Proverbs 3:18

NET ©

She is like 1  a tree of life 2  to those who obtain her, 3  and everyone who grasps hold of her will be blessed. 4 

NIV ©

She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.

NASB ©

She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who hold her fast.

NLT ©

Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly.

MSG ©

She's the very Tree of Life to those who embrace her. Hold her tight--and be blessed!

BBE ©

She is a tree of life to all who take her in their hands, and happy is everyone who keeps her.

NRSV ©

She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called happy.

NKJV ©

She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who retain her.

KJV
She [is] a tree
<06086>
of life
<02416>
to them that lay hold
<02388> (8688)
upon her: and happy
<0833> (8794)
[is every one] that retaineth
<08551> (8802)
her.
HEBREW
P
rsam
<0833>
hykmtw
<08551>
hb
<0>
Myqyzxml
<02388>
ayh
<01931>
Myyx
<02416>
Ue (3:18)
<06086>
LXXM
xulon
<3586>  
N-NSN
zwhv
<2222>  
N-GSF
esti
<1510>  
V-PAI-3S
pasi
<3956>  
A-DPM
toiv
<3588>  
T-DPM
antecomenoiv
 
V-PMPDP
authv
<846>  
D-GSF
kai
<2532>  
CONJ
toiv
<3588>  
T-DPM
epereidomenoiv
 
V-PMPDP
ep
<1909>  
PREP
authn
<846>  
D-ASF
wv
<3739>  
CONJ
epi
<1909>  
PREP
kurion
<2962>  
N-ASM
asfalhv
<804>  
A-NSM
NET © [draft] ITL
She is like a tree
<06086>
of life
<02416>
to those who obtain
<02388>
her, and everyone who grasps hold
<08551>
of her will be blessed
<0833>
.
NET © Notes

1 tn The comparative “like” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is implied by the metaphor; it is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity.

2 sn The metaphor compares wisdom to the symbol of vitality and fullness of life. This might be an allusion to Gen 3:22, suggesting that what was lost as a result of the Fall may be recovered through wisdom: long and beneficial life (R. Marcus, “The Tree of Life in Proverbs,” JBL 62 [1943]: 117-20).

3 tn Heb “lay hold of her.”

4 tn The singular participle מְאֻשָּׁר (mÿ’ushar, literally, “he will be blessed”) functions as a distributive singular for a plural subject (GKC 464 §145.l): “each and everyone will be blessed.” Not recognizing this point of syntax, the BHS editors unnecessarily suggest emending this singular form to the plural.