Aussie Bible logo Aussie BibleFair Dinkum Edition

Proverbs 3

My son, don't forget my law; let your heart keep my commandments. They'll add length of days, long life and peace to you. Don't let mercy and truth leave you. Bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you'll find favour and good understanding in God's eyes and man.

Now reading: Fair DinkumRead:

You’re in Study Mode. Each verse can show the Fair Dinkum, Plain English and King James Version (1611) together. Use the buttons above to show or hide any version.

Trust in the Lord

My son, don't forget my law; let your heart keep my commandments. They'll add length of days, long life and peace to you. Don't let mercy and truth leave you. Bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you'll find favour and good understanding in God's eyes and man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and don't lean on your own understanding. Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will direct your paths. Don't be wise in your own eyes. Fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your body and marrow to your bones. Honour the LORD with your substance and with the firstfruits of all your increase. Then your barns will be filled with abundance, and your presses will burst with new wine. My son, don't despise the LORD's correction, and don't grow weary when he rebukes you. For the LORD corrects the one he loves, just as a father corrects the son he delights in.

My son, don't forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my orders. Because they'll add length of days and long life and peace to you. Don't let mercy and truth leave you. Tie them round your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart. So you'll find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths. Don't be wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It'll be health to your body and marrow to your bones. Honour the Lord with what you've got, and with the firstfruits of all you grow. So your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will burst out with new wine. My son, don't sneer at the correction of the Lord, and don't be worn out by his telling-off. Because the Lord sets straight the one he loves, like a father does the son he takes delight in.

My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

1

My son, don't forget my law; let your heart keep my commandments.

Plain English

My son, don't forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my orders.

King James Version, 1611

My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

2

They'll add length of days, long life and peace to you.

Plain English

Because they'll add length of days and long life and peace to you.

King James Version, 1611

For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

3

Don't let mercy and truth leave you. Bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.

Plain English

Don't let mercy and truth leave you. Tie them round your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.

King James Version, 1611

Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

4

Then you'll find favour and good understanding in God's eyes and man.

Plain English

So you'll find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

King James Version, 1611

So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

5

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and don't lean on your own understanding.

Plain English

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.

King James Version, 1611

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6

Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will direct your paths.

Plain English

In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.

King James Version, 1611

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

7

Don't be wise in your own eyes. Fear the LORD and depart from evil.

Plain English

Don't be wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

King James Version, 1611

Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

8

It will be health to your body and marrow to your bones.

Plain English

It'll be health to your body and marrow to your bones.

King James Version, 1611

It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

9

Honour the LORD with your substance and with the firstfruits of all your increase.

Plain English

Honour the Lord with what you've got, and with the firstfruits of all you grow.

King James Version, 1611

Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

10

Then your barns will be filled with abundance, and your presses will burst with new wine.

Plain English

So your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will burst out with new wine.

King James Version, 1611

So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

11

My son, don't despise the LORD's correction, and don't grow weary when he rebukes you.

Plain English

My son, don't sneer at the correction of the Lord, and don't be worn out by his telling-off.

King James Version, 1611

My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:

12

For the LORD corrects the one he loves, just as a father corrects the son he delights in.

Plain English

Because the Lord sets straight the one he loves, like a father does the son he takes delight in.

King James Version, 1611

For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Happy is the man who finds wisdom

Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding. What wisdom returns is better than silver, and what she gains is better than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Length of days is in her right hand; riches and honour are in her left. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and blessed are those who keep hold of her. The LORD founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding. By his knowledge the depths were broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew. My son, don't let these things out of your sight. Keep sound wisdom and discretion. They will be life to your soul and grace around your neck. Then you'll walk safely on your way, and your foot won't stumble. When you lie down, you won't be afraid. You'll lie down, and your sleep will be sweet. Don't be afraid of sudden terror or of the destruction of the wicked when it comes. The LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.

Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gets understanding. Because what she brings in is better than what silver brings in, and what she gains is better than fine gold. She's worth more than rubies, and nothing you could want can be compared to her. Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She's a tree of life to the ones who take hold of her, and happy is everyone who holds onto her. The Lord founded the earth by wisdom. He set up the heavens by understanding. By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew. My son, don't let them go from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and good thinking. So they'll be life to your soul and grace to your neck. Then you'll walk in your way safely, and your foot won't stumble. When you lie down, you won't be frightened. Yes, you'll lie down and your sleep will be sweet. Don't be frightened of sudden fear, or of the wasting of the wicked when it comes. Because the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.

Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her. The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew. My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

13

Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding.

Plain English

Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gets understanding.

King James Version, 1611

Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

14

What wisdom returns is better than silver, and what she gains is better than fine gold.

Plain English

Because what she brings in is better than what silver brings in, and what she gains is better than fine gold.

King James Version, 1611

For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

15

She is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.

Plain English

She's worth more than rubies, and nothing you could want can be compared to her.

King James Version, 1611

She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

16

Length of days is in her right hand; riches and honour are in her left.

Plain English

Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and honour.

King James Version, 1611

Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

17

Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.

Plain English

Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

King James Version, 1611

Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

18

She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and blessed are those who keep hold of her.

Plain English

She's a tree of life to the ones who take hold of her, and happy is everyone who holds onto her.

King James Version, 1611

She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

19

The LORD founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding.

Plain English

The Lord founded the earth by wisdom. He set up the heavens by understanding.

King James Version, 1611

The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

20

By his knowledge the depths were broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

Plain English

By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

King James Version, 1611

By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

21

My son, don't let these things out of your sight. Keep sound wisdom and discretion.

Plain English

My son, don't let them go from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and good thinking.

King James Version, 1611

My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:

22

They will be life to your soul and grace around your neck.

Plain English

So they'll be life to your soul and grace to your neck.

King James Version, 1611

So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

23

Then you'll walk safely on your way, and your foot won't stumble.

Plain English

Then you'll walk in your way safely, and your foot won't stumble.

King James Version, 1611

Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.

24

When you lie down, you won't be afraid. You'll lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.

Plain English

When you lie down, you won't be frightened. Yes, you'll lie down and your sleep will be sweet.

King James Version, 1611

When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

25

Don't be afraid of sudden terror or of the destruction of the wicked when it comes.

Plain English

Don't be frightened of sudden fear, or of the wasting of the wicked when it comes.

King James Version, 1611

Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.

26

The LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.

Plain English

Because the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.

King James Version, 1611

For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

Don't hold back good

Don't withhold good from those to whom it is due when it's in your power to give it. Don't tell your neighbour, ‘Go away and come back tomorrow; I'll give it then,’ when you have it with you now. Don't plot harm against your neighbour when he lives beside you in trust. Don't pick a fight with someone for no reason when he hasn't harmed you. Don't envy a violent man, and don't choose any of his ways. For the perverse are disgusting to the LORD, but he shares his counsel with the righteous. The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous. Surely he scorns the scorners, but gives grace to the humble. The wise will inherit glory, but fools will be lifted up only to shame.

Don't hold back good from the ones it's owed to, when it's in the power of your hand to do it. Don't say to your neighbour: Go, and come back, and tomorrow I'll give — when you've got it by you. Don't plan evil against your neighbour, seeing he lives safely beside you. Don't argue with a man for no reason, if he hasn't done you any harm. Don't be jealous of the man who does violence, and don't choose any of his ways. Because the twisted man is disgusting to the Lord. But his secret is with the righteous. The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous. He mocks the mockers for sure, but he gives grace to the humble. The wise will inherit glory, but shame will be what fools are lifted up with.

Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee. Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee. Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm. Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous. The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just. Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly. The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

27

Don't withhold good from those to whom it is due when it's in your power to give it.

Plain English

Don't hold back good from the ones it's owed to, when it's in the power of your hand to do it.

King James Version, 1611

Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

28

Don't tell your neighbour, ‘Go away and come back tomorrow; I'll give it then,’ when you have it with you now.

Plain English

Don't say to your neighbour: Go, and come back, and tomorrow I'll give — when you've got it by you.

King James Version, 1611

Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.

29

Don't plot harm against your neighbour when he lives beside you in trust.

Plain English

Don't plan evil against your neighbour, seeing he lives safely beside you.

King James Version, 1611

Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.

30

Don't pick a fight with someone for no reason when he hasn't harmed you.

Plain English

Don't argue with a man for no reason, if he hasn't done you any harm.

King James Version, 1611

Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

31

Don't envy a violent man, and don't choose any of his ways.

Plain English

Don't be jealous of the man who does violence, and don't choose any of his ways.

King James Version, 1611

Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.

32

For the perverse are disgusting to the LORD, but he shares his counsel with the righteous.

Plain English

Because the twisted man is disgusting to the Lord. But his secret is with the righteous.

King James Version, 1611

For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.

33

The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous.

Plain English

The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous.

King James Version, 1611

The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.

34

Surely he scorns the scorners, but gives grace to the humble.

Plain English

He mocks the mockers for sure, but he gives grace to the humble.

King James Version, 1611

Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.

35

The wise will inherit glory, but fools will be lifted up only to shame.

Plain English

The wise will inherit glory, but shame will be what fools are lifted up with.

King James Version, 1611

The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.