Proverbs 21:21

The one who pursues righteousness and love ¹  finds life, bounty, ²  and honor.

Pr 15:9; Pr 22:4; Isa 51:1; Ho 6:3; Mt 5:6; Ro 2:7-10; Ro 14:19; 1Co 15:58; Php 3:12; 1Th 5:21; 1Ti 6:11; 2Ti 2:22; 2Ti 4:7,8; Heb 12:14; 1Pe 1:7

¹ sn These two attributes, “righteousness” (צְדָקָה, tsÿdaqah) and “loyal love” (חֶסֶד, khesed) depict the life style of the covenant-believer who is pleasing to God and a blessing to others. The first term means that he will do what is right, and the second means that he will be faithful to the covenant community.

² sn The Hebrew term translated “bounty” is צְדָקָה (tsÿdaqah) again, so there is a wordplay on the term in the verse. The first use of the word had the basic meaning of “conduct that conforms to God’s standard”; this second use may be understood as a metonymy of cause, indicating the provision or reward (“bounty”) that comes from keeping righteousness (cf. NIV “prosperity”; NCV “success”). The proverb is similar to Matt 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.”