Preface:

David continues teaching his son in Proverbs 3. This chapter tells us that it is good for a young person to listen to the teaching of the Word of God; and that he will have a longer life and a happier life for doing so. At the end of this chapter, David will tell Solomon what to do while in a crisis. This chapter could be summed up as the application of wisdom of life and its many benefits; contrasted with the lives of those who reject the wisdom of God.

This should be the most extensive examination of Proverbs 3 available, where you will be able to examine in depth every word of the original text.

Outline of Chapter 3:

Preface

Introduction

         vv.     1–10         Discourse 5a: The Importance of Wisdom and the Benefits of Wisdom

         vv.    11–12         Discourse 5b: God’s Discipline for the Wrong Choices

         vv.    13–18         Discourse 6a: The Value of Wisdom

         vv.    19–20         Discourse 6b: God’s Application of Wisdom

         vv.    21–26         Discourse 7a: Wisdom and Your Peace of Mind

         vv.    27–30         Discourse 7b: The Application of Wisdom to Interaction with Your Neighbor

         vv.    31–35         Discourse 7c: The Benefits of Wisdom (God Blesses the Believer who has Wisdom)

Addendum

Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines:

         Preface               Quotations

         Preface               Proverbs 3:5–6 (a graphic)

         Introduction         The Principals of Proverbs 3

         Introduction         The Prequel of Proverbs 3

         Introduction         Mark A. Copeland Summarizes Provers 2 and 3

         Introduction         The NET Bible: A Synopsis of Proverbs 3

         Introduction         Peter Pett Summarizes Proverbs 3

         Introduction         Matthew Henry Outlines Proverbs 3

         v.       1              The New American Bible on Proverbs 3:1–12

         v.       2              Suicide and Gay Teens

         v.       2              The Importance of Bible Doctrine (from Bible Doctrine Resources)

         v.       3              Proverbs 3:3 (a graphic)

         v.       3              Operation Z (graphic)

         v.       5              Proverbs 3:5–6 (another graphic)

         v.       5              Proverbs 3:5–6 (the Message translation; graphic)

         v.       5              Trust in the Lord

         v.       5              Human Viewpoint Thinking versus Divine Viewpoint Thinking

         v.       5              Proverbs 3:5 (a graphic)

         v.       6              Dean on Trusting in the Lord

         v.       6              Proverbs 3:5–6 (graphic)

         v.       6              The Pulpit Commentary on Divine Guidance

         v.       6              Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae on, Our confidence in God

         v.       7              Being Wise in Your Own Estimation

         v.       7              Definition of Fear of the Lord

         v.       8              Health and Bible Doctrine

         v.      10              Giving in the Old Testament

         v.      10              The Doctrine of Giving (from Bible Doctrine Resource)

         v.      10              Links to Doctrines of Giving

         v.      10              Our Property and God, from the Pulpit Commentary

         v.      10              Proverbs 3:9–10 (a graphic)

         v.      10              The Spiritual Life: Summarizing Proverbs 3:5–10

         v.      10              Proverbs 3:1–10—Exhortations and Results

         v.      12              Proverbs 3:12 (a graphic)

         v.      12              The American English Bible on Spanking

         v.      12              Explaining Hebrews 13:5–6, which quotes Proverbs 3:11–12

         v.      12              Divine Discipline, from Bible Doctrine Resource

         v.      12              The Fatherhood of God (Old Testament)

         v.      13              Hajime Murai’s Chiastic Organization of Proverbs 3:13–20

         v.      13              Proverbs on Wisdom

         v.      16              The Introverted Parallelism of Proverbs 3:16

         v.      16              Material Blessings and the Believer

         v.      18              Translation Notes and Commentators on the Tree of Life

         v.      18              The Tree of Life (from Bible Doctrine Resources)

         v.      18              What the Tree of Life means in the book of Proverbs

         v.      19              The Pulpit Commentary on God’s Creation

         v.      20              Creation Science 4 Kids on the Water Cycle

         v.      20              The Water Cycle (a graphic)

         v.      20              Questions for Evolutionists by Dr. Kent Hovind

         v.      20              The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary on the Watering of the Earth

         v.      20              Irreducible Complexity, by Gary Hill

         v.      21              Hajime Murai’s Organization of Proverbs 3:21–35

         v.      21              Dividing Up Proverbs 3:21–35

         v.      22              Summary Points to Proverbs 3:21–22

         v.      23              The Abbreviated Doctrine of The Way of God

         v.      24              God Protects the Sleep of the Believer with Doctrine

         v.      24              Proverbs 3:24 (a graphic)

         v.      25              Six Negatives for a Wise Life, by Mark A. Copeland

         v.      25              “Do not be afraid.”

         v.      26              Proverbs 3:25–26 (a graphic)

         v.      27              Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary on, Who should receive our good?

         v.      27              Possible Parallel Passages of Proverbs 3:27

         v.      28              Why we ought not postpone our help

         v.      28              Proverb 3:28 (graphic)

         v.      30              Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary on Unlawful Strife

         v.      30              Live and let live; do not plot evil against your neighbor

         v.      31              The Doctrine of Envy

         v.      32              Abominations to God in the Book of Proverbs

         v.      32              James Rickard on the close relationship between God and some believers

         v.      34              Rickard on the Arrogant Boasters (or, Scoffers)

         v.      35              Blessings for the Righteous and Cursings for the Wicked

         Addendum          Stuart Wolf shows how Proverbs 3 advances the themes of Proverbs 2

         Addendum          Why Proverbs 3 is in the Word of God

         Addendum          What We Learn from Proverbs 3

         Addendum          The Benefits of Wisdom, by Isaac Barrow, D.D. (from the Biblical Illustrator)

         Addendum          A Complete Translation of Proverbs 3

         Addendum          Word Cloud from a Reasonably Literal Paraphrase of Proverbs 3

         Addendum          Word Cloud from Exegesis of Proverbs 3

——————————

An Introduction to Proverbs 3

I ntroduction: Proverbs 3 is a continuation of David’s teaching of Solomon, and Solomon records it in very much the way that David taught it, beginning each section with my son. Such an approach indicates a great and abiding respect for David (who would be dead by the time this book is completed); and it continues the personal nature of David’s teaching.

Most commentators, because this is Solomon’s book (Prov. 1:1), present this as Solomon speaking to his son. He may have written it in that way and with that intention. But it is clear that David’s soul was filled with truth and that he taught Solomon, and that Solomon was the one who understood the importance of having wisdom from his father. Therefore, I present much of the book of Proverbs as from David to Solomon (at least the first 7 chapters).

This book appears to take many of the themes from Prov. 2 and expands these themes. These themes will be named specifically once we get to the addendum. That way, we will have completed all of Prov. 2 and 3.

Although the book of Proverbs presents universal truths, understanding that these are Solomon’s notes from the teachings of his father gives some flavor to our understanding. Solomon is about to become king; he is about to become a very young king (my guess is, he is somewhere between 12 and 18). As king, he faces all kinds of temptations; and as a teen, he faces a great many temptations. Can you imagine being a selfish, know-it-all teen with the greatest power in your country? That is Solomon. However, in his teen years, unlike many of that age group, he was teachable. He listened to his father and acted upon the advice of his father (we see this in 1Kings 1–2). So, when Solomon begins his reign as a young king, he will be a very wise man who rules in accordance with his great wisdom. After awhile, Solomon will allow himself to be led astray; but the book of Proverbs is the knowledge which led to Solomon’s wise leading of Israel.

Prov. 3 is broken down into 3 lectures or discourses. People differ on how this is broken down. Some go with the my son approach, to where each occurrence of my son (vv. 1, 11, and 21) marks a new section. I almost agree with that approach, but I place vv. 11–12 with the first 10 verses (my son are not the first words in v. 11). Others begin the third section with v. 25. Understanding the organization of a chapter is both difficult and important. When discussing it, it simply sounds like a bunch of numbers. However, when you have a firm grasp of the outline what you are going to study, then you are better able to fit everything together.

The several outlines offered below at least help you to see the various topics and section headings, which help in preparing you to study this chapter. It is also helpful to read through the text several times, which text is found here.

Gill summarizes Proverbs 3: In this chapter, Wisdom, or Christ, delivers out some fresh lessons and instructions to his children; as not to forget his doctrine, but heartily attend to his precepts and ordinances, seeing these are the means of lengthening out their days, and of enjoying peace, as well as had the promise of the mercy and truth of God, and the continuance of them.

Thomas Coke summarizes this chapter: [Prov. 3 is] An exhortation to obedience, to faith, to mortification, to devotion, to patience. The happy gain of wisdom. The power and the benefits of wisdom. An exhortation to charitableness, peaceableness, and contentedness. The cursed state of the wicked.

You may recall a great deal of repetition of the same words throughout Proverbs 1–2. In this chapter, there are a whole new set of words which are used—some of which are fairly uncommon to the Word of God. However, this does not mean that the main themes of the previous two chapters are set aside. The fundamental words from the previous chapters are also brought back and interwoven with the new subject matter.

The wisdom found in Proverbs is not simply some general wisdom; or wisdom for all men everywhere, regardless of their faith. All wisdom is related to the True God. David speaks of trusting Y^ehowah (Prov. 3:5); fearing Y^ehowah (Prov. 3:7); honoring Y^ehowah (Prov. 3:9); and not despising Y^ehowah’s discipline (Prov. 3:11–12). All true wisdom is found in the Person of the Creator God, the God of Israel (Prov. 3:19–20). Whereas, there are areas of wisdom which apply to believers and unbelievers alike (the laws of divine establishment), wisdom is fundamentally from God and related to our lives as believers.

Just like Prov. 2, I consciously cut back on the number of footnotes (which were extensively used in Prov. 1). However, I still included a great many footnotes, particularly from 5 or 6 teachers specifically.

I have added Stuart Wolf’s Literal Translation. He pastors the Hope Bible Church, which is in St.Petersburg, Florida. Although his translation and translation notes are referenced at the Church’s website, they cannot be downloaded from there directly (I am not sure why). If you know an exact phrase from his study, you can find the document via google (using quotes). I could only find the first half of this chapter exegeted by Wolf.

——————————

Discourse 5a: The Importance of Wisdom and the Benefits of Wisdom

Dr. Robert Dean: We need to reflect on the whole concept of choice. We have choice. We have decisions to make every day. Many of them may appear to be insignificant choices. We choose who we will talk to on the phone, who we will have lunch with, who we will have dinner with, who we will listen to on the radio or on the television, who we allow into our minds to influence us. We make all kinds of choice and many of them do not seem to be volitionally significant at the time in which we make the choice. But we all know that there are many choices we have made in life that have significantly impacted things. We can never know the consequences of many of the choices that we make. There are significant choices that we do make, choices that relate to obedience to God or disobedience to God, and we know that when we live a life and are walking according to our sin nature and disobedient that that is going to have negative consequences. Many decisions that we make just don't appear to be that significant, but even the most minor decisions may entail great consequences.

This is what the first 10 verses of this chapter are all about—they are about choice. If we choose to do what David says we should do, then there are positive results. So, for the first 10 verses, we see commands, choices, and results.

These first 10 verses will all be in the same format—the first verse will be a command and the following verse will be a promise based upon fulfilling the command. “Do this (or, don’t do this), and there will be a good result.” V. 1 is a command; v. 2 is the result; v. 3 is the command; v. 4 is the result; etc. Odd-numbered verses have the command and the even-numbered verses supply the result of obeying the command.

Then, when we come to vv. 11–12, we look at the results of making the wrong choices.

Organization in the Bible is very important. We need to see in what way a passage is heading; we need to understand the tenor of the passage. Sometimes, we might get bogged down with a word, or phrase here or there; but if we know the organization of the passage, then we can clear up a problem word or phrase. In this chapter of Proverbs, I have gone back and reorganized several sections, with a result that we can see some clear patterns and organization, which tremendously aids in our understanding.

Here is how others have translated this verse:

Ancient texts:                       Note: I compare the Hebrew text to English translations of the Latin, Syriac and Greek texts, using the Douay-Rheims translation ; George Lamsa’s translation, and Sir Lancelot Charles Lee Brenton’s translation as revised and edited by Paul W. Esposito, respectively. I often update these texts with non-substantive changes (e.g., you for thou, etc.). I often use the text of the Complete Apostles’ Bible instead of Brenton’s translation, because it updates the English text.

The Septuagint was the earliest known translation of a book (circa 200 b.c.). Since this translation was made before the textual criticism had been developed into a science and because different books appear to be translated by different men, the Greek translation can sometimes be very uneven.

When there are serious disparities between my translation and Brenton’s (or the text of the Complete Apostles’ Bible), I look at the Greek text of the Septuagint (the LXX) to see if a substantive difference actually exists (and I reflect these changes in the English rendering of the Greek text). I use the Greek LXX with Strong’s numbers and morphology available for e-sword. The only problem with this resource (which is a problem for similar resources) is, there is no way to further explore Greek verbs which are not found in the New Testament. Although I usually quote the Complete Apostles’ Bible here, I have begun to make changes in the translation when their translation conflicts with the Greek and note what those changes are.

The Masoretic text is the Hebrew text with all of the vowels (vowel points) inserted (the original Hebrew text lacked vowels). We take the Masoretic text to be the text closest to the original. However, differences between the Masoretic text and the Greek, Latin and Syriac are worth noting and, once in a great while, represent a more accurate text possessed by those other ancient translators.

In general, the Latin text is an outstanding translation from the Hebrew text into Latin and very trustworthy (I say this as a non-Catholic). Unfortunately, I do not read Latin—apart from some very obvious words—so I am dependent upon the English translation of the Latin (principally, the Douay-Rheims translation).

Underlined words indicate differences in the text.

Bracketed portions of the Dead Sea Scrolls are words, letters and phrases lost in the scroll due to various types of damage. Underlined words or phrases are those in the Dead Sea Scrolls but not in the Masoretic text.

I will only list the translation from the Dead Sea Scrolls if it exists and if it is different from the Masoretic text.

These Bibles often fall into more than one category; I placed them where I believed them to have the best fit.

Ancient texts:

Masoretic Text (Hebrew)        My son, my torah you will not forget and my prohibitions will keep your heart, for length of days and years of lives and peace they add to you.

Latin Vulgate                          My son, forget not my law, and let your heart keep my commandments. For they will add to you length of days, and years of life, and peace.

Peshitta (Syriac)                    My son, do not forget my law; but let your heart keep my commandments; For the length of days and long life will they add to you;...

Septuagint (Greek)                My son, forget not my laws, but let your heart keep my words: for length of days, and years of life, and peace, shall they add to you.

Significant differences:           The Greek leaves out the promise of peace in the final sentence.

Limited Vocabulary Bibles:

Bible in Basic English             My son, keep my teaching in your memory, and my rules in your heart: For they will give you increase of days, years of life, and peace.

Easy English                          My son, do not forget my law.

Keep my commands in your heart.

My commands will bring you long life.

They will bring you wealth.

Easy-to-Read Version            My son, don’t forget my teaching. Remember the things I tell you to do.

The things I teach you will give you a longer, happier, and more peaceful life.

Good News Bible (TEV)         My child, don't forget what I teach you. Always remember what I tell you to do. My teaching will give you a long and prosperous life.

The Message                         Good friend, don't forget all I've taught you; take to heart my commands. They'll help you live a long, long time, a long life lived full and well.

Names of God Bible               Using Wisdom

My son,

do not forget my teachings,

and keep my commands in mind,

because they will bring you

long life, good years, and peace.

NIRV                                      More Good Things Come From Wisdom

My son, do not forget my teaching.

Keep my commands in your heart.

They will help you live for many years.

They will bring you peace and success.

New Simplified Bible              My son, do not forget my law. Let your heart obey my commandments.

My precepts will give you a long, peaceful, and prosperous life.

Thought-for-thought translations; paraphrases:

Common English Bible           Trust in the Lord

My son, don't forget my instruction.

Let your heart guard my commands,

because they will help you live a long time

and provide you with well-being.

Contemporary English V.       My child, remember my teachings and instructions and obey them completely. They will help you live a long and prosperous life.

The Living Bible                     My son, never forget the things I've taught you. If you want a long and satisfying life, closely follow my instructions.

New Century Version             Advice to Children

My child, do not forget my teaching,

but keep my commands in mind.

Then you will live a long time,

and your life will be successful.

New Life Bible                        My son, do not forget my teaching. Let your heart keep my words. For they will add to you many days and years of life and peace.

New Living Translation           Trusting in the Lord

My child [Hebrew My son; also in 3:11, 21.], never forget the things I have taught you.

Store my commands in your heart.

If you do this, you will live many years,

and your life will be satisfying.

Partially literal and partially paraphrased translations:

American English Bible          O son; Don't forget the laws [that I've given to you], and keep the things that I've said in your heart; for this will add length to your life. Yes, you will live [many] years, and peace will be added to you.

Beck’s American Translation The Way to Wisdom

My son, don’t forget what I teach you,

and keep my instructions in mind,

because they will give you a long good life

and you will be happy.

International Standard V        The Blessings of Trusting God

My son, don't forget my instruction,

and keep my commandments carefully in mind [Lit. Let your heart keep my commandments].

For they will add length to your days, years to your life,

and abundant peace to you.

New Advent (Knox)Bible        Forget not then, my son, the teaching I give thee; lock these words of mine close in thy bosom; long years they shall bring thee of life well spent, and therewith prosperity.

Today’s NIV                          Wisdom Bestows Well-Being

My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.

Mostly literal renderings (with some occasional paraphrasing):

Ancient Roots Translinear      My son, never forget my Torah; guard my commandments in your heart.

For they will add peace and lengthen your days and years of life.

Conservapedia                       My son, don't forget my law; but let your heart keep my commandments For Long days and a long life and for peace, you will have it all if you keep them.

Ferar-Fenton Bible                 The Results of a Virtuous Life

And let your heart store My Commands ;--- For long days and years to your life, And peace to yourself they will add.

HCSB                                     My son, don't forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commands; for they will bring you many days, a full life, and well-being.

Lexham English Bible            Wisdom and Piety

My child, do not forget my instruction, and may your heart guard my commands. For length of days, years of life, and peace they shall add to you.

NIV – UK                                Wisdom bestows well-being

My son, do not forget my teaching,

but keep my commands in your heart,

for they will prolong your life many years

and bring you peace and prosperity.

Translation for Translators     More advice to Solomon's son

My son, do not forget what I have taught you.

Keep my commands in your inner being,

because you will live a long time and things will go well for you if you obey them.

Catholic Bibles (those having the imprimatur):

Christian Community (1988)  My son, do not forget my instruction, my commands; keep them in your heart. For they will bring you length of days, years of life and peace.

New American Bible (2002)   My son, forget not my teaching, keep in mind my commands;

For many days, and years of life, and peace, will they bring you.

New American Bible (2011)              Confidence in God Leads to Prosperity

My son, do not forget my teaching,

take to heart my commands;

For many days, and years of life [Prv 4:10; 9:11; 10:27.],

and peace, will they bring you.

New Jerusalem Bible             My child, do not forget my teaching, let your heart keep my principles,

since they will increase your length of days, your years of life and your well-being.

New RSV                               My child, do not forget my teaching,

but let your heart keep my commandments;

for length of days and years of life

and abundant welfare they will give you.

Revised English Bible            My son, do not forget my teaching, but treasure my commandments in your heart; for long life and years in plenty and abundant prosperity will they bring you.

Jewish/Hebrew Names Bibles:

Complete Jewish Bible           My son, don't forget my teaching, keep my commands in your heart; for they will add to you many days, years of life and peace.

exeGeses companion Bible   My son, forget not my torah;

and your heart guard my misvoth;

for they add to you

length of days and years of life and shalom:.

JPS (Tanakh—1985)               My son, do not forget my teaching,

But let your mind retain my commandments;

For they will bestow on you length of days,

Years of life and well-being.

Orthodox Jewish Bible           Beni (my son), forget not my torah; but let thine lev keep my mitzvot;

For orekh yamim (length of days), and shnot chayyim, and shalom, shall they add to thee.

Expanded/Embellished Bibles:

The Amplified Bible                My son, forget not my law or teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; For length of days and years of a life [worth living] and tranquility [inward and outward and continuing through old age till death], these shall they add to you.

The Expanded Bible              Advice to Children

My ·child [^Lson], do not forget my ·teaching [instruction; law],

but ·keep my commands in mind [^Llet your heart/mind protect my commands].

Then ·you will live a long time,

and your life will be successful [^Llength of days and years of life and peace will be added to you].

Kretzmann’s Commentary    Obedience, Faith, and Liberality Urged

My son, forget not my law, the teaching of wisdom; but let thine heart keep my commandments, sincerely observing all instructions of God's Word;

for length of days and long life and peace, literally, "years of life and peace," shall they add to thee, earthly prosperity and happiness following the application of knowledge gained from the divine Law.

NET Bible®                             Exhortations to Seek Wisdom and Walk with the Lord

My child [Heb "my son" (likewise in Prov. 3:11, 21).], do not forget my teaching,

but let your heart keep my commandments,

for they will provide [The phrase "they will provide" does not appear in the Hebrew text, but are supplied in the translation for the sake of smoothness.] a long and full life,

and they will add well-being6 to you. When it comes to making an actual material change to the text, the NET Bible® is pretty good about indicating this. Since most of these corrections will be clear in the more literal translations below and within the Hebrew exegesis itself, I will not continue to list every NET Bible® footnote. Language footnotes will be placed in the Hebrew exegesis.

Syndein/Thieme                     {Chapter 3 - What David Taught Solomon}

{Principal from Deuteronomy 6:6-9: Parents Should Teach their Children Doctrine}

{Verses 1:10 - the Wages of Doctrine - David to Solomon}

My son, forget not my law/doctrine; but let your heart/'right lobe' keep/guard my commandments/precepts/ 'categories of doctrines' {mitzvah}. For length of days, and 'years of life'/long life, and prosperity/peace/'inner happiness' . . . they {the 'precepts of doctrines' in your soul} shall add to you. {Note: Remember God's perfect timing. It is not necessarily a long life as we think of it, but from God's viewpoint, a full life. One that is abundant and lived under inner happiness.}.

The Voice                               My son, always remember what I have taught you;

keep my instructions dear to your heart.

If you do, they will be your guide to

a long, healthy, prosperous life.

Literal, almost word-for-word, renderings:

Concordant Literal Version    My son, do not forget my law, And let your heart preserve my instructions;"

For length of days and years of life And peace shall they add to you.

Emphasized Bible                  My son, mine instruction, do not thou forget, and, my commandment, let thy heart observe; For, length of days and years of life, and blessedness, shall they and to thee.

English Standard V. – UK       Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart

My son, do not forget my teaching,

but let your heart keep my commandments,

for length of days and years of life

and peace they will add to you.

God’s Truth (Tyndale)           O' my son, forget not my law, but see that your heart keep my commandments. For they shall prolong the days and years of your life, and bring you peace.

New American Standard B.    The Rewards of Wisdom

My son, do not forget my teaching [Or law],

But let your heart keep my commandments;

For length of days and years of life

And peace they will add to you.

New European Version          More Benefits of Wisdom

My son, don’t forget my teaching but let your heart keep my commandments: for length of days and years of life, and peace, will they add to you.

New King James Version       Guidance for the Young

My son, do not forget my law,

But let your heart keep my commands;

For length of days and long life

And peace they will add to you.

Stuart Wolf’s Lit. Trans.         My son, do not forget my teaching, and let your heart guard my commandments

for length of days and years of life, and peace/prosperity they will add to you.

Webster’s updated Bible       My son, forget not My law; but let your heart keep My commandments; For length of days, and long life, and peace, will they add to you.

Young’s Updated LT             My son! my law forget not, And my commands let your heart keep,

For length of days and years, Life and peace they do add to you.

The gist of this verse:          David warns Solomon to listen and to remember his teaching; and that would had days and years onto his life, as well as personal peace and contentment.

Translation: My son, do not forsake my instruction... David is teaching Solomon (and his other younger brothers), and these would be Solomon’s notes from those many sessions.

The verb here is shâkach (שָכַח) [pronounced shaw-KAHKH], and, strictly speaking, it means to forget; to forget and leave. Strong’s #7911 BDB #1013. When a person goes negative toward the teaching of the Word of God, he abandons this teaching, he forsakes this teaching, and he begins to forget all that is found in the teaching of the Word of God. This suggests that David will remind Solomon how important this teaching is.

This also suggests that Solomon may leave the teaching of his youth, which he will for a great deal of time.

David is teaching Solomon, and his teaching encompasses more than the Torah, strictly speaking, even though he uses the word torah in this verse. The Jews understand the Torah to refer to the writings of Moses—which they consider to be the first 5 books of the Bible. David, with these words, and Solomon, by repeating this, is acknowledging that God’s Law—the Torah—extends beyond the books of Moses. That is, the rest of Scripture (up to that point in time) is as inspired as the first 5 books of the Bible. What David is teaching Solomon right here, right in this chapter—this is Torah; this is the instruction of God. This suggests a great boldness on the part of David. The implication is, my words are torah to you.

The use of the possessive pronoun (my teaching, my instruction) is a reference to all that David has taught Solomon; and we may reasonably assume that there was much more to David’s teaching than simply the book of Proverbs. Solomon would be king; therefore, he would have written out a book of Scripture for himself and David would have taught the Law and the History to Solomon. This encompasses a great deal.

This approach also helps to understand why there appears to be about a 7 year gap in David’s reign. There appear to be about 7 missing years at the end of David’s reign where little or nothing is taking place. The reason for this is, King David is training his successor, Solomon. He is giving him the best training a son could have—Bible doctrine. He is teaching him the Law of Moses, the book of Genesis, the history of Israel, and the material which Solomon has recorded which we know as Proverbs.

The New American Bible: Do not forget: this word and several others in the section such as "teaching," "commands," "years of life," and the custom of affixing written teaching to one's body, occur also in Deuteronomy. This vocabulary suggests that Proverbs and Deuteronomy had a common origin in the scribal class of Jerusalem. This section (and vv. 21-34) subtly elaborates Deut. 6:5-9, "You shall love the LORD with all your heart (v. 5). Take to heart these words (v. 1). Recite them when you are at home and when you are away (v. 23). when you lie down (v. 24). Bind them (v. 3) on your arm as a sign and let them be a pendant on your forehead" (v. 21).

The New American Bible draws an interesting parallel to Deuteronomy and this chapter of the Bible. I find it interesting because, in Deuteronomy, Moses realized that his soul was so infused with Bible doctrine, that he could merely speak, and he would be speaking the Word of God (Deuteronomy is clearly recognized as a part of the Word of God). This is such a different approach than his writings in Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers, because in those books, Moses was very careful to delineate between his words and those of God.

My point is, David, having his soul infused with doctrine, realized that much of what he was saying to his sons was equivalent to the Word of God. The recording of these words confirms this.

Translation: ...and [let] your heart keep [and preserve] my prohibitions [and precepts],... The heart is the thinking of the soul; the heart listens and considers and evaluates and ruminates. David, speaking to Solomon, tells him, “Let your thinking preserve my prohibitions and precepts.” This means that Solomon is to go back and look at his notes; he is to reread what David has told him, and he is to think about it.

God has given us a mind and He has given us His Word. His thinking needs to be our thinking; His thinking needs to be at the forefront of our thoughts as we go through each day.

The heart is the thinking part of the soul. The Bible does not use the word heart to refer to our emotions, but to our thinking.

One of the things that Solomon is to concentrate on are God’s mits^eôwth (מִצוָה) [pronounced mits^e-OHTH], which means prohibitions, precepts, those things which are forbidden, constraints, proscriptions, countermands; commandments. The emphasis is upon that which God tells us are out of bounds. Strong’s #4687 BDB #846.

In today’s non-judgmental society, where we try to be accepting of every belief and every sort of activity, what David is saying here is anathema to our current society. He is saying that (1) there are things that we should not do; (2) we need to study revealed truth in order to figure out what they are; and (3) he has taught these to Solomon.

Application: We have, as a society, completely confused what it means not to judge people. We are not to look at Charley Brown and think that we know what mental attitude sins he is committing; or how his motivation is faulty. All of this stuff we cannot see. We would be judging Charley Brown if we made such assertions. However, if Charley Brown touts a homosexual lifestyle and publically declares his undying sexual desire for Linus; homosexual acts are sinful, and we are legitimately allowed to call them sinful.

Application: If you look inside someone else’s head and say that they are against higher taxes because they are greedy, that is sinful judging.

Application: We are parents have a duty to make moral judgments and to set standards for our children. We seem to have given up as a society on our children. We don’t think that we can influence them to avoid premarital sex, we don’t think we can stop them from smoking dope—and the problem has been, for the most part, that the influence in these areas has been passed along to the schools and the government. That is why too many of these kids are indulging in things which harm them forever—it is not the job of schools or government to deal with these things. Schools and government ought to back up the teaching of the parents; but it is the teaching of one generation to the next which is key.

Application: I knew a mom who became a single mother around the time that her 2 girls were teens. She did not put up with any foolishness and she repeated to them over and over, “You will finish high school, you will not get pregnant, you will not use drugs, and you will go to college.” Whether or not she said, you will not have sex, I don’t know. But, her girls did not use drugs, they did not get pregnant, they did complete high school, and they went off to college. Their mom did more than beat this into their heads; she watched over her girls as well and enforced strict discipline and did not tolerate back talk. Their mother also worked full time. The point I am making is, this can be done. If the parent or parents understand what is acceptable or not, then they make certain that they pass along their values to their children, just as Solomon is doing here.

David takes a very hands-on approach to Solomon, which he had not done with his previous sons. His previous sons were a bunch of ner-do-wells (for the most part). David did not spend any time raising them properly. With Solomon, David took the time. So early in Solomon’s reign, David’s training will be apparent; and late in Solomon’s reign, David’s training will be apparent.

V. 1 reads: My son, do not forsake my instruction and [let] your heart keep [and preserve] my prohibitions [and precepts],... The believer is designed to have his soul infused with doctrine. Once we have been saved, we don’t just stand around waiting for life to be over and for Jesus to take us. Our lives have purpose and definition, and we cannot live the Christian life without having doctrine in our souls. Furthermore, we cannot appreciate our blessings or deal with the pressures of life without having Bible doctrine in our souls.

We all face a variety of life crises—sometimes of our own making but just as often, because of other people or because of circumstances. Too many believers, because they have no Bible doctrine in their souls, because they have no inner resources, fall apart. Some will try to grab the Bible a read a few pages; some will grab on to other believers for support. However, God’s plan is for each one of us to have the doctrine that we need imbedded in our souls so that, so that when disaster strikes, we have the inner resources necessary to face that disaster.

V. 1 reads: My son, do not forsake my instruction and [let] your heart keep [and preserve] my prohibitions [and precepts],... This is a theme found throughout Scripture. Moses gave similar commands to his people in his final sermons to his people. Deut 4:23a, 30 8:11 Take care, lest you forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which He made with you,...For the LORD your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that He swore to them...Take care lest you forget the LORD your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today,... (ESV; capitalized)

Translation: ...for these things [lit., they] will add a long life [to you], [as well as] an abundant life and peace to you. Knowing God’s Law (which is the inspired Word of God) and knowing and thinking about God’s prohibitions results in 3 things: (1) a long life; (2) an abundant life; and (3) personal peace and contentment. A long life refers to quantity, but an abundant life refers to quality. As we know—some by experience—what good is living to 100 if the last 10 years are spent in dementia or hooked to various machines? God promises a quality of life throughout. On top of that, God adds peace, prosperity and tranquility to our long and abundant lives.

These promises are typical; but they are not unequivocal. That is, there are certainly exceptions to these things, because God’s plan is complex. You will recall the book of Job where Job led a decent life as a believer in Jesus Christ, and he was subject to a world of hurt for a period of time—none of which could be connected to personal discipline (Job was not perfect, by any means, but he was good enough in his life that God spoke of him in heaven). I am not saying that believers will suffer as Job has. Some believers will suffer (well, all believers will endure some kinds of suffering and testing); but few if any will face the difficulties that Job faced.

Application: If you are under tremendous undeserved suffering, and you are a growing believer, God will make it up to you. God will make things right. It might not be in this life, but God will right all wrongs.

However, in general, if you are a growing believer (which means you have believed in Jesus Christ and you are growing spiritually in a local church because of the teaching of the Word of God), then you will be blessed. Not everyone is blessed in the same way, but God knows how to bless us.

There is some difficulty here which is not apparent. We have the 3^rd person masculine plural, Hiphil imperfect of yâçaph (יָסַף) [pronounced yaw-SAHPH], which I have translated ...for these things [lit., they] will add...to you. What does they refer back to? Logically (and in most translations), the verb appears to refer back to my instruction...and my prohibitions. That is how most understand it. However, the problem is, these are feminine words—both of them. Bullinger suggests that this verb actually refers back to days...(and years). The problem with that approach is, yâçaph would logically then be in the Niphal (passive) stem. Here is how we resolve this problem: days and years are what are added to your life (therefore, the masculine plural is found); but the Hiphil stem is the causative stem, so the learning of David’s instruction and prohibitions are a part of the causal nature of this verb. The information which David was teaching Solomon would add long life to Solomon.

We find the promise of long life in association with divine throughout Scripture: Deut. 3:16 4:10, 40 5:33 6:2 9:11 11:9 1Kings 3:14 Job 5:26. For those who examine God’s Word and take it to heart, there is peace (Psalm 119:165). For those who reject God, we are told, there is no peace to the wicked (Isa. 48:22 57:21).

What happens in this life is also related to our life to come—our eternal life with God. Bible doctrine which provides us a long life, an abundant life and personal peace, which also improve our lives in eternity. The more divine good that we perform in this life, the greater our blessing in eternity.

The Expositor’s Bible: it is the chief blessedness in the lot of the children of light that each day is a full, rich day, unmarred by recollections, unshadowed by apprehensions. Each day is distinctly worth living; it has its own exquisite lessons of cloud or sunshine, its own beautiful revelations of love, and pity, and hope. Time does not hang heavily on the hands, nor yet is its hurried flight a cause of vain regret; for it has accomplished that for which it was sent, and by staying longer could not accomplish more. And if, after all, God has appointed but a few years for His child's earthly life, that is not to be regretted; the only ground for sorrow would be to live longer than His wise love had decreed.

We are all aware of the Law of Gravity and the other various laws related to this earth and universe: the water cycle, weather patterns, electricity, magnetism, etc. These laws are very precise and act the same way every time. The reason why we cannot accurately predict the weather is, there are more factors involved than we are able to comprehend and factor in. The laws of health are the same way; and moral laws are the same way. These are all developed by the same God. Therefore, the interaction of all of the factors is at once both simple and complex. If you jump of a 1000 ft. cliff, you will fall down. However, if you wear a parachute suit which allows you to glide, then your descent will be far more interesting—and less life threatening as well.

There is also personal contentment associated with knowing God’s Law and prohibitions.

Many different examples could be used. Temperance is wise; drunkenness is not. The Christian may have a glass of wine now and again—and some may have a glass of wine every night. There is no harm in that. However, the intemperate man might drink a bottle of wine every night, resulting in a number of physical ailments. The wise man exercising self-control will obviously be healthier than that a decadent man who searches out physical excess.

Vv. 1–2 read: My son, do not abandon my instruction; let your heart ruminate on my prohibitions [and precepts], for these things will add a long life and an abundant life to you, as well as give you peace. This is very much the theme of this chapter of Proverbs. However, in the final verses of this passage, a new theme will emerge: what does the soul of the man with doctrine do during a crisis? This could very well speak to Americans in the 21^st century.

Throughout the Bible, there are a number of passages touting the important of divine knowledge (that is, Bible doctrine): Deut. 4:9, 23 6:6–9 8:1 30:16–20 Psalm 119:11, 16, 34, 47–48, 93, 153 Prov. 4:5 John 14:21–24. And we cannot neglect Hosea 4:6, where God warns that His people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.

Vv. 1–2 read: My son, do not abandon my instruction; let your heart ruminate on my prohibitions [and precepts], for these things will add a long life and an abundant life to you, as well as give you peace. This is the introduction to this chapter of Proverbs, as well as a summation of what will be taught. My son, do not get away from my teaching, and think on my precepts and enumerated commands; doing so will give your life length and abundance, as well as personal peace. From here, King David will expand upon this theme, and explore various permutations of what he has said here.

——————————

Lange: [V. 3 is] The first of the commandments announced in Proverbs 3:1, with the corresponding promise of reward.

Here is how others have translated this verse:

Ancient texts:

Masoretic Text (Hebrew)        Grace and truth will not forsake you. Bind them upon your neck; write them upon a table of your heart, and find grace and understanding pleasant in eyes of Elohim and adam.

Latin Vulgate                          Let not mercy and truth leave you, put them about your neck, and write them in the tables of your heart. And you will find grace, and good understanding before God and men.

Peshitta (Syriac)                    And peace, mercy, and truth will not forsake you; bind them about your neck; write them upon the tablets of your heart: So you shall find favor, grace, and understanding in the sight of God and men.

Septuagint (Greek)                Let not mercy and truth forsake you; but bind them about your neck: so shall you find favor; and provide things honest in the sight of the Lord, and of men.

Significant differences:           The Syriac adds peace to mercy and truth in the first phrase. The Greek leaves off, write them on the tablet of your heart. The Hebrew has two things at the end of this verse; and the Syriac turns that into three.

Limited Vocabulary Translations:

Bible in Basic English             Let not mercy and good faith go from you; let them be hanging round your neck, recorded on your heart;

So you will have grace and a good name in the eyes of God and men.

Easy English                          Never let love and trust leave you.

Wear them about your neck.

Write them on your heart.

You will win love and honour.

God and people will show you love and honour.

Easy-to-Read Version            Never stop loving. Always be loyal and true. {Make these things a part of yourself}—tie them around your neck and write them on your heart. Then you will be wise and pleasing to God and people!

Good News Bible (TEV)         Never let go of loyalty and faithfulness. Tie them around your neck; write them on your heart. If you do this, both God and people will be pleased with you.

The Message                         Don't lose your grip on Love and Loyalty. Tie them around your neck; carve their initials on your heart. Earn a reputation for living well in God's eyes and the eyes of the people.

Names of God Bible               Do not let mercy and truth leave you.

Fasten them around your neck.

Write them on the tablet of your heart.

Then you will find favor and much success

in the sight of Elohim and humanity.

NIRV                                      Don't let love and truth ever leave you.

Tie them around your neck.

Write them on the tablet of your heart.

Then you will find favor and a good name

in the eyes of God and people.

Thought-for-thought translations; paraphrases:

Common English Bible           Don't let loyalty and faithfulness leave you.

Bind them on your neck;

write them on the tablet of your heart.

Then you will find favor and approval

in the eyes of God and humanity.

Contemporary English V.       Let love and loyalty always show like a necklace, and write them in your mind. God and people will like you and consider you a success.

The Living Bible                     Never tire of loyalty and kindness. Hold these virtues tightly. Write them deep within your heart. This is only v. 3; TLB puts vv. 4 and 5 together.

New Berkeley Version           Let not lovingkindess and faithfulness leave you;

bind them about your neck [As you would a signet],

write them on the tablet of your heart,

thus finding favor and ideal understanding

in the sight of God and of man.

New Century Version             Don't ever forget kindness and truth.

Wear them like a necklace.

Write them on your heart as if on a tablet.

Then you will be respected

and will please both God and people.

New Living Translation           Never let loyalty and kindness leave you!

Tie them around your neck as a reminder.

Write them deep within your heart.

Then you will find favor with both God and people,

and you will earn a good reputation.

Partially literal and partially paraphrased translations:

American English Bible          May charity and faith never fail you. If around your neck you will tie them, and write them on the tablet of your heart, you will find the favor [of God].

Before Jehovah and men, always plan to do what is good.

Beck’s American Translation May kindness and truth never leave you.

Fasten them around your neck.

Write them on the tablet of your heart.

Then you will see how kind and sympathetic

God and man will be to you.

International Standard V        Do not let gracious love and truth leave you.

Bind them around your neck,

write them on the tablet of your heart,

and find favor and a good reputation [Lit. good judgment or sense] with God and men.

New Advent (Knox) Bible       Two things must never leave thee, kindness and loyalty; be these the seals that hang about thy neck, graven be this inscription with thy heart for tablet; so both to God and man thou shalt be friend and confidant.

Today’s NIV                          Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and humankind.

Mostly literal renderings (with some occasional paraphrasing):

Ancient Roots Translinear      Never forsake mercy and truth: Tie them over your neckline, and write them over the tablet of your heart.

Find grace and good comprehension in the eyes of God and humans.

Conservapedia                       Don't let mercy and truth leave you: keep them close to you write them on your heart: Then you will find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and men.

Ferar-Fenton Bible                 Abandon not Kindness and Truth, But twine as a wreath on your neck, And write on the page of your heart; Then you will find favour and fame, In the sight both of Gon and of men.

HCSB                                     Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you. Tie them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will find favor and high regard in the sight of God and man.

Lexham English Bible            May loyal love and truth not forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them upon your heart. And you shall find favor and good sense in the eyes of God and humankind.

Translation for Translators     Always faithfully love others and ◂be faithful/do what you say that you will do►;

doing those things will cause others to be pleased with you;

it will be as though you are wearing a beautiful necklace.

Keep those things in your mind/inner being.

If you do, God and people will approve of you

and think highly of you [MTY].

Catholic Bibles (those having the imprimatur):

Christian Community (1988)  Let loyalty and kindness never leave you; tie them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, that you may find favor and a good name in the eyes of God and people.

The Heritage Bible                 Do not let mercy and truth forsake you; bind them about your neck; write them upon the tablet of your heart; And you will find grace and good intelligent success in the eyes of God and man.

New American Bible (2002)   Let not kindness and fidelity leave you; bind them around your neck;

Then will you win favor and good esteem before God and man.

New American Bible (2011)   Do not let love and fidelity forsake you;

bind them around your neck;

write them on the tablet of your heart.

Then will you win favor and esteem

before God and human beings.

New Jerusalem Bible             Let faithful love and constancy never leave you: tie them round your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Thus you will find favour and success in the sight of God and of people.

New RSV                               Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you;

bind them round your neck,

write them on the tablet of your heart.

So you will find favour and good repute

in the sight of God and of people.

Revised English Bible            Let your loyalty and good faith never fail; bind them about your neck, and inscribe them on the tablet of your memory.

So will you win favour and success in the sight of God and man.

Jewish/Hebrew Names Bibles:

Complete Jewish Bible           Do not let grace and truth leave you -bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and esteem in the sight of God and of people.

exeGeses companion Bible   ...forsake not mercy and truth;

bind them about your throat;

inscribe them on the slab of your heart:

thus you find charism and good comprehension

in the eye of Elohim and humanity.

JPS (Tanakh—1985)               Let fidelity and steadfastness not leave you;

Bind them about your throat,

Write them on the tablet of your mind,

And you will find favor and approbation

In the eyes of God and man.

Judaica Press Complete T.    Kindness and truth shall not leave you; bind them upon your neck, inscribe them upon the tablet of your heart; and find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

Orthodox Jewish Bible           Let not chesed and emes forsake thee; bind them about thy neck; write them upon the luach (tablet) of thine lev; So shalt thou find chen and seichel tov in the eyes of Elohim and adam.

Expanded/Embellished Bibles:

The Amplified Bible                Let not mercy and kindness [shutting out all hatred and selfishness] and truth [shutting out all deliberate hypocrisy or falsehood] forsake you; bind them about your neck, write them upon the tablet of your heart.

So shall you find favor, good understanding, and high esteem in the sight [or judgment] of God and man.

The Expanded Bible              Don't ·ever forget kindness and truth [^Llet loyalty and faithfulness abandon you].

·Wear [Bind] them ·like a necklace [^Lon your neck].

Write them on your heart as if on a tablet.

Then you will ·be respected [find favor]

and will please both God and people..

Kretzmann’s Commentary    Let not mercy and truth, both on the part of men and on the part of God, forsake thee, loving sympathy and companionship being one of the prime factors in our moral life; bind them about thy neck, like a costly chain or necklace, from which was suspended tile seal-ring; write them upon the table of thine heart, the emphasis being both upon the inward motives and upon tile outward expression and adornment in the way of virtues.

So shalt thou find favor, gracious acceptance, and good understanding, good reputation, good success, in the sight of God and man, the good opinion on the part of men corresponding to the favorable judgment on the part of God, and both serving for the success of the believer. This being a gracious gift on the part of God, the godly person is warned:...

NET Bible®                             Do not let truth and mercy leave you;

bind them around your neck,

write them on the tablet of your heart [This involves two implied comparisons (hypocatastasis). One is a comparison of living out the duties and responsibilities taught with binding a chain around the neck, and the other is a comparison of the inward appropriation of the teachings with writing them on a tablet. So the teachings are not only to become the lifestyle of the disciple but his very nature.].

Then you will find favor and good understanding,

in the sight of God and people [Heb "man."].

Syndein/Thieme                     Do not let mercy/'grace in action' {checed} and doctrine/truth {'emeth} leave you. Bind them about your neck. {Note: Many people carried their signet rings around the neck - so doctrine is "God's signet ring" by which we cash God's checks.} Write them upon the "tablets of your heart/'right lobe' ". {Note: means to study doctrine, take notes, review the notes and metabolize the doctrine in the thinking part of your soul.}

So {a result} shall you find grace/favor {chen} and good understanding {towb sekel} {about the will/design/plan of God} in the sight of 'Elohim/Godhead and {in the sight of} man.

The Voice                               Stay focused; do not lose sight of mercy and truth;

engrave them on a pendant, and hang it around your neck;

meditate on them so they are written upon your heart.

In this way, you will win the favor of God and others,

and they will think well of you.

Literal, almost word-for-word, renderings:

Concordant Literal Version    Benignity and truth, let them not forsake you; Tie them about your throat, And write them on the tablet of your heart."

Thus find grace and good intelligence In the eyes of Elohim and humanity.

Context Group Version          Don't let family allegiance { Hebrew: hesed } and truth forsake you: Bind them about your neck;

So you shall find favor and good understanding In the sight of God and man.

English Standard Version      Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;

bind them around your neck;

write them on the tablet of your heart.

So you will find favor and good success [Or repute]

in the sight of God and man.

God’s Truth (Tyndale)           Let mercy and faithfulness never go from you: bind them about your neck, and write them upon the tables of your heart. So shall you find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and men.

NASB                                     Do not let kindness and truth leave you;

Bind them around your neck,

Write them on the tablet of your heart.

So you will find favor and good repute [Lit understanding]

In the sight of God and man.

Stuart Wolf’s Lit. Trans.         let kindness and truth not leave you, bind them upon your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart

and find favor and good repute, in the eyes of God and man.

Webster’s updated Bible       Let not mercy and truth forsake you: bind them about your neck; write them upon the table of your heart:

So will you find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

Young’s Updated LT             Let not kindness and truth forsake you, Bind them on your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,

And find grace and good understanding In the eyes of God and man.

The gist of this verse:          Solomon is told to hold onto grace and truth; and to write them on the tablet of his heart, so that he would find grace and understanding in the sight of God and man.

Translation: Grace and truth will not forsake you. Grace is all that God is free to do for us on the basis of the cross. Truth is Bible doctrine; it is the content of the Word of God. These things will never forsake you, no matter what is happening in your life. These things are both the GPS of your automobile and the life raft of your ship in a great storm.

Rickard: Truth" is EMETH, that means, "firmness, faithfulness, or truth." This noun is used adjectivally to describe the surety, stability and dependability of God's guidance, which ultimately comes from His Word in your soul.

Man will fail; friends will fail you; family will fail you; those you love will fail you; your savings and your plans for the future will fail you. But there is one thing that will not fail you—God’s grace and God’s truth. These remain constants in the life of the growing believer.

The thing that believers need to take hold of, in good times and in bad, is that God’s grace and truth will not forsake them or let go of them or cease. These are constants in God’s relationship to us.

Translation: Bind them around your neck... This is not something which is to be taken literally. The Jews were not supposed to write down statements from the Bible and put them into some kind of box or into some kind of container, and then attach that to some kind of a spiritual necktie or necklace.

Now, there is the Eastern custom of writing sacred names on pieces of papyrus or parchment, and wearing them around the neck, as charms and talismans against evil;  and it is possible that this is, in some way, a reference to that sort of thinking. Also, some wore their signet on a string around their neck. But this is not a reference to writing special thoughts on parchment and carrying that around your neck. What David is saying here is far more sophisticated than that. Furthermore, we have the same figurative language in Prov. 1:8–9 (Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.—ESV). See also Prov. 6:21 7:3.

Your neck represents your volition. If you are going to turn to the left, your neck turns in that direction first. So, grace and truth are to guide you; they are to affect your volition; they are to play a major part when you decide to do this or that. Grace and truth need to be thoroughly integrated into your soul. This means that you listen to Bible doctrine on a regular basis; then you believe what you are taught; and it becomes a part of your integrated system of thinking. Ideally speaking, thinking truth and grace revamps your mind. Rom. 12:2 Do not be conformed to this age [time and place], but be transformed by the renovation of your thinking, so that you may recognize what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

The same is true of animals. Their necks are their volition, so that we guide an animal this way or that by turning its neck. Having control over the animal’s neck suggests obedience on the part of the animal; and figuratively the binding of wisdom and understanding to our own necks, suggest obedience to the plan of God.

We have a mind, we have free will, we have the teaching of our parents, schools and church; and we have the culture in which we find ourselves. Now, prior to salvation, everyone is filled with false information. Your parents may be doctrinally straight and your church may be doctrinally straight, but you will still have false concepts and notions, based upon what you learn (and believe) in school and from your culture (your friends, television, social media, movies, etc.). You combat that false information with learning Bible doctrine.

Understanding God’s grace and knowing God’s truth are not simply intellectual exercises, which are abandoned in your daily life. What you know and what you think ought to guide you in your life; what you know from Bible doctrine should make a difference in the decisions which you make.

There are two things to have at the forefront of your mind—that which is eternally true (Bible doctrine) and an understanding of God’s grace, which is what allows us to have a relationship with God.

Scripture is always about, what you think, what your motivations are, what your norms and standards are. We continually find the exterior aspects of the spiritual life being downplayed (Matt. 6:5, 28–30 1Peter 3:3–4). Over and over again, what is not seen is emphasized—what takes place in your soul is what is important.

Translation:...[and] write them on the tablet of your heart,... This is why we know the previous phrase is not literal. There is no literal tablet in your heart that you may write upon. However, we do have a mind which can be used to memorize this or that. We can use our brains to think and to learn grace and truth. When we remember grace and truth; when we think about grace and truth; when we learn principles related to grace and truth—this is writing these things upon the tablet of our heart.

Important things which written upon tablets. The Ten Commandments were written upon tablets of stone; Solon’s laws were written on tables of wood.

You cannot know whether to turn left or to turn right unless you have Bible doctrine written on the tablet of your heart. You must have Bible doctrine in your soul. Grace and truth must be on a chain around your neck. It is this grace and truth which helps to guide us in life; which helps to guide our volition.

Proverbs 3:3 (a graphic) from enfuzed.com, accessed February 9, 2015.

Today’s NIV gives us a good sense of v. 3: Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. You must do something in order to keep love and faithfulness (grace and truth) from leaving you. They must be bound to you; they must become a part of you. Quite obviously, we cannot take these two aspects of the plan of God and physically bind them to us, as if they are two wandering dogs who need to be kept on a leash. However, the verb used means to bind, to tie, to attach; so, even though such things cannot actually be bound or attached to you, David is directing Solomon to still do that. How this happens is, they must be written on the tablet of his heart; that is, this information must be written on his right lobe.

We are designed in such a way as to require a renewing of truth and a building up of truth. We need to be able to focus upon truth and to narrow down our understanding of it, so that we eliminate the dross of human viewpoint.

Operation Z (graphic) from Country Bible Church, but first developed by R. B. Thieme, Jr. This applied to Solomon because he played a specific role in the history of Israel; but in the Church Age, this is true for all believers. We are taught the Word of God—generally by a pastor-teacher and not by reading the Bible and saying, “What does that mean to me?” God the Holy Spirit makes this information understandable to us; and then we take that information and decide what to do with it. Do we believe it or do we reject it? If we believe it, then it is transferred to our heart (the thinking part of the soul).

Once this information is in the thinking part of our soul, we might compare it to similar information; we might think about it to help us remember it; we might think of a situation in our lives that this is applied to. Essentially, we are relating this Bible doctrine to the reality in our souls. That helps to write God’s Word on the tablet of our hearts. So, in other words, we do not just take these words and memorize them (although that is a reasonable approach at first); but we mix this in to our thinking so that it becomes a part of our thinking.

Translation: ...so that you will find favor and pleasant understanding in the eyes of Elohim and man. God will observe you and man will observe you—that is simply a part of life. If you act according to Bible doctrine and if you make decision in life based upon your knowledge of God’s grace, then you will be favored by both man and God.

The second part of this is a little more difficult to explain. Does this mean that God looks at you and sees that you have a good understanding of Him in your thinking? Do men recognize that as well? When you act wisely, and when you think with wisdom, and express yourself with understanding and forethought, then men will have to admit to your wisdom in life. Now, obviously, there are some men who are so opposed to Bible doctrine that they will never respect you or like you unless you absolutely turn against God and His Word, but that is simply a fact of the devil’s world.

Setting aside those who are delusionally paranoid and those who go apoplectic when they hear the words Bible or Jesus, people will respect the way that you lead your life and the decisions that you make, if you are guided by grace and truth.

For most believers, if their souls are infused with grace and the truth of God’s Word, then their actions in life will bear this out. In your employment, you will work hard (or in the school or the military, you will work hard to do well). You will take the actions, needs and feelings of others into consideration in the realm of employment. If you are tasked to a group project, you will be seen by most to have contributed significantly to the completion of the project. In your family life, you will be seen as considerate and caring; if a father, as a man his children can look up to; as a mother, someone her children can always depend upon. My point is, if you have doctrine on the inside, then it should find its way to influence your modus operandi in life.

Bear in mind that all of this occurs within the realm of your own personality. There are a variety of personalities out there, and the Christian life is not shaving off the rough spots of your personality to suit others. You might be jovial and outgoing; you might be quiet and introspective; you may have an interest in sports, and you may find watching a chess match to be far more engaging. I only mention this because, as a young Christian, I attended one Young Life group in college (or Christian life or some such name); and I noticed that all of the guys had fashionably long hair (not too long), and they sounded very much the same, and they always seemed compassionate and concerned. Now, if that is the way that you are, that is fine. But if everyone in the group appears to have come from the same cookie cutter, that is problematic. We are not spiritual because we imitate the personality of someone that we admire. Along the same lines, I attended a church one time, and I noticed that many of the women sounded like the pastor’s wife. They had the same inflection in their voices and same (wrong) pronunciations of some words. I did not stay in that church for more than one visit, but my guess is, the women were imitating the pastor’s wife.

My point in all of this is, if you have doctrine in your soul, that will affect the way that you conduct your life. If you contract with someone to do a job for them, they will be able to expect that you do exactly what you say that you are going to do. If someone does a job for you, they ought to know that they can depend upon you for payment and that you are not going to give them the run-around or a litany of excuses. If you are a landlord, you are going to treat your tenants honestly; and if you are a tenant, you will pay your rent on time. Right thinking ought to result in honorable living. As a result, you will find favor in the eyes of men.

Solomon had people from all over to come and interact with him because of his brilliance and his wisdom. They understood him to be a brilliant man, because of the judicial decisions which he rendered and because of how he ran his country. What is more amazing than this—and I don’t think that this is specifically referenced in Scripture—Solomon began as a very young king. He was probably somewhere between 12 and 18, and yet he made decisions which were wise beyond his years, because he learned Bible doctrine from his father David. His thinking had been renovated by Bible doctrine. So it would be far more impressive to the outside world that a very young man was making these decisions.

We have the example of Noah finding grace in the eyes of God (Gen. 6:8) and Joseph finding grace in the eyes of Potipher (Gen. 39:4). Noah found this grace because he walked with God; and Joseph because he demonstrated great intelligence and good judgment.

Vv. 3–4 read: You will not be forsaken by grace and truth. Therefore, let them guide you in life; remember them, so that you will find both favor and insight before man and God. David tells Solomon that is to be the basis of his growth, as a man and as king. The same two things were essential to the spiritual growth of Jesus Christ: And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. (Luke 2:52; ESV) When Jesus Christ fulfilled the Scriptures, this was more than the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophesies and keeping the Law of Moses. Jesus was the embodiment of the Old Testament. What King David teaches his son right here is exactly the lessons which Jesus Christ took to heart.

Throughout the gospels, it is clear that there were many men—even those who were not likely to be predisposed toward Jesus—who were swayed by His character and wisdom. And, there were also the recalcitrants—those who would reject Him no matter what He said or did.

Quite obviously, this does not mean that every person that you encounter will admire and respect you. This is the devil’s world and every person you meet has a sin nature. So there will be some, no matter how honorable your life is, who will not like you and who will often be working against you. These people are your test. Can you exhibit impersonal love toward them, despite the fact that they are vicious, back-biting jackasses?

Vv. 1–4 read: My son, do not forsake my instruction and [let] your heart keep [and preserve] my prohibitions [and precepts], for these things [lit., they] will add a long life [to you], [as well as] an abundant life and peace to you. Grace and truth will not forsake you. Bind them around your neck [and] write them on the tablet of your heart, so that you will find favor and pleasant understanding in the eyes of Elohim and man. This sets up a contrast between the godly man, the man of doctrine, the man who looks to God, and those who have rejected His ways. David described these men in Prov. 1:10–19 My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. If they say, "Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason; like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder; throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse"-- my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths, for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird, but these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives. Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors. (ESV; capitalized) In Prov. 2:10–20, David tells Solomon that wisdom and discretion will guard him from evil men: ...for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil, men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways. So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words, who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God; for her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the departed; none who go to her come back, nor do they regain the paths of life. So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. (ESV; capitalized)

Peter Pett: They walk in wayward paths. They are unappreciative of God's wisdom, and therefore of His truth.

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Discourse 5b: The Application of Wisdom