Proverbs 3:13-35

Blessed Is the One Who Finds Wisdom

13 ¹Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding,

14 ²for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than ³gold.

15 She is more precious than ⁴jewels, and ⁵nothing you desire can compare with her.

16 ⁶Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are ⁷riches and honor.

17 Her ⁸ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

18 She is ⁹a tree of life to those who ¹⁰lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.

19 ¹¹The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding ¹²he established the heavens;

20 by his knowledge ¹³the deeps broke open, and ¹⁴the clouds drop down the dew.

21 My son, ¹⁵do not lose sight of these-- keep sound wisdom and discretion,

22 and they will be ¹⁶life for your soul and ¹⁷adornment for your neck.

23 ¹⁸Then you will walk on your way securely, ¹⁹and your foot will not stumble.

24 ²⁰If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, ²¹your sleep will be sweet.

25 ²²Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of ²³the ruin^[a] of the wicked, when it comes,

26 for the LORD will be your confidence and will ²⁴keep your foot from being caught.

27 ²⁵Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,^[b] when it is in your power to do it.

28 ²⁶Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it"--when you have it with you.

29 ²⁷Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who ²⁸dwells trustingly beside you.

30 ²⁹Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm.

31 ³⁰Do not envy ³¹a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways,

32 for ³²the devious person is an abomination to the LORD, but the upright are ³³in his confidence.

33 ³⁴The LORD's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he ³⁵blesses the dwelling of the righteous.

34 Toward the ³⁶scorners he ³⁷is scornful, ³⁸but to the humble he gives favor.^[c]

35 The wise will inherit honor, but fools get^[d] disgrace.

Proverbs 3:13-35 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 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, Pr 3:1,2; as well as had the promise of the mercy and truth of God, and the continuance of them, annexed to them; and therefore are exhorted to keep close to them, and show the greatest value and affection for them, which was the way to find favour with, and to be taken notice of by, God and man, Pr 3:3,4; and then he proceeds to exhort them to a hearty trust in the Lord, without dependence on themselves; and to seek direction from him in every step they took, which they might expect to have, Pr 3:5,6; to humility and the fear of God, and fleeing from evil, which they would find would much contribute to their health, Pr 3:7,8; to liberality in supporting the worship of God, and the interest of religion, which would turn to account and profit to them, Pr 3:9,10; to patience in bearing the chastisement of the Lord, as coming from a loving father, Pr 3:11,12; then follows a commendation of wisdom, and the happiness of the man possessed of it is declared, Pr 3:13; from the profit, preciousness, pleasure, and usefulness of it, Pr 3:14-18; and from its concern in the works of creation and providence, Pr 3:19,20; and from that comfort, honour, safety, and security, which come by the doctrines and instructions of Wisdom, and a steady regard to them, Pr 3:21-26; and the chapter is concluded with exhortations to beneficence, charity, concord, and peace with neighbours, Pr 3:27-30; and to shun the ways of wicked men, urged from the different state and condition of wicked men and fools, and of the just, the lowly, and wise, Pr 3:31-35.

Cross References

• 1. Proverbs 8:34, 35
• 2. See Job 28:15-19
• 3. Proverbs 8:10, 19; Proverbs 16:16; Psalms 19:10
• 4. Job 28:18
• 5. Proverbs 8:11
• 6. ver. 2
• 7. Proverbs 8:18; Proverbs 22:4
• 8. [Matthew 11:29, 30]
• 9. Proverbs 11:30; Proverbs 13:12; Proverbs 15:4; Genesis 2:9; Genesis 3:22; Revelation 2:7; Revelation 22:2
• 10. Proverbs 4:13
• 11. Proverbs 8:27; Psalms 104:5, 24; Psalms 136:5
• 12. Proverbs 8:27; Psalms 104:5, 24; Psalms 136:5
• 13. Genesis 7:11; [Job 38:8]
• 14. Job 36:28
• 15. Proverbs 4:21
• 16. See Proverbs 4:22
• 17. [Proverbs 1:9]
• 18. Proverbs 10:9; [Proverbs 28:18; Psalms 91:11]
• 19. Proverbs 4:12; Psalms 91:12
• 20. [Proverbs 6:22; Psalms 3:5; Psalms 4:8]; See Job 11:19
• 21. Jeremiah 31:26
• 22. [1 Peter 3:14]; See Psalms 91:5
• 23. [Job 5:21]
• 24. See 1 Samuel 2:9
• 25. Galatians 6:10
• 26. [Leviticus 19:13; Deuteronomy 24:15]
• 27. Proverbs 6:14; Proverbs 12:20; Proverbs 14:22
• 28. [Judges 18:7, 27]
• 29. [Romans 12:18]
• 30. See Psalms 37:1
• 31. Psalms 18:48; Psalms 140:1
• 32. Proverbs 2:15
• 33. See Job 29:4
• 34. Psalms 37:22; Zechariah 5:4; Malachi 2:2; See Leviticus 26:14-39
• 35. [Job 8:6]
• 36. See Psalms 1:1
• 37. [James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5; See Psalms 138:6]
• 38. [James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5]; See Psalms 138:6

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew storm
• [b]. Hebrew Do not withhold good from its owners
• [c]. Or grace
• [d]. The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain