Proverbs 8:32-35

8:32 “So now, children, ¹  listen to me;

blessed are those who keep my ways.

8:33 Listen to my instruction ²  so that you may be wise, ³ 

and do not neglect it.

8:34 Blessed is the one ⁴  who listens to me,

watching ⁵  at my doors day by day,

waiting ⁶  beside my doorway. ⁷ 

8:35 For the one who finds me finds ⁸  life

and receives ⁹  favor from the Lord.

[8:32]  ¹ tn Heb “sons.”

[8:33]  ² tn Heb “discipline.”

[8:33]  ³ tn The construction uses two imperatives joined with the vav (ו); this is a volitive sequence in which result or consequence is being expressed.

[8:34]  ⁴ tn Heb “the man.”

[8:34]  ⁵ tn The form לִשְׁקֹד (lishqod) is the infinitive construct serving epexegetically in the sentence. It explains how the person will listen to wisdom.

[8:34]  ⁶ tn Heb “keeping” or “guarding.”

[8:34]  ⁷ tn Heb “at the posts of my doors” (so KJV, ASV).

[8:35]  ⁸ tc The Kethib reads plurals: “those who find me are finders of life”; this is reflected in the LXX and Syriac. But the Qere is singular: “whoever finds me finds life.” The Qere is generally favored as the original reading in such cases as these.

[8:35]  ⁹ tn The preterite with vav (ו) consecutive carries the same nuance as the perfect tense that came before it, setting out the timeless principle.