BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO FINDS WISDOM

Passage: Proverbs 3:11-26

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)

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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.

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Footnotes
  1. Proverbs 3:25 Hebrew storm
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Wisdom involves discipline. God disciplines those he loves. We should not despise God’s discipline. A good father disciplines his children to teach them the right way to go. Our Father God, in his wisdom, disciplines us for our own good out of his love to raise us in the right way. We should not despise God’s discipline but thank him for it. Are you guilty of despising the Lord’s discipline? Repent and thank him for his love and wisdom to help you.

When we grow in wisdom, we are truly blessed. We become truly rich in understanding — which profits our lives far more than rare jewels. Having godly wisdom is compared to the tree of life in the Garden of Eden (18). With wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, God created the heavens and earth. (19-20) If we base our lives on godly wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, we will have a firm foundation. Wisdom gives life to our souls (22).

Many things in life make us stumble and fall. We are confused, afraid, and helpless. But having wisdom makes our way secure, so that we are no longer afraid, and our sleep is sweet. We are confident in the Lord who will protect us.

Prayer: Father, thank you for disciplining me according to your wisdom so that I may live a truly blessed life.

One Word: Seek God’s wisdom and be blessed