Proverbs 3 is the third chapter of the Book of Proverbs in the Hebrew Bible, or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. The book is a compilation of several wisdom literature collections, with the heading in 1:1 may be intended to regard Solomon as the traditional author of the whole book, but the dates of the individual collections are difficult to determine. The book probably obtained its final shape in the post-exilic period. This chapter is a part of the first collection of the book.
The following table shows the Hebrew text of Proverbs 3 with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).
Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Biblical Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text, which includes the Aleppo Codex (10th century), and Codex Leningradensis (1008).
There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B; <sup>B</sup>; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK: <sup>S</sup>; 4th century), and Codex Alexandrinus (A; <sup>A</sup>; 5th century).
This chapter belongs to a section regarded as the first collection in the book of Proverbs (comprising Proverbs 1âÂÂ9), known as "Didactic discourses". The Jerusalem Bible describes chapters 1âÂÂ9 as a prologue of the chapters 10âÂÂ22:16, the so-called "[actual] proverbs of Solomon", as "the body of the book". The chapter has the following structure:
This passage stands out among the instructions in the first collection (chapters 1âÂÂ9), because of its spiritual content that may be seen as a development to the motto of the whole book in Proverbs 1:7âÂÂ9, that "Wisdom consists in complete trust in and submission to God". It is related to 'loyalty and faithfulness', which can refer to (and may be intended about both) relationships between human and God (cf. Jeremiah 2:2 and Hosea 6:4) or human to human (cf. Psalm 109:16; Hosea 4:1; Micah 6:8), and are to be 'worn as an adornment around the neck' (cf. Proverbs 1:9 and Deuteronomy 6:8, 11:18) as well as 'written on the heart' (cf. Jeremiah 31:33). As the kernel of the instructions in this chapter, 'trust in God' is contrasted in verses 5 and 6 with self-reliance, saying that the best action is the complete commitment and submission to God ('all your ways'). The analogy of medicinal healing benefits of wisdom (verse 8) recurs in Proverbs 15:30, 16:24, and 17:22; although sometimes tastes bitter (suffering adversity), it is a divine chastisement and a proof of God's fatherly love (cf. Job 5:17âÂÂ18; 33:14âÂÂ30; for Christians: Hebrews 12:5âÂÂ6).
Verses 13âÂÂ18 form a hymnic celebration of the 'happiness' in finding wisdom, as if possessing a vastly valuable asset, unfailingly pays a higher dividend than silver or gold (verse 14), and beyond comparison is a rare and priceless treasure (verse 15), providing a good quality of long life, riches, and honor (verse 16) and leading to pleasant and peaceful paths (verse 17), metaphorically like 'the tree of life' in the garden of Eden (; Genesis 2âÂÂ3 as the vital source for nourishing growth and promoting fullness of life (cf. Proverbs 11:30; 13:12; 15:4). By Wisdom the world was created and is sustained (; cf. ), as Wisdom can 'fructify' life. Those who hold fast to Wisdom and trust in God (verses 21âÂÂ26; cf. verses 5âÂÂ8) will have secure and tranquil lives. The application is by inculcating kindness and neighbourliness, while avoiding malicious actions and unnecessary confrontations (verses 27âÂÂ30. Verses 31âÂÂ35 warn against envying evil men and imitating their ways, because God's judgement ('curse', cf. Deuteronomy 27:15âÂÂ26) remains on their house, that they are unable to enjoy the divine blessing as the upright persons, and will be utterly disgraced.
The milkshake cups' bottom of In-N-Out Burger has the text "PROVERBS 3:5", which refers to the 5th verse of this chapter.