Proverbs 3:5-6 · KJV
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord With All Your Heart
Proverbs 3:5-6 calls us to trust God completely instead of relying on our own understanding — and promises that when we acknowledge Him in all our ways, He will direct our paths. It is the Bible's classic verse on guidance and surrendered trust.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV)
5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
What Proverbs 3:5-6 means
"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." The contrast is between two supports: our own limited, anxious reasoning, and God's complete knowledge. To "lean not" on our own understanding is not to stop thinking, but to stop making our judgment the final word.
The promise follows the surrender: "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Guidance comes not from figuring everything out in advance, but from bringing God into every part of the journey. It is one of the most memorized and quoted passages for decisions, direction, and uncertainty.
Key verses
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
Proverbs 3:5 · KJV — The call to whole-hearted trust.
“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Proverbs 3:6 · KJV — The promise of directed paths.
Share Proverbs 3:5
Card Studio
Make it a card to share or print
A prayer from Proverbs 3:5-6
Lord, I trust You with all my heart, and I stop leaning on my own understanding. In all my ways I acknowledge You — please direct my paths. Amen.
Themes in this passage
Related passages
Frequently asked
What does Proverbs 3:5-6 mean?
Proverbs 3:5-6 calls us to trust God completely instead of relying on our own understanding — and promises that when we acknowledge Him in all our ways, He will direct our paths. It is the Bible's classic verse on guidance and surrendered trust.
What is Proverbs 3:5-6 about?
"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." The contrast is between two supports: our own limited, anxious reasoning, and God's complete knowledge. To "lean not" on our own understanding is not to stop thinking, but to stop making our judgment the final word.
What is the key verse in Proverbs 3:5-6?
Proverbs 3:5 — “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
Is Proverbs 3:5-6 in the King James Version?
Yes. The full text of Proverbs 3:5-6 on this page is the King James Version (KJV), which is in the public domain.