Proverbs 3 Clementine Vulgate
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 [Fili mi, ne obliviscaris legis meæ, et præcepta mea cor tuum custodiat:
1 My son, don’t forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,
2 longitudinem enim dierum, et annos vitæ, et pacem, apponent tibi.
2 for they will add to you length of days, years of life, and peace.
3 Misericordia et veritas te non deserant; circumda eas gutturi tuo, et describe in tabulis cordis tui:
3 Don’t let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 et invenies gratiam, et disciplinam bonam, coram Deo et hominibus.
4 So you will find favor, and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5 Habe fiduciam in Domino ex toto corde tuo, et ne innitaris prudentiæ tuæ.
5 Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding.
6 In omnibus viis tuis cogita illum, et ipse diriget gressus tuos.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
7 Ne sis sapiens apud temetipsum; time Deum, et recede a malo:
7 Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Fear Yahweh, and depart from evil.
8 sanitas quippe erit umbilico tuo, et irrigatio ossium tuorum.
8 It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.
9 Honora Dominum de tua substantia, et de primitiis omnium frugum tuarum da ei:
9 Honor Yahweh with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase;
10 et implebuntur horrea tua saturitate, et vino torcularia tua redundabunt.]
10 so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 [Disciplinam Domini, fili mi, ne abjicias, nec deficias cum ab eo corriperis:
11 My son, don’t despise Yahweh’s discipline, neither be weary of his correction;
12 quem enim diligit Dominus, corripit, et quasi pater in filio complacet sibi.
12 for whom Yahweh loves, he corrects, even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.
13 Beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam, et qui affluit prudentia.
13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding.
14 Melior est acquisitio ejus negotiatione argenti, et auri primi et purissimi fructus ejus.
14 For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold.
15 Pretiosior est cunctis opibus, et omnia quæ desiderantur huic non valent comparari.
15 She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her.
16 Longitudo dierum in dextera ejus, et in sinistra illius divitiæ et gloria.
16 Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Viæ ejus viæ pulchræ, et omnes semitæ illius pacificæ.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace.
18 Lignum vitæ est his qui apprehenderint eam, et qui tenuerit eam beatus.
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her.
19 Dominus sapientia fundavit terram; stabilivit cælos prudentia.
19 By wisdom Yahweh founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens.
20 Sapientia illius eruperunt abyssi, et nubes rore concrescunt.]
20 By his knowledge, the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.
21 [Fili mi, ne effluant hæc ab oculis tuis. Custodi legem atque consilium,
21 My son, let them not depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 et erit vita animæ tuæ, et gratia faucibus tuis.
22 so they will be life to your soul, and grace for your neck.
23 Tunc ambulabis fiducialiter in via tua, et pes tuus non impinget.
23 Then you shall walk in your way securely. Your foot won’t stumble.
24 Si dormieris, non timebis; quiesces, et suavis erit somnus tuus.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.
25 Ne paveas repentino terrore, et irruentes tibi potentias impiorum.
25 Don’t be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes;
26 Dominus enim erit in latere tuo, et custodiet pedem tuum, ne capiaris.]
26 for Yahweh will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being taken.
27 [Noli prohibere benefacere eum qui potest: si vales, et ipse benefac.
27 Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
28 Ne dicas amico tuo: Vade, et revertere: cras dabo tibi: cum statim possis dare.
28 Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you,” when you have it by you.
29 Ne moliaris amico tuo malum, cum ille in te habeat fiduciam.
29 Don’t devise evil against your neighbor, since he dwells securely by you.
30 Ne contendas adversus hominem frustra, cum ipse tibi nihil mali fecerit.
30 Don’t strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.
31 Ne æmuleris hominem injustum, nec imiteris vias ejus:
31 Don’t envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways.
32 quia abominatio Domini est omnis illusor, et cum simplicibus sermocinatio ejus.
32 For the perverse is an abomination to Yahweh, but his friendship is with the upright.
33 Egestas a Domino in domo impii; habitacula autem justorum benedicentur.
33 Yahweh’s curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.
34 Ipse deludet illusores, et mansuetis dabit gratiam.
34 Surely he mocks the mockers, but he gives grace to the humble.
35 Gloriam sapientes possidebunt; stultorum exaltatio ignominia.]
35 The wise will inherit glory, but shame will be the promotion of fools.
Cross references (35)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 John 14:21–24; Proverbs 4:5; Deuteronomy 6:6–9; Psalm 119:16; Proverbs 1:8
- 2 Ephesians 6:1–3; Proverbs 4:10; Psalm 91:16; Psalm 128:6; Romans 15:13
- 3 Proverbs 7:3; 2 Corinthians 3:3; Hebrews 10:16; Deuteronomy 11:18–21; Malachi 2:6
- 4 Luke 2:52; 1 Samuel 2:26; Romans 14:18; Psalm 111:10; Genesis 39:2–4
- 5 Psalm 37:5; Jeremiah 17:7–8; Proverbs 28:26; Psalm 37:3; Psalm 62:8
- 6 Proverbs 16:3; Psalm 32:8; Philippians 4:6; Proverbs 16:9; Jeremiah 10:23
- 7 Job 28:28; Romans 12:16; Proverbs 26:12; Proverbs 16:6; Job 1:1
- 8 Proverbs 4:22; Psalm 147:3; Proverbs 16:24; Job 21:24; Ezekiel 16:4–5
- 9 Deuteronomy 26:2–15; 1 Corinthians 16:2; Proverbs 14:31; Exodus 23:19; Philippians 4:17–18
- 10 Proverbs 19:17; Deuteronomy 28:8; Proverbs 11:24–25; Joel 2:24; Proverbs 22:9
- 11 Job 5:17; Revelation 3:19; Hebrews 12:5–12; Psalm 94:12; Isaiah 40:30–31
- 12 Deuteronomy 8:5; Revelation 3:19; Proverbs 29:17; Proverbs 13:24; Psalm 103:13
- 13 Proverbs 8:32–35; Proverbs 4:5–9; Ecclesiastes 9:15–18; Proverbs 2:4; 1 Kings 10:1–9
- 14 Proverbs 8:10–11; Proverbs 16:16; Proverbs 8:19; Job 28:13–19; Revelation 3:18
- 15 Proverbs 8:11; Proverbs 31:10; Job 28:18; Romans 8:18; Psalm 73:25–26
- 16 Proverbs 3:2; 2 Corinthians 6:10; Proverbs 22:4; 1 Kings 3:13; 1 Timothy 4:8
- 17 Luke 1:79; Isaiah 26:3; Philippians 4:8–9; Proverbs 2:10; Psalm 119:165
- 18 Proverbs 11:30; Proverbs 15:4; Revelation 2:7; Genesis 2:9; Proverbs 13:12
- 19 Psalm 104:24; Jeremiah 10:12; John 1:3; Jeremiah 51:15; Psalm 136:5
- 20 Genesis 7:11; Psalm 65:9–12; Job 36:27–28; Genesis 1:9; Genesis 27:28
- 21 Joshua 1:8; Deuteronomy 6:6–9; Deuteronomy 32:46–47; Proverbs 4:21; Hebrews 2:1–3
- 22 Proverbs 4:22; Proverbs 1:9; Isaiah 38:16; John 12:49–50
- 23 Proverbs 4:12; Proverbs 10:9; Psalm 121:3; Psalm 91:11–12; Psalm 37:31
- 24 Psalm 4:8; Psalm 3:5; Proverbs 6:22; Job 11:19; Psalm 121:4–7
- 25 Isaiah 41:10–14; Psalm 112:7; 1 Peter 3:14; Psalm 91:5; Isaiah 8:12–13
- 26 Psalm 91:3; Proverbs 14:26; 1 Samuel 2:9; Psalm 91:9–10; Habakkuk 3:17–18
- 27 Galatians 6:10; James 2:15–16; Romans 13:7; James 5:4; Genesis 31:29
- 28 Leviticus 19:13; Deuteronomy 24:12–15; 2 Corinthians 8:11; Ecclesiastes 9:10; Ecclesiastes 11:6
- 29 Proverbs 6:14; Psalm 55:20; Micah 2:1–2; Proverbs 16:29–30; Psalm 59:3
- 30 2 Timothy 2:24; Proverbs 29:22; Romans 12:18–21; Proverbs 25:8–9; Proverbs 18:6
- 31 Proverbs 24:1; Psalm 37:1; Galatians 5:21; Ecclesiastes 5:8; Proverbs 23:17
- 32 Psalm 25:14; Proverbs 11:20; John 15:15; Proverbs 17:15; Proverbs 8:13
- 33 Psalm 37:22; Leviticus 26:14–46; Psalm 91:10; Job 8:6–7; Malachi 2:2
- 34 James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5; Psalm 138:6; Proverbs 9:12; Isaiah 57:15
- 35 Psalm 132:18; Isaiah 65:13–15; 1 Samuel 2:30; Daniel 12:2–3; Psalm 73:24
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
"For God," saith [the Scripture], "resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble." Let us cleave, then, to those to whom grace has been given by God.
By His knowledge the depths burst forth, and the clouds dropped down the dew." And again: "The Lord created me the beginning of His ways in His work: He set me up from everlasting, in the beginning, before He made the earth, before He established the depths, and before the fountains of waters gushed forth; before the mountains were made …
For Thou hast said unto man, "Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom;" and desire not to seem wise, because, "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools." But I had now found the goodly pearl, which, selling all that I had, I ought to have bought; and I hesitated.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
For thus saith the holy Word: "The Lord hath severely chastened me, yet hath not given me over to death." "For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth." "The righteous," saith it, "shall chasten me in mercy, and reprove me; but let not the oil of sinners make fat my head." And again he …
So that the tree of life would seem to have been in the terrestrial Paradise what the wisdom of God is in the spiritual, of which it is written, "She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her."
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)