Focused Passage

Proverbs 3:13-20

Trusting the LORD: Wisdom for the Heart, the Path, and the Neighbor

The chapter moves from internal instruction, to trust in the LORD, to stewardship and discipline, to the supreme value of wisdom, to guarded walking, to public righteousness toward neighbors.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding,

14 for she is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than fine gold.

15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire compares with her.

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

17 All her ways are pleasant, and all her paths are peaceful.

18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who lay hold of her are blessed.

19 The LORD founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding.

20 By His knowledge the watery depths were broken open, and the clouds dripped with dew.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 13

Cross-references

Romans 12:2 Classic cross-references Psalms 90:12 Classic cross-references Ecclesiastes 2:26 Classic cross-references Proverbs 8:34 Classic cross-references 1 Kings 3:9 Classic cross-references

Original words

Blessed אַשְׁרֵ֣י H835 Interjection [is] the man אָ֭דָם H120 Noun - masculine singular who finds מָצָ֣א H4672 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular wisdom חָכְמָ֑ה H2451 Noun - feminine singular the man וְ֝אָדָ֗ם H120 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular who acquires יָפִ֥יק H6329 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular understanding תְּבוּנָֽה׃ H8394 Noun - feminine singular

Verse 14

Cross-references

Proverbs 16:16 Classic cross-references Proverbs 8:11 Classic cross-references Proverbs 8:19 Classic cross-references Job 28:13 Classic cross-references Revelation 3:18 Classic cross-references

Original words

for כִּ֤י H3588 Conjunction she is more ט֣וֹב H2896 Adjective - masculine singular profitable סַ֭חְרָהּ H5504 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular . . . מִסְּחַר־ H5504 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct than silver כָּ֑סֶף H3701 Noun - masculine singular and her gain [is better] תְּבוּאָתָֽהּ׃ H8393 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular than fine gold וּ֝מֵחָר֗וּץ H2742 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular

Verse 15

Cross-references

Proverbs 31:10 Classic cross-references Proverbs 16:16 Classic cross-references Proverbs 8:11 Classic cross-references Job 28:18 Classic cross-references Psalms 73:25 Classic cross-references

Original words

She הִ֭יא H1931 Pronoun - third person feminine singular is more precious יְקָ֣רָה H3368 Adjective - feminine singular than rubies מִפְּנִיִּים H6443 Preposition-m | Noun - feminine plural nothing וְכָל־ H3605 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct . . . לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle you desire חֲ֝פָצֶ֗יךָ H2656 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular compares יִֽשְׁווּ־ H7737 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural with her בָֽהּ׃ Preposition | third person feminine singular

Verse 16

Cross-references

Proverbs 22:4 Classic cross-references Psalms 91:16 Classic cross-references Psalms 112:3 Classic cross-references Proverbs 9:11 Classic cross-references 1 Kings 3:13 Classic cross-references

Original words

Long אֹ֣רֶךְ H753 Noun - masculine singular construct life יָ֭מִים H3117 Noun - masculine plural is in her right hand בִּֽימִינָ֑הּ H3225 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular in her left hand בִּ֝שְׂמֹאולָ֗הּ H8040 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular [are] riches עֹ֣שֶׁר H6239 Noun - masculine singular and honor וְכָבֽוֹד׃ H3519 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular

Verse 17

Cross-references

Luke 1:79 Classic cross-references Matthew 11:30 Classic cross-references Psalms 119:165 Classic cross-references Isaiah 26:3 Classic cross-references Philippians 4:8 Classic cross-references

Original words

All her ways דְּרָכֶ֥יהָ H1870 Noun - common plural construct | third person feminine singular . . . דַרְכֵי־ H1870 Noun - common plural construct are pleasant נֹ֑עַם H5278 Noun - masculine singular and all וְֽכָל־ H3605 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct her paths נְתִ֖יבוֹתֶ֣יהָ H5410 Noun - feminine plural construct | third person feminine singular [are] peaceful שָׁלֽוֹם׃ H7965 Noun - masculine singular

Verse 18

Cross-references

1 Timothy 6:12 Classic cross-references Proverbs 11:30 Classic cross-references Proverbs 13:12 Classic cross-references Proverbs 4:13 Classic cross-references Proverbs 15:4 Classic cross-references

Original words

She הִ֭יא H1931 Pronoun - third person feminine singular is a tree עֵץ־ H6086 Noun - masculine singular construct of life חַיִּ֣ים H2416 Noun - masculine plural to those who embrace לַמַּחֲזִיקִ֣ים H2388 Preposition-l, Article | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural her בָּ֑הּ Preposition | third person feminine singular and those who lay hold of her וְֽתֹמְכֶ֥יהָ H8551 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular are blessed מְאֻשָּֽׁר׃פ H833 Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine singular

Verse 19

Cross-references

Genesis 1:1 Classic cross-references Psalms 104:24 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 10:12 Classic cross-references Proverbs 8:22 Classic cross-references Job 28:12 Classic cross-references

Original words

The LORD יְֽהוָ֗ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular founded יָֽסַד־ H3245 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular the earth אָ֑רֶץ H776 Noun - feminine singular by wisdom בְּחָכְמָ֥ה H2451 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular and established כּוֹנֵ֥ן H3559 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular the heavens שָׁ֝מַ֗יִם H8064 Noun - masculine plural by understanding בִּתְבוּנָֽה׃ H8394 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular

Verse 20

Cross-references

Genesis 7:11 Classic cross-references Job 38:28 Classic cross-references Proverbs 8:24 Classic cross-references Psalms 65:9 Classic cross-references Genesis 1:9 Classic cross-references

Original words

By His knowledge בְּ֭דַעְתּוֹ H1847 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular the watery depths תְּהוֹמ֣וֹת H8415 Noun - common plural were broken open נִבְקָ֑עוּ H1234 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural and the clouds וּ֝שְׁחָקִ֗ים H7834 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural dripped יִרְעֲפוּ־ H7491 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural with dew טָֽל׃ H2919 Noun - masculine singular

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