Proverbs 2:4

if ¹  you seek ²  it like silver, ³  and search for it ⁴  like hidden treasure,

biblegateway Pro 2:4

and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,

biblegateway Pro 2:4

If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures;

biblegateway Pro 2:4

Search for them as you would for lost money or hidden treasure.

biblegateway Pro 2:4

Searching for it like a prospector panning for gold, like an adventurer on a treasure hunt,

SABDAweb Pro 2:4

If you are looking for her as for silver, and searching for her as for stored-up wealth;

bibleoremus Pro 2:4

if you seek it like silver, and search for it as for hidden treasures—

biblegateway Pro 2:4

If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures;

biblegateway Pro 2:4

if ¹  you seek ²  it like silver, ³  and search for it ⁴  like hidden treasure,

¹ tn The conditional particle now reiterates the initial conditional clause of this introductory section (1-4); the apodosis will follow in v. 5.

² tn The verb בָּקַשׁ (baqash) means “to search for; to seek; to investigate” (BDB 134 s.v.). This calls for the same diligence one would have in looking for silver.

³ sn The two similes affirm that the value placed on the object will influence the eagerness and diligence in the pursuit and development of wisdom (e.g., Job 28:9-11). The point is not only that the object sought is valuable, but that the effort will be demanding but rewarding.

⁴ sn The verb חָפַשׂ (khafas) means “to dig; to search” (BDB 344 s.v.; cf. NCV “hunt for it”). The Arabic cognate means “to dig for water.” It is used literally of Joseph searching his brothers’ sacks (Gen 44:12) and figuratively for searching the soul (Ps 64:7). This is a more emphatic word than the one used in the first colon and again emphasizes that acquiring wisdom will be demanding.