Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding,
for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold.
She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.
Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.
The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew.
My son, do not lose sight of these—keep sound wisdom and discretion, and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble.
If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
Comment: Blessed is a much richer word than happy. Mr Google says that it means ‘an inner peace, an inner bliss, an inner happiness, an inward joy that is not produced nor affected by circumstance.’ and that is a much stronger concept than just ‘happiness’. Sometimes when we read passages of scripture they sound as if they are supporting the ‘Prosperity doctrine’ which some preach and which I believe is heretical. To quote a few phrases from the passage – ‘Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor‘; ‘Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace‘. The Mr Google definition of blessed can be and is true if One is walking with wisdom and understanding even if the person is dying of cancer or imprisoned and undergoing torture for their faith! The skeptic may say that ‘faith’ is an opiate to hide the real truth, but this proverb and many other passages in the Bible assure us that God is with us in every situation of life and the inner peace and the joy, in spite of outward situations, is real, a gift from God’s own hand and not a foolishly believed, self-deceiving opiate allowing one to hide from reality.
Prayer: Thank You, Father God, that faith as You would have us trust is based on True Truth and rooted in Your trustworthiness.
As I read it! 