THE LORD WILL BE YOUR CONFIDENCE

Passage: Proverbs 3:11-26

Key verse: 26

NIV

11 My son,(A) do not despise the Lord’s discipline,(B)
    and do not resent his rebuke,
12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves,(C)
    as a father the son he delights in.[a](D)

13 Blessed are those who find wisdom,
    those who gain understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver
    and yields better returns than gold.(E)
15 She is more precious than rubies;(F)
    nothing you desire can compare with her.(G)
16 Long life is in her right hand;(H)
    in her left hand are riches and honor.(I)
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
    and all her paths are peace.(J)
18 She is a tree of life(K) to those who take hold of her;
    those who hold her fast will be blessed.(L)

19 By wisdom(M) the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,(N)
    by understanding he set the heavens(O) in place;
20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
    and the clouds let drop the dew.

21 My son,(P) do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,(Q)
    preserve sound judgment and discretion;
22 they will be life for you,(R)
    an ornament to grace your neck.(S)
23 Then you will go on your way in safety,(T)
    and your foot will not stumble.(U)
24 When you lie down,(V) you will not be afraid;(W)
    when you lie down, your sleep(X) will be sweet.
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster
    or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the Lord will be at your side(Y)
    and will keep your foot(Z) from being snared.(AA)

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Footnotes
  1. Proverbs 3:12 Hebrew; Septuagint loves, / and he chastens everyone he accepts as his child
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

11 (A)My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline
    or be weary of his reproof,
12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,
    as (B)a father the son in whom he delights.

Blessed Is the One Who Finds Wisdom

13 (C)Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
    and the one who gets understanding,
14 (D)for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
    and her profit better than (E)gold.
15 She is more precious than (F)jewels,
    and (G)nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 (H)Long life is in her right hand;
    in her left hand are (I)riches and honor.
17 Her (J)ways are ways of pleasantness,
    and all her paths are peace.
18 She is (K)a tree of life to those who (L)lay hold of her;
    those who hold her fast are called blessed.

19 (M)The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
    by understanding (N)he established the heavens;
20 by his knowledge (O)the deeps broke open,
    and (P)the clouds drop down the dew.

21 My son, (Q)do not lose sight of these—
    keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 and they will be (R)life for your soul
    and (S)adornment for your neck.
23 (T)Then you will walk on your way securely,
    (U)and your foot will not stumble.
24 (V)If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
    when you lie down, (W)your sleep will be sweet.
25 (X)Do not be afraid of sudden terror
    or of (Y)the ruin[a] of the wicked, when it comes,
26 for the Lord will be your confidence
    and will (Z)keep your foot from being caught.

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Footnotes
  1. Proverbs 3:25 Hebrew storm
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. The Lord disciplines those he loves (11-12) We should not despise the Lord's discipline because he trains those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. God loved Israel and saved her from the bondage of Egypt. However, he gave the new generation 4 years of wilderness training (Deut 8:5). Hardships and troubles are sometimes God's best expression of his love for us. He disciplines us for our good (Heb 12:9). 2. The value of wisdom (13-26) Wisdom is better than gold. Wisdom gives long life, riches, honor, peace and life. By wisdom God created the heavens, the earth, the clouds and the dews. To have wisdom means to have Jesus in our hearts. With Immanuel Jesus we have no fear of sudden disaster, for the Lord will be our confidence. He will keep our foot from harms.

Prayer: Lord, let me have Jesus, the source of wisdom through God's discipline and rebuke. Lord, be my confidence.

One Word: Have Jesus by faith!