do not tell them – when you can afford it – to go

and come back, with the promise of something tomorrow.

29 Devise no mischief against your neighbour,

while they are trustfully living beside you.

30 Do not idly quarrel with anyone

who has not done you any harm.

31 Do not envy the violent,

or choose any one of their ways.

32 For the Lord abhors the crooked,

but the upright are his friends.

33 The Lord’s curse rests on the house of the wicked.

But the home of the righteous he blesses.

34 As for him, he scoffs at scoffers,

but he gives grace to the lowly.

35 Wise men come to honour,

but shame is the portion of fools.