Proverbs 3:13-35--Blessed Is the One Who Finds Wisdom

Proverbs 3:13-35
English Standard Version

Blessed Is the One Who Finds Wisdom
13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
    and the one who gets understanding,
14 for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
    and her profit better than gold.
15 She is more precious than jewels,
    and nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
    in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
    and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
    those who hold her fast are called blessed.

19 The LORD by wisdom founded the earth;
    by understanding he established the heavens;
20 by his knowledge the deeps broke open,
    and the clouds drop down the dew.

21 My son, do not lose sight of these--
    keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 and they will be life for your soul
    and adornment for your neck.
23 Then you will walk on your way securely,
    and your foot will not stumble.
24 If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
    when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror
    or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes,
26 for the LORD will be your confidence
    and will keep your foot from being caught.
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
    when it is in your power to do it.

​28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,
    tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.
29 Do not plan evil against your neighbor,
    who dwells trustingly beside you.
30 Do not contend with a man for no reason,
    when he has done you no harm.
31 Do not envy a man of violence
    and do not choose any of his ways,
32 for the devious person is an abomination to the LORD,
    but the upright are in his confidence.
33 The LORD's curse is on the house of the wicked,
    but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
34 Toward the scorners he is scornful,
    but to the humble he gives favor.
35 The wise will inherit honor,
    but fools get disgrace.

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Solomon stops talking directly to his son, and now starts talking to readers in general.  Anyone who seeks for and finds wisdom will be blessed.  They will gain understanding that is better than silver or fine gold.  Wisdom is better than precious jewels--there is nothing to which you can compare its value.  Do not sell it for anything if you have it and be willing to sell everything you have for it if you don't have it and want to acquire it (though it cannot be bought--only God can give it to you).  That pathways of Wisdom are peaceful and pleasant.  Wisdom is said to be like The Tree of Life itself--happy is the person who finds the Tree of Life (eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord) and happy is the person who finds the Wisdom of God, for that too is Jesus Christ our Lord.

The LORD by wisdom spoke the world into existence, meaning that wisdom is an attribute of God that was not created.  By His wisdoms the heavens, the earth, and all that is in them were made.  Even the vast, unsearchable depths of the ocean were made by Him, and so were the formless clouds of the heavens that give rein both the righteous and unrighteous--the wise and the fool alike.

Solomon starts addressing his son again and tells him to be both wise and discerning--to have sound judgment in all matters--for they will be life to his soul and adornment around his neck (like a pendant or other jewelry).  This will be the way for him to know where to walk spiritual so that he will morally stumble or fall (which leads to disaster for both a king and his people).  The LORD will also protect him so that he can sleep and rest in safety and sleep soundly.  He will also not need to fear when he hears of the LORD's vengeance being taken out on the wicked, because he will be safe from the LORD's anger and wrath.  He will not need to live afraid of the LORD because he has feared the LORD by obeying Him.  He can trust in the LORD's guidance and protection every step of the way.  When he is king, he must not withhold good from anyone nor abuse his position as king to take advantage of anyone and deal unjustly with them.  The LORD will not look favorably on a king that uses his power for self-gain or to abuse the people the LORD has put under his governance and protection.  That would be a foolish choice and one that would forfeit the LORD's protection and blessing.

That's the lead-in for the last part here where Solomon gives some specific instructions to his son on how to be a good king.  Do not put off until tomorrow the good that you can do today.  Do not plan evil against your neighbor (while this was his countrymen, it goes to say that applies to all of us for all men and women who are made in the image of God.  We should not go around plotting evil schemes against others).  Do not fight with a man simply for sport when you have no just cause to contend with him and he has done you no harm (implied here is the right to self-defense if a man tried to harm you or you have other just cause such as a man trying to harm other innocent people whom you are trying to save).  Do not envy the man of violence or any other wicked man or criminal.  Do not desire to be like them, for their ways lead to death and destruction and take them away from the LORD's wisdom and blessing.  A devious person who plots wicked schemes against his neighbor is an abomination to the LORD (the LORD hates things that are abominations), but the upright (the righteous) are His confidence.

The LORD not only curses the wicked man, but also his house since the family learn the sin of their fathers and the slaves learn the sins of their master.  So it is that generations of sons, daughters and servants were cursed with the effects of generational sin because of the wicked decisions of the leader of a family.  Instead, Solomon wants his son to lead his family in the path of righteousness so that they can follow his good example and be blessed for generations to come.  God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.  The wise will inherit honor, but the fool will be disgraced before both God and men.