So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.
Parallel translations
- WEB so you shall know wisdom to be to your soul; if you have found it, then there will be a reward, your hope will not be cut off.
- BSB Know therefore that wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, there is a future for you, and your hope will never be cut off.
- NKJV So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul; If you have found it, there is a prospect, And your hope will not be cut off.
- NASB Know that wisdom is the same for your soul; If you find it, then there will be a future, And your hope will not be cut off.
- NLT In the same way, wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, you will have a bright future, and your hopes will not be cut short.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Wisdom is to the soul what honey is to the taste, sweet, and it secures a hope that endures.
Overview
As honey delights the body, wisdom delights and nourishes the soul, and finding it brings a sure reward. The promise that "your hope will not be cut off" echoes 23:18, grounding the believer's future in wisdom rooted in the fear of God. This points to Christ, the wisdom of God, in whom our hope is anchored and secure (1 Cor. 1:30; Heb. 6:19).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Jas 1:25But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
- Prov 2:10When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
- Jer 15:16Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.
- Prov 23:18For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.
- Ps 119:103How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
- Prov 22:18For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.
- Prov 2:1–5My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
- Prov 3:13–18Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
- Ps 119:111Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.
- Ps 19:10–11More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
- Matt 19:21Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 24:14 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.