Proverbs 3:13

Blessings of Obtaining Wisdom

3:13 Blessed34 is the one35 who finds36 wisdom,

and the one who obtains37 understanding.

34	tn Although the word אַשְׁרֵי (’ashre, “blessed”) is frequently translated “happy” here (so KJV, ASV, NAB, NCV, NRSV, TEV, NLT), such a translation can be somewhat misleading because the word means more than that—“happiness” depends on one’s circumstances. This word reflects that inner joy and heavenly bliss which comes to the person who is pleasing to God, whose way is right before God.
35	tn Heb “the man” (also again in the following line).
36	tn The perfect tense verb may be classified as a characteristic or gnomic perfect, as the parallel imperfect tense verb suggests (see note on v. 13b).
37	tn The imperfect tense verb may be classified as a progressive or habitual imperfect.