The teacher of wisdom continues to highlight the importance of seeking wisdom.
Proverbs 3:1-2, Prosperity
My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you prosperity.
The teachings/commands promise long life and prosperity. The Hebrew word translated "teaching" here comes from torah; here it represents a more casual "teaching" than the Torah.
Proverbs 3:3-4, A necklace of love and faithfulness
Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor
and a good name in the sight of God and man.
Like the commandments in Deuteronomy 6:4-9, love and faithfulness are described as things one should wear as a necklace and inscribe in one's heart. A prosperity promise follows.
Proverbs 3:5-6, Wisdom flows from YHWH
Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
The Proverbs theme is repeated -- wisdom flows from YHWH; submission to YHWH leads to straight, smoothly paved roads.
Proverbs 3:7-8, Fear, shun
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.
The parallelism here equates wisdom and fear of YHWH with healthy body and bones.
In verse 8, the NIV translates a Hebrew word (from the Masoretic Text) with root shor as "your body." Apparently shor is related to an umbilical cord so the KJV translates it as "navel." If one adds a letter to shor, one gets sharir, meaning sinew or muscle. The Septuagint apparently has a Greek word that means flesh.
Proverbs 3:9-10, Financial advice
Honor the LORD with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.
Wisdom requires good financial dealings -- put YHWH first in one financial dealings leads to good results, two parallel lines promising an abundance of grain and wine.
Proverbs 3:11-12, A father's discipline
My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline
and do not resent his rebuke,
because the LORD disciplines those he loves,
as a father the son he delights in.
The intimacy of the knowledge of YHWH is represented as that of a son to a father.
Proverbs 3:13-18, Grasping a treasure
Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,
the man who gains understanding,
for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.
She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
those who lay hold of her will be blessed.
We return to an ode to Wisdom, citing the precious treasures she brings.
The Hebrew word with root peninim, translated "rubies" here, is unclear. It is a precious stone or treasure, probably red (says Kidner) sometimes translated as "pearls" or "jewelry." (It is difficult to identify some of the ancient Hebrew words for jewelry. Sappir, often translated "sapphire" is another example; nophek, perhaps "emerald" is a third.)
Just as there are many versions of wisdom, there are many rewards. Wisdom is personified as offering things from both her right and left hands: riches, honor, pleasantness, peace.
In the black and white guidance of the book of Proverbs, a common theme is the contrast between life and death. Wisdom is a "tree of life" to which one is encouraged to grab hold!
Proverbs 3:19-20, Wisdom in creation
By wisdom the LORD laid the earth's foundations,
by understanding he set the heavens in place;
by his knowledge the deeps were divided,
and the clouds let drop the dew.
Wisdom is a characteristic of creation. The images here harken back to Genesis 1.
Proverbs 3:21-26, Sound judgment and serenity
My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment,
do not let them out of your sight;
they will be life for you,
an ornament to grace your neck.
Then you will go on your way in safety,
and your foot will not stumble;
when you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
Have no fear of sudden disaster
or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
for the LORD will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from being snared.
Wisdom gives one safety and serenity.
Proverbs 3:27-30, A good neighbor
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it,
when it is in your power to act.
Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow"--
when you now have it with you.
Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
who lives trustfully near you.
Do not accuse a man for no reason--
when he has done you no harm.
One attribute of wisdom is an honest character. Briefly our teacher has moved from promoting the importance of seeking wisdom to giving wise advice. This transition will become prominent after chapter 8, when the importance of wisdom is replaced by practical wise advice. This guidance echoes the Old Testament Law; see Leviticus 19:13 and Deuteronomy 24:14-15.
Proverbs 3:31-35, Blessings and curses
Do not envy a violent man
or choose any of his ways,
for the LORD detests a perverse man
but takes the upright into his confidence.
The LORD's curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the righteous.
He mocks proud mockers
but gives grace to the humble.
The wise inherit honor,
but fools he holds up to shame.
The wise person is contrasted with the violent and perverse individual. These two individuals act very differently and receive different rewards.
The Septuagint translation of verse 34 is quoted in New Testament passages James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5.
The value of seeking wisdom will be described further in the next chapter.
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