Ecclesiastes 3:3

Nova Vulgata

Misericordia et veritas te non deserant; circumda eas gutturi tuo et describe in tabulis cordis tui,

Parallel Translations

Clementine Latin Vulgate (1592)
Tu autem Domine, susceptor meus es, gloria mea, et exaltans caput meum.

Jerome's Latin Vulgate (405)
Misericordia et veritas te non deserant;
circumda eas gutturi tuo,
et describe in tabulis cordis tui:

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

mercy: Proverbs 16:6, Proverbs 20:28, 2 Samuel 15:20, Psalms 25:10, Hosea 4:1, Micah 7:18-20, Malachi 2:6, Matthew 23:23, Ephesians 5:1, Ephesians 5:2, Ephesians 5:9

bind: Proverbs 6:21, Proverbs 7:3, Exodus 13:9, Deuteronomy 6:8, Deuteronomy 11:18-21, Psalms 119:11

write: Jeremiah 17:1, 2 Corinthians 3:3, Hebrews 10:16

Reciprocal: Genesis 24:49 - deal kindly and truly Deuteronomy 4:9 - keep thy soul Deuteronomy 33:24 - let him be 1 Samuel 2:26 - was in 1 Samuel 20:8 - deal kindly 2 Chronicles 9:7 - General Proverbs 4:21 - depart Daniel 6:3 - an Matthew 23:5 - they make Luke 1:63 - a Luke 2:52 - and in

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Let not mercy and truth forsake thee,.... Or, forsake not them, and the exercise of them; show "mercy" to fellow creatures, to sinful men, to the bodies of men, by relieving their wants; and to their souls, by pitying and praying for them, and by giving them wholesome counsel and advice: to fellow Christians, sympathize with them in their troubles, put on bowels of compassion, be tenderhearted, and forgive offences; and, in a spirit of meekness, restore backsliders, for God will have mercy, and not sacrifice. Attend to "truth"; exercise faith on the Lord; cast not away your confidence; speak truth to your neighbour and brother; and hold fast the truth of the Gospel, and never depart from it. Though many interpreters understand this by way of promise, and as an encouragement to regard the doctrines and ordinances of Christ, rendering the words, "mercy and truth shall not forsake thee" g; meaning the mercy and truth of God; the "mercy" of God in forgiving sin, in sympathizing under affliction, in helping in time of need, in supplying with all needful grace, and in bringing to eternal life; for the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting, upon them that fear him, Psalms 103:17; the "truth" of God, his faithfulness in performing promises, never fails; the unbelief of man cannot make it of no effect; though we believe not, he abides faithful and true to every word of his; not one shall fail, or pass away; all shall be fulfilled; see Psalms 89:33; "all [his] paths [are] mercy and truth", and he never goes out of them,

Psalms 25:10;

bind them about thy neck; as chains for ornament: not mercy and truth, just before mentioned, as may seem at first sight; but the law and commandments of wisdom, Proverbs 3:1; or the doctrines and ordinances of Christ; see Proverbs 1:8; reckon it as your greatest honour, glory, and beauty, that you steadfastly adhere to these things; nothing makes a believer look more lovely in conversation than a close regard to the truths of Christ, and a constant walking in his ordinances;

write them upon the table of thine heart; do not forget them, keep them in memory, and always retain a hearty affection for them; it is the Spirit's work to write them in the heart; and when they are there written, it is the work of saints, under a divine influence, to copy them over in life, and to show by their conduct and behaviour that they are written there; see Jeremiah 31:33. The allusion, in both phrases, is to the directions given about the law of Moses, Deuteronomy 6:8; and to the writing of his law on tables of stone: and it was usual with the ancients, in later times, to write on tables of wood; Solon's laws were written on tables of wood h; and such were the "tabellae et pugillares" of the Romans, made of box, beech, and other sorts of wood, covered with wax, on which they wrote; Deuteronomy 6:8- :; but Solomon would have his law written on the fleshly tables of the heart, 2 Corinthians 3:3.

g אל יעזבך "non derelinquent te", Piscator; "non deserent te", Michaelis; so Aben Ezra and Gersom. h Laert, Vit. Solon. A. Gell. Noet. Attic. l. 2. c. 12.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The two elements of a morally perfect character:

(1) “Mercy,” shutting out all forms of selfishness and hate.

(2) “Truth,” shutting out all deliberate falsehood, all hypocrisy, conscious or unconscious.

The words that follow possibly refer to 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. Compare, however, 1 Peter 3:3-4.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Proverbs 3:3. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee — Let these be thy constant companions through life.

Bind them about thy neck — Keep them constantly in view. Write them upon the table of thine heart - let them be thy moving principles; feel them as well as see them.