Proverbs 3:13

Blessings of Obtaining Wisdom

3:13 Blessed ¹  is the one ²  who finds ³  wisdom,

and the one who obtains ⁴  understanding.

Proverbs 12:2

12:2 A good person obtains favor from the Lord,

but the Lord ⁵  condemns a person with wicked schemes. ⁶ 

[3:13]  ¹ tn Although the word אַשְׁרֵי (’ashre, “blessed”) is frequently translated “happy” here (so KJV, ASV, NAB, NCV, NRSV, TEV, NLT), such a translation can be somewhat misleading because the word means more than that – “happiness” depends on one’s circumstances. This word reflects that inner joy and heavenly bliss which comes to the person who is pleasing to God, whose way is right before God.

[3:13]  ² tn Heb “the man” (also again in the following line).

[3:13]  ³ tn The perfect tense verb may be classified as a characteristic or gnomic perfect, as the parallel imperfect tense verb suggests (see note on v. 13b).

[3:13]  ⁴ tn The imperfect tense verb may be classified as a progressive or habitual imperfect.

[12:2]  ⁵ tn Heb “but he condemns”; the referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[12:2]  ⁶ tn Heb “a man of wicked plans.” The noun מְזִמּוֹת (mÿzimmot, “evil plans”) functions as an attributive genitive: “an evil-scheming man.” Cf. NASB “a man who devises evil”; NAB “the schemer.”