BOOK 20 OF 66 · WISDOM & POETRY · KING JAMES BIBLE

Proverbs 3

Proverbs book home•Chapter 3 of 31•35 verses

Chapter overviewAt a glance + deeper study

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Proverbs 3 Overview

The father joins mercy, truth, trust, generosity, correction, and wisdom; he warns against self-wisdom and envy and praises wisdom as more valuable than riches.

ProverbsBook

3Chapter

35Verses

PoetryDivision

Before you read Proverbs 3

Coming from

Proverbs 2 emphasized seek wisdom as treasure because it protects the path. Because many proverbs are individual sayings rather than a continuous argument, the chapter-to-chapter connection is thematic rather than narrative.

In this chapter

The father joins mercy, truth, trust, generosity, correction, and wisdom; he warns against self-wisdom and envy and praises wisdom as more valuable than riches.

Leads into

Proverbs 4 turns to guard the heart and stay on wisdom's straight path, expanding wisdom into another set of choices, contrasts, and observations.

Key understandingExplore deeper

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart” does not forbid thinking; it rejects autonomous confidence that refuses God's revealed direction. Proverbs uses compact wisdom sayings to train judgment. Its normal patterns describe how God’s moral order ordinarily works; they are not mechanical guarantees that remove human freedom, suffering, or providence.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Central truth

Trust the LORD rather than your own understanding.

Wisdom truth

In Proverbs 3, wisdom is moral skill under the fear of the LORD, not merely intelligence or practical cleverness.

Discipline truth

In Proverbs 3, correction is a necessary part of growing in wisdom, but biblical discipline is never a license for cruelty or abuse.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Hebrews 12:5-6

Hebrews directly quotes Proverbs 3:11-12 in explaining the Lord’s loving chastening of His children.

Wisdom connection

James 1:5 says those who lack wisdom should ask God, who gives generously. This connection helps frame Proverbs 3.

Discipline connection

Ephesians 6:4 warns fathers not to provoke children to wrath while bringing them up in the Lord’s nurture and admonition. This connection helps frame Proverbs 3.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep wisdom in context

Do not read Proverbs 3 as a set of magic formulas. Proverbs trains wise judgment in the ordinary moral order God established.

Keep discipline in context

Discipline in Proverbs 3 is meant to form wisdom and character; it does not justify rage, humiliation, cruelty, or physical abuse.

Read Proverbs 3 watching for…

trust LORD.

acknowledge him.

honour with substance.

despise not chastening.

tree of life wisdom.

Chapter outline5 sections

1-6Trust in the LORD with all the heart and acknowledge him in every way 7-12Fear the LORD, honor him, and receive his correction as a father’s love 13-20Wisdom is more valuable than riches and was present in God’s ordering of creation 21-26Keep sound wisdom, and the LORD will give safety and confidence 27-35Do good when able, avoid needless strife, and do not envy the oppressor

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.

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.

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.

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Proverbs 3:13

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