Focused Passage

Proverbs 3:1-12

Trusting the LORD: Wisdom for the Heart, the Path, and the Neighbor

The chapter moves from internal instruction, to trust in the LORD, to stewardship and discipline, to the supreme value of wisdom, to guarded walking, to public righteousness toward neighbors.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;

2for they will add length to your days, years and peace to your life.

3Never let loving devotion or faithfulness leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

4Then you will find favor and high regard in the sight of God and man.

5Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;

6in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

7Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

8This will bring healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.

9Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your crops;

10then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.

11My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, and do not loathe His rebuke;

12for the LORD disciplines the one He loves, as does a father the son in whom he delights.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

My sonבְּ֭נִיH1121Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singulardo notאַל־H408Adverbforgetתִּשְׁכָּ֑חH7911Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularmy teachingתּוֹרָתִ֣יH8451Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularbut let your heartלִבֶּֽךָ׃H3820Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularkeepיִצֹּ֥רH5341Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularmy commandmentsוּ֝מִצְוֺתַ֗יH4687Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singular
Verse 2

Original words

forכִּ֤יH3588Conjunctionthey will addיוֹסִ֥יפוּH3254Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plurallengthאֹ֣רֶךְH753Noun - masculine singular constructto your daysיָ֭מִיםH3117Noun - masculine pluralyearsוּשְׁנ֣וֹתH8141Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural constructand peaceוְ֝שָׁל֗וֹםH7965Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularto your lifeחַיִּ֑יםH2416Noun - masculine plural
Verse 3

Original words

Neverאַֽל־H408Adverblet loving devotionחֶ֥סֶדH2617Noun - masculine singularor faithfulnessוֶאֱמֶ֗תH571Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singularleave youיַעַ֫זְבֻ֥ךָH5800Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | second person masculine singularbindקָשְׁרֵ֥םH7194Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person masculine pluralthemעַל־H5921Prepositionaround your neckגַּרְגְּרוֹתֶ֑יךָH1621Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine singularwrite themכָּ֝תְבֵ֗םH3789Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person masculine pluralonעַל־H5921Prepositionthe tabletל֥וּחַH3871Noun - masculine singular constructof your heartלִבֶּֽךָ׃H3820Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant.
Verse 4

Original words

Then you will findוּמְצָא־H4672Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularfavorחֵ֖ןH2580Noun - masculine singularand high regardוְשֵֽׂכֶל־H7922Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular. . .ט֑וֹבH2896Adjective - masculine singularin the sightבְּעֵינֵ֖יH5869Preposition-b | Noun - cdcof Godאֱלֹהִ֣יםH430Noun - masculine pluraland manוְאָדָֽם׃פH120Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 5

Original words

Trustבְּטַ֣חH982Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularinאֶל־H413Prepositionthe LORDיְ֭הוָהH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularwith allבְּכָל־H3605Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructyour heartלִבֶּ֑ךָH3820Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularand leanתִּשָּׁעֵֽן׃H8172Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularnotאַל־H408Adverbonוְאֶל־H413Conjunctive waw | Prepositionyour own understandingבִּֽ֝ינָתְךָ֗H998Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Verse 6

Original words

in allבְּכָל־H3605Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructyour waysדְּרָכֶ֥יךָH1870Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singularacknowledge Himדָעֵ֑הוּH3045Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person masculine singularand Heוְ֝ה֗וּאH1931Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singularwill makeיְיַשֵּׁ֥רH3474Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singularyour paths {straight}אֹֽרְחֹתֶֽיךָ׃H734Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular
Verse 7

Original words

Beתְּהִ֣יH1961Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - second person masculine singularnotאַל־H408Adverbwiseחָכָ֣םH2450Adjective - masculine singularin your own eyesבְּעֵינֶ֑יךָH5869Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | second person masculine singularfearיְרָ֥אH3372Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe LORDיְ֝הוָ֗הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularand turn awayוְס֣וּרH5493Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularfrom evilמֵרָֽע׃H7451Preposition-m | Adjective - masculine singular
Verse 8

Original words

This will bringתְּהִ֣יH1961Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - third person feminine singularhealingרִ֭פְאוּתH7500Noun - feminine singularto your bodyלְשָׁרֶּ֑ךָH8270Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularand refreshmentוְ֝שִׁקּ֗וּיH8250Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularto your bonesלְעַצְמוֹתֶֽיךָ׃H6106Preposition-l | Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Hebrew navel
  • Or medicine
Verse 9

Original words

Honorכַּבֵּ֣דH3513Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe LORDיְ֭הוָהH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularwith your wealthמֵהוֹנֶ֑ךָH1952Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularand with the firstfruitsוּ֝מֵרֵאשִׁ֗יתH7225Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular constructof allכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructyour cropsתְּבוּאָתֶֽךָ׃H8393Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Verse 10

Original words

then your barnsאֲסָמֶ֣יךָH618Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularwill be filledוְיִמָּלְא֣וּH4390Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine pluralwith plentyשָׂבָ֑עH7647Noun - masculine singularand your vatsיְקָבֶ֥יךָH3342Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularwill overflowיִפְרֹֽצוּ׃פH6555Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralwith new wineוְ֝תִיר֗וֹשׁH8492Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 11

Original words

My sonבְּנִ֣יH1121Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singulardo notאַל־H408Adverbrejectתִּמְאָ֑סH3988Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularthe disciplineמוּסַ֣רH4148Noun - masculine singular constructof the LORDיְ֭הוָהH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularand do notוְאַל־H408Conjunctive waw | Adverbloatheתָּ֝קֹ֗ץH6973Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - second person masculine singularHis rebukeבְּתוֹכַחְתּֽוֹ׃H8433Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • LXX and do not lose heart when He rebukes; cited in Hebrews 12:5
Verse 12

Original words

forכִּ֤יH3588Conjunction-אֶ֥תH853Direct object markerthe LORDיְהוָ֣הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singulardisciplinesיוֹכִ֑יחַH3198Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singularthe oneאֲשֶׁ֣רH834Pronoun - relativeHe lovesיֶאֱהַ֣בH157Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularas [does] a fatherוּ֝כְאָ֗בH1Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe sonבֵּ֥ןH1121Noun - masculine singular[in whom] he delightsיִרְצֶֽה׃H7521Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • LXX and He flogs every son He receives; cited in Hebrews 12:6

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.