---
title: Joseph Smith Translation (1867 edition)
description: Proverbs from the Joseph Smith Translation (JST), 1867 edition.
authors:
  - Smith, Joseph, Jr.
collections:
  - joseph-smith
tags:
  - translation
published: "1867"
publisher: RLDS Publication Board
publisher_place: Plano, Illinois
publisher_note: "The title page reads: Published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; Joseph Smith, I. L. Rogers, E. Robinson, Publishing Committee; 1867."
edition: First edition (Plano, 1867)
language: en
type: book
chapter: 3
verse_count: 35
reference: "Joseph Smith Jr., *Joseph Smith Translation*, first edition (Plano, IL: RLDS Publication Board, 1867), Proverbs, chap. 3, https://archive.org/details/holyscripturestr00smituoft."
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/holyscripturestr00smituoft
  identifier: holyscripturestr00smituoft
  scan: University of Toronto / Trinity College Library copy, Internet Archive
  transcription: "OCR text of the 1867 scans (Toronto copy and a second copy, holyscriptures00smit), reconciled word by word; Romans was also checked against the page images. Method, per-chapter validation log and known limits: docs/jst-1867-import.md."
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: 1867 US publication
  source: https://archive.org/details/holyscripturestr00smituoft
  publication_year: 1867
---

# Proverbs 3

*An exhortation to trust in wisdom.*

**1** My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments;
**2** For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
**3** Let not mercy and truth forsake thee; bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart;
**4** So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
**5** Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
**6** In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
**7** Be not wise in thine own eyes; fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
**8** It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
**9** Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase;
**10** So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
**11** My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:
**12** For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
**13** Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding;
**14** For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
**15** She is more precious than rubies; and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
**16** Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
**17** Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
**18** She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her; and happy is every one that retaineth her.
**19** The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth: by understanding hath he established the heavens.
**20** By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
**21** My son, let not them depart from thine eyes; keep sound wisdom and discretion;
**22** So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
**23** Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
**24** When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid; yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
**25** Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
**26** For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
**27** Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
**28** Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to-morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.
**29** Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
**30** Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
**31** Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
**32** For the froward is abomination to the Lord; but his secret is with the righteous.
**33** The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.
**34** Surely he scorneth the scorners; but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
**35** The wise shall inherit glory; but shame shall be the promotion of fools.