Proverbs 19:8

19:8 The one who acquires wisdom ¹  loves himself; ² 

the one who preserves understanding will prosper. ³ 

Proverbs 23:23

23:23 Acquire ⁴  truth and do not sell it –

wisdom, and discipline, and understanding.

Proverbs 27:8

27:8 Like a bird that wanders ⁵  from its nest,

so is a person who wanders from his home. ⁶ 

[19:8]  ¹ tn Heb “heart.” Most English versions translate as “wisdom,” but cf. NAB “intelligence.” This refers to a mind that works (e.g., Prov 7:7; 9:4).

[19:8]  ² tn Heb “his own soul.” The expression “loves his soul” means that he is paying attention to his needs or taking care of his life (cf. NAB “is his own best friend”). This expression works with its parallel to provide the whole idea: “loving the soul” is the metonymy of the cause for prospering, and “prospering” is the metonymy of the effect (of loving).

[19:8]  ³ tn Heb “finds good” (similar KJV, NASB); NCV “will succeed.” The MT reads לִמְצֹא (limtso’), a Qal infinitive construct. The LXX (as well as the other major early versions) renders it as a future, which reflects a Vorlage of יִמְצָא (yimtsa’). The infinitive is used here in a modal sense, meaning “is destined to” or “is certain of” finding good in life.

[23:23]  ⁴ tn Heb “buy” (so KJV, NASB, NIV, NLT); CEV “Invest in truth.”

[27:8]  ⁷ tn The form נוֹדֶדֶת (nodedet) is the Qal participle from נָדַד (nadad), “to wander; to stray; to flutter; to retreat; to depart”; cf. NIV, NRSV, NLT “strays.” It will be directly paralleled with the masculine participle in the second colon.

[27:8]  ⁸ tn Heb “place” (so KJV, ASV); most other English versions translate as “home.”