PROVERBS 3:1-35

Verses 1, 2: Do not forget the law of God. Let your heart keep His commandments, for the length of days and long life and peace will they add to you.

Verses 3, 4: Do not let mercy and truth forsake you, bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so you will find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

Verses 5, 6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.

Verses 7, 8: Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your body and strength to your bones.

Verses 9, 10: Honor the Lord with your substance, and with the first fruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your presses will burst out with new wine.

Verses 11, 12: Do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be weary of His correction. For whom the Lord loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom He delights.

TRUST AND HONOR GOD (3:1-12)

Verses 13-14: Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gets understanding. For the benefits of wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her gain than fine gold.

Verses 15-18: Wisdom is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire are not to be compared with her. Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand, riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy is everyone who retains her.

Verses 19-20: The Lord by wisdom has founded the earth, and by understanding He has established the heavens. By His knowledge, the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

CONSIDER THE VALUE OF WISDOM (3:13-20)

Verses 21-24: Let kindness and generosity not depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion; so they will be life to your soul and grace to your neck. Then you will walk safely in your way, and your foot will not stumble, and when you lie down, you will not be afraid; yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.

Verses 25-26: Do not be afraid of sudden terror, nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; for the Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught.

Verse 27: Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.

Verse 28: Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give it,” when you have it with you.

Verse 29: Do not devise evil against your neighbor, seeing he dwells securely by you.

Verse 30: Do not strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.

Verses 31, 32: Do not envy the oppressor, and choose none of his ways, for the perverse is an abomination to the Lord, but His secret counsel is with the righteous.

Verse 33: The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the habitation of the just.

Verse 34: Surely He scorns the scornful, but He gives favor to the humble.

Verse 35: The wise will inherit glory, but shame will be the legacy of fools.

BE KIND AND GENEROUS TO OTHERS (3:21-35)