BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO FINDS WISDOM

Passage: Proverbs 3:11-35

Key verse: 12

NIV

11 My son,(A) do not despise the Lord’s discipline,(B)
    and do not resent his rebuke,
12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves,(C)
    as a father the son he delights in.[a](D)

13 Blessed are those who find wisdom,
    those who gain understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver
    and yields better returns than gold.(E)
15 She is more precious than rubies;(F)
    nothing you desire can compare with her.(G)
16 Long life is in her right hand;(H)
    in her left hand are riches and honor.(I)
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
    and all her paths are peace.(J)
18 She is a tree of life(K) to those who take hold of her;
    those who hold her fast will be blessed.(L)

19 By wisdom(M) the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,(N)
    by understanding he set the heavens(O) in place;
20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
    and the clouds let drop the dew.

21 My son,(P) do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,(Q)
    preserve sound judgment and discretion;
22 they will be life for you,(R)
    an ornament to grace your neck.(S)
23 Then you will go on your way in safety,(T)
    and your foot will not stumble.(U)
24 When you lie down,(V) you will not be afraid;(W)
    when you lie down, your sleep(X) will be sweet.
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster
    or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the Lord will be at your side(Y)
    and will keep your foot(Z) from being snared.(AA)

27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
    when it is in your power to act.
28 Do not say to your neighbor,
    “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—
    when you already have it with you.(AB)
29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
    who lives trustfully near you.(AC)
30 Do not accuse anyone for no reason—
    when they have done you no harm.

31 Do not envy(AD) the violent
    or choose any of their ways.

32 For the Lord detests the perverse(AE)
    but takes the upright into his confidence.(AF)
33 The Lord’s curse(AG) is on the house of the wicked,(AH)
    but he blesses the home of the righteous.(AI)
34 He mocks(AJ) proud mockers(AK)
    but shows favor to the humble(AL) and oppressed.
35 The wise inherit honor,
    but fools get only shame.

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Footnotes
  1. Proverbs 3:12 Hebrew; Septuagint loves, / and he chastens everyone he accepts as his child
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

11 (A)My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline
    or be weary of his reproof,
12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,
    as (B)a father the son in whom he delights.

Blessed Is the One Who Finds Wisdom

13 (C)Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
    and the one who gets understanding,
14 (D)for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
    and her profit better than (E)gold.
15 She is more precious than (F)jewels,
    and (G)nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 (H)Long life is in her right hand;
    in her left hand are (I)riches and honor.
17 Her (J)ways are ways of pleasantness,
    and all her paths are peace.
18 She is (K)a tree of life to those who (L)lay hold of her;
    those who hold her fast are called blessed.

19 (M)The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
    by understanding (N)he established the heavens;
20 by his knowledge (O)the deeps broke open,
    and (P)the clouds drop down the dew.

21 My son, (Q)do not lose sight of these—
    keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 and they will be (R)life for your soul
    and (S)adornment for your neck.
23 (T)Then you will walk on your way securely,
    (U)and your foot will not stumble.
24 (V)If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
    when you lie down, (W)your sleep will be sweet.
25 (X)Do not be afraid of sudden terror
    or of (Y)the ruin[a] of the wicked, when it comes,
26 for the Lord will be your confidence
    and will (Z)keep your foot from being caught.
27 (AA)Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,[b]
    when it is in your power to do it.

28 (AB)Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,
    tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.
29 (AC)Do not plan evil against your neighbor,
    who (AD)dwells trustingly beside you.
30 (AE)Do not contend with a man for no reason,
    when he has done you no harm.
31 (AF)Do not envy (AG)a man of violence
    and do not choose any of his ways,
32 for (AH)the devious person is an abomination to the Lord,
    but the upright are (AI)in his confidence.
33 (AJ)The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked,
    but he (AK)blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
34 Toward the (AL)scorners he (AM)is scornful,
    (AN)but to the humble he gives favor.[c]
35 The wise will inherit honor,
    but fools get[d] disgrace.

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Footnotes
  1. Proverbs 3:25 Hebrew storm
  2. Proverbs 3:27 Hebrew Do not withhold good from its owners
  3. Proverbs 3:34 Or grace
  4. Proverbs 3:35 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. The Lord's discipline (11-18)

Wisdom from God is more precious than gold or jewels; it is worth making a great sacrifice to obtain it (14-18). God teaches us his wisdom through discipline. When he disciplines us, we must first remember his love. Then we must seek to learn what he wants to teach us. We are very foolish if we resent or despise God's discipline. We only suffer more and do not grow.

2. The Lord's wisdom (19-35)

God is the source of all wisdom; he created the world by his wisdom. He gives us wisdom through his written word. He tells us not to live by our feelings but to exercise sound judgment and discernment. If the Lord is our confidence, then we can sleep peacefully. We must deal with others in God's way, not according to our pride or anger (27-32). We must not envy a violent man or choose his ways. God blesses the righteous and gives grace to the humble.

Prayer: Lord, teach me your wisdom and your love. Help me to walk in your ways.

One Word: Discipline...for those he loves