Proverbs 3:13

Blessed ¹  is the one ²  who finds ³  wisdom, and the one who obtains ⁴  understanding.

1Ki 10:1-9,23,24; Pr 2:4; Pr 4:5-9; Pr 8:32-35; Pr 18:1; Ec 9:15-18

¹ 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.

² tn Heb “the man” (also again in the following line).

³ 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).

⁴ tn The imperfect tense verb may be classified as a progressive or habitual imperfect.