What does Proverbs Chapter 3 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

Opening wording and attribution remain source-grounded. Conditional statements, requests and future assertions retain their distinct times. Closing instructions and edition material remain distinct from added interpretation.

Chapter breakdown

Proverbs 3 heads the practice of virtues. The son is told not to forget law but to keep commands in heart, with future length of days, life and peace. Mercy and truth are bound at neck and written on heart’s tables, bringing grace and good understanding before God and men. Trust the Lord wholeheartedly rather than leaning on own prudence; think on Him in all ways and He will direct steps. Do not be wise in conceit; fear and avoid evil. Health for the navel and moistening for bones are the teaching’s images, not a clinical guarantee.

Honor the Lord with substance and first of all fruits; abundant barns and wine-filled presses are promised. Do not reject correction or faint under chastising: the Lord corrects the loved one as a father the son pleasing him. This does not identify every particular affliction as punishment. Blessed is finding wisdom and rich prudence: its purchase is better than silver merchandise and fruit than purest gold, surpassing riches and desired things. Length of days, riches and glory, beautiful ways and peaceful paths follow; it is a tree of life to holders and blessed retainers.

Wisdom founded earth and prudence established heavens; depths broke out and clouds grow thick with dew. Keep law and counsel before eyes: life to soul and grace to mouth, confident walking without stumbling, and if sleeping, fearless sweet rest. Do not fear sudden fear or wicked power falling; the Lord will be at the side and keep the foot from being taken. These attributed promises are not a new causal medical or financial policy.

Do not withhold an able person from doing good; if able, do good yourself. Do not tell a friend to return tomorrow when you can give now. Do not practice evil against a trusting friend or quarrel without prior harm. Do not envy the unjust man or follow ways. The mocker is abominable to the Lord, whose communication is with the simple; wicked houses lack and just habitations are blessed. He shall scorn scorners and give grace to meek people; wise people shall possess glory and fools’ promotion is disgrace. The instructions retain separate obligations without invented requests, sums or competing duties.

The story inside

Opening: Opening wording and attribution remain source-grounded. Development: Conditional statements, requests and future assertions retain their distinct times. Conclusion: Closing instructions and edition material remain distinct from added interpretation.

Lessons worth keeping

1
Opening wording and attribution remain source-grounded.
2
Conditional statements, requests and future assertions retain their distinct times.
3
Closing instructions and edition material remain distinct from added interpretation.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 67392–67395
3:5. Have confidence in the Lord with all thy heart, and lean not upon thy own prudence. 3:6. In all thy ways think on him, and he will direct thy steps.
Lines 67407–67411
3:11. My son, reject not the correction of the Lord: and do not faint when thou art chastised by him: 3:12. For whom the Lord loveth, he chastiseth: and as a father in the son he pleaseth himself.
Lines 67426–67433
3:18. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold on her: and he that shall retain her is blessed. 3:19. The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth, hath established the heavens by prudence. 3:20. By his wisdom the depths have broken out, and the clouds grow thick with dew.