Proverbs 3 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Proverbs 3

Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart

3:1   My son, do not forget my teaching,
    but let your heart keep my commandments,
2   for length of days and years of life
    and peace they will add to you.
3   Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
    bind them around your neck;
    write them on the tablet of your heart.
4   So you will find favor and good success¹
    in the sight of God and man.
5   Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
    and do not lean on your own understanding.
6   In all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make straight your paths.
7   Be not wise in your own eyes;
    fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
8   It will be healing to your flesh²
    and refreshment³ to your bones.
9   Honor the LORD with your wealth
    and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
10   then your barns will be filled with plenty,
    and your vats will be bursting with wine.
11   My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline
    or be weary of his reproof,
12   for the LORD reproves him whom he loves,
    as a father the son in whom he delights.

Blessed Is the One Who Finds Wisdom

13   Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
    and the one who gets understanding,
14   for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
    and her profit better than gold.
15   She is more precious than jewels,
    and nothing you desire can compare with her.
16   Long life is in her right hand;
    in her left hand are riches and honor.
17   Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
    and all her paths are peace.
18   She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
    those who hold her fast are called blessed.
19   The LORD by wisdom founded the earth;
    by understanding he established the heavens;
20   by his knowledge the deeps broke open,
    and the clouds drop down the dew.
21   My son, do not lose sight of these—
    keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22   and they will be life for your soul
    and adornment for your neck.
23   Then you will walk on your way securely,
    and your foot will not stumble.
24   If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
    when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25   Do not be afraid of sudden terror
    or of the ruin⁴ of the wicked, when it comes,
26   for the LORD will be your confidence
    and will keep your foot from being caught.
27   Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,⁵
    when it is in your power to do it.
28   Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,
    tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.
29   Do not plan evil against your neighbor,
    who dwells trustingly beside you.
30   Do not contend with a man for no reason,
    when he has done you no harm.
31   Do not envy a man of violence
    and do not choose any of his ways,
32   for the devious person is an abomination to the LORD,
    but the upright are in his confidence.
33   The LORD’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
    but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
34   Toward the scorners he is scornful,
    but to the humble he gives favor.⁶
35   The wise will inherit honor,
    but fools get⁷ disgrace.

Footnotes

[1] 3:4 Or repute
[2] 3:8 Hebrew navel
[3] 3:8 Or medicine
[4] 3:25 Hebrew storm
[5] 3:27 Hebrew Do not withhold good from its owners
[6] 3:34 Or grace
[7] 3:35 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain

Commentary

v1-12: Matters of guidance; in each pair of verses, promise follows command.

v1-2: Obedience to God's commands brings a long life of peace; a long life of suffering is not promised.

v3-4: Seek love and faithfulness, set your heart upon them, thereby rejecting the ways of the world. This brings favour and respect. Fulfilled in Christ, Luke 2.52.

v5-6: Trust on God, acknowledge God (i.e: get to know Him intimately), consciously submitting to Him in all things. There are three commands here, each indicating that God knows best. We recognise that our own understand is weak.

The result is that He will direct our paths, or lead us in straight paths of righteousness, Ps 37.23,31,37.

v7-8: Avoid dependence on self, for our wisdom is from God. Fear the Lord, reject evil. The result is health and strength.

v9-10: Give God proper place; He must come first, and we receive sufficient provision, and an overflowing abundance. See 2 Cor 9.6-8, where we are commanded to give generously.

v11-12: Accept the chastening of the Lord; this is part of our experience of God, and a sign of God's love for us.

v13-18: Wisdom personified; fulfilled in Christ, see also 4.1-13; 8.1-36.

v13: True happiness comes from knowing God.

v14-15: The value of wisdom is above material things. Although the writer has indicated material blessings (v2,10), his priority is for spiritual things.

v16-18: A wealth of good things is stirred up for us; we discover that it is really worth knowing God.

v19-20: Wisdom, understanding, knowledge; characteristics of God, and these are things that we can and must seek. God's influence spreads on the earth as His influence grows in our lives.

v21-26: Enjoying divine wisdom; as we seek and find God's wisdom, and life by it, there is blessing in our lives. There is abundant life, grace and safety; we are delivered from stumbling and fear and sudden terror. The Lord is our confidence, for He is faithful.

Notice that the destiny of the believer is different from the destiny of the unbeliever.

v27-35: Wisdom is godliness. Lest any should think that the writer is promoting some secret 'mystery,' he makes it clear that God's wisdom is godliness (God-likeness).

v27-28: Practical kindness, bringing blessing to others. Personal inconvenience is no reason not to act.

v29-30: Do not deceive, nor abuse a trust.

v31-35: The righteous departs from evil; he should not envy the wicked.

Only the righteous know the secret counsel of the Lord, see Gen 18.17-18.