Proverbs 3
Proverbs 3 is a father's teaching to his son about trusting God and living wisely. It contains the famous lines trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding, and goes on to praise wisdom as more precious than rubies and a tree of life.
Proverbs 3 (KJV)
Keep my commandments; hold on to mercy and truth v. 1-4
1My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
2For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
3Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
4So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart v. 5-8
5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
Honour the LORD and accept his correction v. 9-12
9Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
10So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
11My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
12For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
Wisdom is better than silver and gold v. 13-20
13Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
14For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
15She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
16Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
17Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
19The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
20By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
Safe steps and sweet sleep v. 21-26
21My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
23Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
24When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
26For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
Do right by your neighbour v. 27-35
27Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
28Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.
29Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
30Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
31Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
32For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.
33The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.
34Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
35The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
What Proverbs 3 means
Proverbs 3 is written as a father speaking to his son. Three times he says My son, and each time he asks the son to remember and keep what he is taught. The promises attached are practical: long life, peace, and favour with God and man.
Verses 5 and 6 are among the most quoted lines in Proverbs. They set two kinds of trust against each other: trusting the LORD with the whole heart, or leaning on our own understanding. The promise is that when we acknowledge him in all our ways, he shall direct our paths. Verse 7 adds the warning that goes with it: do not be wise in your own eyes.
Verses 9 to 12 bring trust down to money and hardship. Honour the LORD with your substance and the first part of your increase. And when life brings correction, do not resent it, because the LORD corrects the one he loves, as a father does his son. Hebrews 12 quotes these verses to encourage believers under trial.
Verses 13 to 20 are a short poem in praise of wisdom, pictured as a woman holding long life in one hand and riches and honour in the other. She is more precious than rubies and a tree of life. The poem ends by noting that God himself founded the earth by wisdom, so wisdom is not just good advice but the way the world was made.
The final section turns to neighbours. Do not hold back good you can give, do not tell someone to come back tomorrow when you have it now, do not plot against or quarrel with someone who has done you no harm, and do not envy the oppressor. The chapter closes with a contrast: God scorns the scorners but giveth grace unto the lowly.
Background and context
Proverbs opens by naming Solomon the son of David, king of Israel (Proverbs 1:1), and chapters 1 to 9 are a series of talks from a father to a son, traditionally attributed to Solomon.
Verse 34 is quoted in the New Testament by both James and Peter, in the form God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Key verses
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.
Proverbs 3:5-6 · KJV
For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
Proverbs 3:12 · KJV
She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
Proverbs 3:15 · KJV
Cross references
- Hebrews 12:5-6 Quotes verses 11-12 to encourage believers who are going through hard times.And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
- James 4:6 Quotes verse 34: God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
- 1 Peter 5:5 Peter quotes the same verse 34 when telling believers to be clothed with humility.Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
- Revelation 3:19 Jesus: as many as I love, I rebuke and chasten, the idea behind verse 12.As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
- Proverbs 8:11 Wisdom is better than rubies, repeating verse 15.For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
- Jeremiah 9:23-24 Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, a parallel to verse 7.Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.
- Malachi 3:10 Bring the tithes and see if God will not pour out a blessing, like verses 9-10.Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
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Common questions
What is the main message of Proverbs 3?
Trust God fully instead of your own judgment, honour him with what you have, accept his correction, value wisdom above wealth, and treat your neighbour fairly.
What does Proverbs 3:5-6 mean?
It asks for whole-hearted trust in God over our own limited understanding, and promises that when we acknowledge him in all our ways, he shall direct thy paths.
Who wrote Proverbs 3?
It is traditionally attributed to Solomon, whom Proverbs 1:1 names at the start of the book.
Is Proverbs 3 quoted in the New Testament?
Yes. Hebrews 12:5-6 quotes verses 11-12, and both James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5 quote verse 34.
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