Proverbs 3:13-18
New English Translation
Blessings of Obtaining Wisdom
13 Blessed[a] is the one[b] who has found[c] wisdom,
and the one who obtains[d] understanding.
14 For her[e] benefit[f] is more profitable[g] than silver,
and her[h] gain[i] is better[j] than gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies,
and none of the things you desire can compare[k] with her.[l]
16 Long life[m] is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are very pleasant,[n]
and all her paths are peaceful.
18 She is like[o] a tree of life[p] to those who grasp onto her,
and everyone who takes hold of her will be blessed.[q]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 3:13 tn Although the word אַשְׁרֵי (ʾashre, “blessed”) is frequently translated “happy” here (so KJV, ASV, NAB, NCV, NRSV, TEV, NLT), such a translation can be somewhat misleading. The core meaning of the word conveys “benefit” or “advantage,” sometimes meaning security. Though feeling glad about the benefit is often in view, “happy” is too narrow a translation. For example, Job 5:17 says the one whom God corrects is אַשְׁרֵי. Clearly the correction is a benefit; less clearly does it prompt inner happiness. On the other hand “blessed” should not be confused with בָּרַךְ (barakh) “to bless,” used in pronouncing blessings.
- Proverbs 3:13 tn Heb “the man” (also again in the following line).
- Proverbs 3:13 tn The verb מָצָא (matsaʾ) is a dynamic root in the perfect conjugation, best represented here by the English perfect “has found.” The formula with אַשְׁרֵי (ʾashre, “blessed”) most commonly uses the imperfect or participle for future or present activities. The perfect identifies an action in the past with continuing results. The present focus of the continuing results is sufficient to be in parallel with the following imperfect verb, which may be understood as present or future. The blessings, or benefits, that accrue to someone who has found wisdom are identified in the following verses.
- Proverbs 3:13 tn The precise meaning of the word פּוּק (puq) is unclear. It occurs only 7 times in the Bible and the meanings of cognates in other languages are disputed. It involves “obtaining” as is clear from its parallelism with מָצָא (matsaʾ; “to find”) here and elsewhere. But it is not clear whether it considers the process of obtaining or just the final achievement of obtaining (compare getting a wife in Prov 18:22). The lexical meaning affects one’s understanding of the imperfect form of the verb. If its lexical meaning focuses on the achievement, then it should probably be understood as future. This would work with the perfect verb in the first line to include those who will yet pursue and obtain understanding in receiving the benefits of wisdom. It could also be understood as a general present. If the lexical meaning includes the process of obtaining, that opens the possibilities of using the imperfect tense for progressive or habitual meaning.
- Proverbs 3:14 tn Heb “her profit.” The third person feminine singular suffix on the noun is probably a genitive of source: “from her.”
- Proverbs 3:14 tn Heb “profit.” The noun סַחַר (sakhar, “trading profit”) often refers to the financial profit of traveling merchants (Isa 23:3, 18; 45:14; HALOT 750 s.v.). The related participle describes a traveling “trader, dealer, wholesaler, merchant” (e.g., Gen 37:28; Prov 31:14; Isa 23:2; Ezek 27:36; HALOT 750 s.v. סחר qal.2). Here the noun is used figuratively to describe the moral benefit of wisdom.
- Proverbs 3:14 tn The noun סַחַר (“profit”) is repeated in this line for emphasis. The two usages draw upon slightly different nuances, creating a polysemantic wordplay. The moral “benefit” of wisdom is more “profitable” than silver.
- Proverbs 3:14 tn Heb “her yield.” The third person feminine singular suffix on the noun is probably a genitive of source: “from her.”
- Proverbs 3:14 tn Heb “yield.” The noun תְּבוּאָה (tevuʾah, “product; yield”) is normally used of crops and harvests (BDB 100 s.v. 1). Here it is figurative for the moral benefit of wisdom (BDB 100 s.v. 2.b).
- Proverbs 3:14 tn The phrase “is better” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is implied by the parallelism; it is supplied in the translation for the sake of smoothness.
- Proverbs 3:15 tn The imperfect verb from יָסַד (yasad, “to establish be like; to resemble”) has a modal nuance here: “can [not] compare with.”
- Proverbs 3:15 tn Heb “All of your delights cannot compare with her.”
- Proverbs 3:16 tn Heb “length of days” (so KJV, ASV).
- Proverbs 3:17 tn Heb “her ways are ways of pleasantness” (so KJV, NRSV). The present translation contracts this expression for the sake of smoothness. The plural of דֶרֶךְ (derekh, “way”) is repeated for emphasis. The noun נֹעַם (noʿam, “pleasantness”) functions as an attributive genitive: “pleasant ways.”
- Proverbs 3:18 tn The comparative “like” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is implied by the metaphor.
- Proverbs 3:18 sn The metaphor compares wisdom to the symbol of vitality and fullness of life. This might be an allusion to Gen 3:22, suggesting that what was lost as a result of the Fall may be recovered through wisdom: long and beneficial life (R. Marcus, “The Tree of Life in Proverbs,” JBL 62 [1943]: 117-20).
- Proverbs 3:18 tn The singular participle מְאֻשָּׁר (meʾushar, literally, “he will be blessed”) functions as a distributive singular for a plural subject (GKC 464 §145.l): “each and everyone will be blessed.” Not recognizing this point of syntax, the BHS editors unnecessarily suggest emending this singular form to the plural.
Proverbs 3:13-18
Legacy Standard Bible
13 (A)How blessed is the man who finds wisdom
And the man who obtains discernment.
14 For her (B)profit is better than the profit of silver
And her produce better than fine gold.
15 She is (C)more precious than [a]pearls;
And nothing you desire compares with her.
16 (D)Length of days is in her right hand;
In her left hand are (E)riches and glory.
17 Her (F)ways are pleasant ways
And all her pathways are (G)peace.
18 She is a (H)tree of life to those who seize her,
And all those who hold her fast are blessed.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 3:15 Or corals
Proverbs 3:21-24
New English Translation
21 My child, do not let them[a] escape from your sight;
safeguard sound wisdom and discretion.[b]
22 So they will become life for your soul,[c]
and grace around your neck.[d]
23 Then you will walk on your way with security,
and you will not stumble.[e]
24 When[f] you lie down[g] you will not be filled with fear;[h]
when you lie down your sleep will be pleasant.[i]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 3:21 tn The object of the verb “escape” is either (1) wisdom, knowledge, and understanding in vv. 13-20 or (2) “wisdom and discretion” in the second colon of this verse. Several English versions transpose the terms “wisdom and discretion” from the second colon into the first colon for the sake of clarity and smoothness (e.g., RSV, NRSV, NIV, TEV, CEV). NIV takes the subject from the second colon and reverses the clauses to clarify that.
- Proverbs 3:21 tn Or: “purpose,” “power of devising.”
- Proverbs 3:22 tn The noun נַפְשֶׁךָ (nafshekha, “your soul”) is a synecdoche of part (= inner soul) for the whole person (= you); see BDB 600 s.v. 4.a.2.
- Proverbs 3:22 tn Heb “for your neck.” Cf. 1:9.
- Proverbs 3:23 sn Heb “You will not strike your foot.” What the foot strikes (cf. Ps 91:12 “against a stone”) is omitted but something is implied. This is a figure (hypocatastasis) comparing stumbling on a stone in the path to making serious mistakes in life that bring harm.
- Proverbs 3:24 tn The particle אִם (ʾim, “if”) here functions in its rare temporal sense (“when”) followed by an imperfect tense (e.g., Num 36:4; BDB 50 s.v. 1.b.4.b).
- Proverbs 3:24 tc The LXX reads “sit down,” presumably from תֵּשֵׁב (teshev) while the MT reads תִּשְׁכַּב (tishkav, “lie down”). Either the LXX translator worked from a text which had lost the כ (kaf) or the MT copyist had a damaged text and restored a verb from the root שָׁכַב (shakav, “to lie down”) based on the following verb. The text restored from the LXX would present a progression from walking (v. 23), to sitting, to lying down: “When you sit down, you will not fear, then you will lie down and your sleep will be pleasant.”
- Proverbs 3:24 tn Heb “will not have dread.” The verb פָּחַד (pakhad, “tremble, shake with fear”) describes emotion that is stronger than mere fear—it is dread.
- Proverbs 3:24 tn The verb עָרְבָה (ʿarevah) is from III עָרַב (ʿarav, “to be sweet; to be pleasing; to be pleasant”; BDB 787 s.v. III עָרַב). It should not be confused with the other five homonymic roots that are also spelled עָרַב (see BDB 786-88).
Proverbs 3:21-24
Legacy Standard Bible
21 My son, (A)let them not deviate from your eyes;
Guard sound wisdom and discretion,
22 So they will be (B)life for your soul
And (C)grace for your neck.
23 Then you will (D)walk in your way securely
And your foot will not (E)stumble.
24 When you (F)lie down, you will not be in dread;
You will lie down, and your sleep will be pleasant.
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