Turn with me in your Bibles to the book of Proverbs. We are “Fearing Deity & Defying Stupidity in this great book of the OT. Let’s pick up our study today in Proverbs 3:13-35.  

When I was a kid, I grew up when the Indiana Jones movies were incredibly popular. Indiana Jones was presented to us as a hero to be emulated—all those daring rescues of lost archaeological treasures! That was inspiring. And I thought to myself, archaeology must be the most exciting career in the world. And I thought archaeologists must be the most exciting people in the world. 

Well that myth got busted pretty quickly once I went to seminary. After meeting a few archaeologists and listening to a few lectures on archaeology, I was pretty disillusioned. It wasn’t nearly as exciting as Indiana Jones. Archaeology really involves a lot of hard work and patience. But if your hardworking and patient enough, the rewards are, quite literally, priceless. Not a few Biblical archaeologists have blessed us with their findings. 

And as we approach the subject of wisdom again in the book of Proverbs, I want to disabuse you of the notion that we are like Indiana Jones seeking after hidden treasures. There is an adventure to life and the assimilation of wisdom, but there’s also a lot of hard work and labor and patience. As I said a few weeks back, wisdom isn’t sexy. It’s subtle. It doesn’t provide the same type of instantaneous, euphoric gratification that sin does. Wisdom is like a slow cooker. Its rewards are slow in coming. Wisdom seeps into our soul and it slowly percolates until its benefits start to come to fruition. We might not even notice it at first. But trust me when I say this—the benefits are worth the wait, and the patient pursuer of wisdom is rewarded.

The big question that we are going to ask today is this: why seek wisdom? Why labor to acquire it? Why press on and sweat and struggle to find it, when the rest of the world doesn’t seem to care about it? Well, the text is going to give us today four reasons why. Proverbs 3:13-35 will show us “The Benefits of Wisdom-Seeking.” 

My assumption today is that we have a cadre of wisdom-seeking archaeologists, so to speak, who are gathered to study the book of Proverbs. And if that’s the case, let me whet your appetite for the wisdom that God gives with four benefits of wisdom-seeking. 

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Here’s the first. Write this down as #1 in your notes. 

1. Wisdom enriches a person’s life (3:13–18)  

This is not a new statement or a new concept in the book of Proverbs. The blessings of wisdom have been on display from the start of this book. And in verses 13-18 wisdom is described again as an avenue of rich blessing from God to us. 

Notice how verse 13 begins with “blessed” and how verse 18 ends with “blessed.” This is what’s called an inclusio in literature. It’s a kind of literary sandwich in which a concept, like two slices of bread, enclose the subject matter. The two slices of bread in verses 13–18 are the word “blessed.” And Solomon wants to reinforce in this section the idea that wisdom leads to a place of blessedness. 

Look at verse 13 with me. 

13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, 

There are some very important words in verse 13, that really set the tone for this passage. Let me point out three of them. The first word is the word “Blessed.” The Hebrew word is אַשְׁרֵי, and it’s where the Hebrew Name “Asher” comes from. Jacob’s concubine Zilpah had a little boy, and Leah was so happy, she named the boy “Asher” because she was called אַשְׁרֵי (“blessed”) by other women (Gen 30:12–13). 

The connotation of this word means more than just “happiness.” More appropriately it has the idea of being “fortunate” or “providentially cared for.” And the idea in Proverbs 3:13 is that “fortunate” or “providentially cared for” is the one who finds wisdom.

The second word I want to draw your attention to in verse 13 is translated “the one” in the ESV and “the man” in the NIV and NASB. The Hebrew word is אָדָם. This word אָדָם comes from the Hebrew word אֲדָמָה, which means “dirt” or “earth.” The first man, or the first earthling, Adam, got his name because God formed Adam from the dirt, the אֲדָמָה, of the earth. 

God said to Adam, “From dirt you came and from dirt you will return” (Gen 3:19). And that’s true of all of us. We are all made from אֲדָמָה, that is “dirt.” What’s amazing for all of us is not so much that we came from dirt; it’s that God loves these little clumps of dirt. He created them to be intelligent beings. He gave them an opportunity to acquire divine wisdom and be blessed. He redeemed them by the blood of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit dwells inside of us. As Paul says in the NT, “We have these treasures in jars of clay to show that the surpassing power comes from God and not from us” (2 Cor 4:7).

So let’s put these words together in verse 13. 

13 אַשְׁרֵי is the אָדָם who finds חָכְמָה, and the אָדָם who gets תְּבוּנָה, 

Blessed is the אָדָם who finds wisdom, and the אָדָם who finds תְּבוּנָה (“understanding”). Understanding is an outworking of wisdom. Those two terms are often paired together. The word תְּבוּנָה means insight, skill, or competence. The person who has been skilled by or made insightful through wisdom is blessed.

You might ask “why?” “Why is a person who finds wisdom and understanding blessed?” Well the author tells us:  

14 for the gain from her (wisdom personified as a woman again) 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. 

The language here in verses 14–15 is the language of investment. Wisdom is being viewed here as a valuable commodity. So don’t think of yourself in this passage as an archaeologist. Think of yourself as a commodities trader. Your gain, your return on investment, is greater with wisdom than it is with gold or silver or rubies or diamonds or jewels. 

You can chase after gold and you can chase after silver. But your return on investment is better with wisdom. She will enrich your life. Silver trades for approximately $25/ounce in today’s markets. Gold trades for $2000/ounce. Can an ounce of wisdom really be more valuable than that? 

Well let’s see what wisdom has to offer. Look at verse 16.   

16 Long life is in her right hand; 

Is long life valuable? Absolutely! Some people will pay a fortune to extend their lives. In Shakespeare’s play, Richard III, King Richard in the throes of death cried out, “A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!” He would have traded his entire kingdom and all his wealth for a horse that would allow him to flee from the battle. Well long life is in the right hand of Lady Wisdom. 

Verse 16 is akin to Proverbs 3:1-2: My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Remember this is a premise not a promise. It’s a truism not a guarantee. Proverbs 3 tells us that the wisdom-seeker is rewarded with long life.  

16 Long life is in her right hand; 

in her left hand are riches (or wealth) and honor. 

I would say that the reference to riches here is both literal and metaphorical. The wise person is the one who is shrewd and skilled and hardworking. That’s a trope throughout the book of Proverbs. And those ingredients lead to material wealth. 

But there is also a metaphorical wealth that the book of Proverbs teaches. The book says that “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it” (15:17). There is a kind of wealth that transcends material blessing. Jesus said to the suffering church of Smyrna in the book of Revelation that though you are poor, you are rich (2:9). They were materially poor but spiritually rich. 

Yes, wisdom increases a person’s capacity to gain and retain wealth. That’s not a bad thing, because wealth is morally neutral. We can use it for good, we can use it for evil. And the wise man acquires it and uses it for good. But spiritual wealth can also be metaphorically experienced in the life of someone who is poor. 

  So just to review thus far—wisdom supplies long life, that’s good! Wisdom supplies riches and honor! That’s wonderful. But to that you might say, “Well gold and silver are valuable to. They provide riches. I can buy honor, if I don’t have it. I can give myself a long comfortable life with enough money. What makes wisdom better?” 

Well, let’s read verses 17–18. 

17 Her ways [i.e. lady wisdom’s ways] are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are שָׁלוֹם. 

That’s the kicker right there. That’s the difference-maker. That tips the balance forever in wisdom’s favor. Let’s just be clear, money can’t buy happiness. It can’t buy pleasantness. It certainly can’t buy peace. Remember שָׁלֹום has the idea of wellness, wholeness, or completeness. Gold and silver can’t offer you that. There are lots and lots of miserable, unpleasant, rich people in this world who are desperately looking for שָׁלוֹם. 

Raymund Ortlund compares money and wisdom this way. He says, “Wisdom is skill at living life well. Money is not. Money can put food on the table, but wisdom puts laughter around that table. Money can buy a house, but wisdom makes it a home. Money can buy a woman jewelry, but wisdom wins her heart. All the ways of wisdom are pleasantness. You can’t say that about money.” 

If you need more justification that wisdom is better than money, read verse 18:

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

There’s that word “blessed” again closing up the inclusio. This author emphasizes the blessedness that a person experiences when they embrace wisdom. And part of that blessing, amazingly, includes access to the “tree of life.” 

Now this is fascinating, so let me unpack this a bit. There are only three books in the Bible that reference the “tree of life.” They are Genesis, Revelation, and the book of Proverbs. And if you remember, there were two trees in the Garden of Eden: the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Because Adam and Eve ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, they were expelled from the Garden and were no longer able to partake of the tree of life (Gen 3:1–24). Their bodies were corrupted, and they lost their access to immortality. And that wasn’t a curse necessarily, that was protection. Who wants to live forever in this present sinful state? So God blocked access to the tree of life to protect them and us from a sin-filled immortality—like vampires walking around in a sinful state who can’t die. 

And so, God put the tree of life on ice, until he can bring it back in the New Jerusalem once he puts an end to sin for good (Rev 22:2, 14). But what the author is saying here is that there is a sense in which we can recapture that access to life via the medium of wisdom. Wisdom metaphorically gives us access to that forbidden tree. What a powerful image here!

And if I could go NT for just a second, you might remember that Jesus is the perfect embodiment of wisdom. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 1:30, “Christ Jesus… became to us wisdom from God.” In Colossians 2:3, Paul says that in Christ is “hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” It is through Christ, the wisdom from God, that our relationship with God and our immortality is restored perfectly. 

So on this side of the cross, we can read this passage with even more passion and understanding than the original Hebrews! Because we know even better than they, “Blessed is the person who finds wisdom! Those who know Christ Jesus will literally partake of the tree of life some day in the New Jerusalem.”

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So why should we pursue wisdom? Why should we labor to find it? First of all, because “Wisdom enriches a person’s life.” Here’s a second reason: 

2. Wisdom has a dependable track record (3:19-20)

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. 

In other words, wisdom (חָכְמָה) is as old as time. Wisdom is powerful! And it has a dependable track record. God created the heavens and the earth through the medium of his wisdom. 

Verses 19–20 feel like an aside. The previous verses spoke of the blessings that come from wisdom, and now the author starts talking about creation. But remember, the author is building a case for his son to seek wisdom. And in that vein, this passage fits perfectly. He’s saying essentially, “Son, God used wisdom to create the world. And unbelievably he’s offering a measure of that wisdom to you. Take it! It is a precious commodity. Take hold of it! Don’t miss it!” 

Proverbs 3 affirms something that Genesis makes clear—God created the universe. I’m sorry, but I’m not an evolutionist. I think Darwinian evolutionary theory is one of the great bamboozlements of our modern age. I don’t believe that the universe just happened or that it came about by accident. I don’t believe that we “emerged out of the primordial goo by sheer luck.” God created our world with purpose and intentionality and specificity and wisdom. 

And not only did he create everything with wisdom, but he sustains everything. Verse 20 speaks of the deeps breaking open and the clouds dripping with dew. I think there are ancient significances to this statement in terms of how God watered the world in the pre-flood era. But there is ongoing significance to this too because we are still dependent on God for the water that makes life possible. 

And this was even more important to the Israelites living in an arid climate. They felt the need for water more keenly on a daily basis than we do. Even the drops of dew were necessary for their survival. And who provided every precious drop of moisture for the Israelites?   

John Piper wrote this, “Picture yourself as a farmer in the Near East, far from any lake or stream. A few wells keep the family and animals supplied with water. But if the crops are to grow and the family is to be fed from month to month, water has to come on the fields from another source. From where?

Well, the sky. The sky? Water will come out of the clear blue sky? Well, not exactly. Water will have to be carried from the Mediterranean Sea, over several hundreds of miles and then be poured out from the sky on the fields. Carried? How much does it weigh? Well, if one inch of rain falls on one square mile of farmland during the night, that would be 27,878,400 cubic feet of water, which is 206,301,160 gallons, which is 1,650,501,280 pounds of water. 

That’s heavy. So how does it get up the sky and stay up there if it’s so heavy? Well it gets up there by evaporation. Really? That’s a nice word. What’s it mean? It means that the water sort of stops being water for a while so it can go up and not down. I see. Then how does it get down? Well condensation happens. What’s that? The water starts becoming water again by gathering around little dust particles between .00001 and .0001 centimeters wide. That’s small. 

What about the salt? Salt? Yes the Mediterranean Sea is salt water. That would kill crops. What about the salt? Well the salt has to be taken out. Oh. So the sky picks up a billion pounds of water from the sea and takes out the salt and then carries it for three hundred miles and then dumps it on the farm? 

Well it doesn’t dump it. If it dumped a billion pounds of water on the farm, the wheat would be crushed. So the sky dribbles the billion pounds of water in little drops…”

By the way, all of this takes place without us lifting one finger to help the process. That’s pretty amazing, isn’t it? Do we serve an incredible God or what? Here’s the point—God has made available to you a portion of the wisdom that he used to create the world, and that he uses to sustain the world. Imagine what he could accomplish through you if you acquire that wisdom. So seek it, church! Find it! Use it!  

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Because wisdom enriches a person’s life. It has a dependable track record. And thirdly…

3. Wisdom supplies divine protection (3:21-26)

Look at verse 21 with me.

21 My son, do not lose sight of these— keep [“preserve” or “protect”) sound wisdom and discretion, 

Now we’ve already seen some of the benefits of wisdom in this passage. Solomon mentioned long life and riches and honor and peace in verse 13–18. Well he’s going to sweeten the pot here with the added benefit of divine protection. Remember he’s trying to convince his son to take seriously his charge to obtain wisdom. 

21 My son, do not lose sight of these 

He’s saying keep your gaze fixed on this pursuit. Don’t get distracted from that purpose. Don’t get off-track. 

— keep sound wisdom and discretion, 

Not only that but hold on to them with everything that you’ve got. Why? Because…

22 … they will be life for your soul and adornment [or favor] for your neck. 

Solomon mentions two things to hold onto in verse 21. These are the Hebrew words תּוּשִׁיָּה (“sound wisdom” or “sound judgment”) and מְזִמָּה (“discretion” or “discernment”). These character traits are outworkings of חָכְמָה. Specifically they help safeguard a person from sin. They provide intestinal fortitude in the area of temptation. 

In his commentary on Proverbs, the famous Jewish scholar Michael Fox says the first word תּוּשִׁיָּה describes “an inner power that helps one escape a fix.” The second word מְזִמָּה describes something “especially valuable in withstanding temptation.” 

So we want these things. We safeguard these things—“sound wisdom” and “discretion.” And what’s ironic is that as we safeguard sound wisdom and discretion, they safeguard us. Look at verse 23.

23 Then you will walk on your way [דֶּרֶךְ] 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. 

In other words, your conscience will be clear. Your life will be free of guilt and anxiety. You won’t be robbed of sleep because you’re afraid the tax man will come to get you. You won’t be up all night worrying about the person you ripped off and when he’s coming to settle the score. 

Are there times when Christians have sleepless nights? Yes, absolutely. I tell people all the time there is pre-parent sleep and post-parent sleep. I haven’t slept the same since my son was born sixteen years ago. It’s one of the burdens and responsibilities of being a parent. 

And also I haven’t slept the same since I became a pastor/elder in a church. There’s a certain amount of sleeplessness that is part and parcel of the pastoring task. It’s an occupational hazard. But verse 24 isn’t talking about that. And it’s not talking about the sleeplessness that increases as you age. Solomon talks about that in Ecclesiastes (12:4). What Solomon is talking about here is wise conduct that “fears God and turns from evil.” That provides us sweet sleep. That frees us from the guilt that leads to sleeplessness and fearfulness. 

Speaking of fearfulness, look at verse 25.

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 [literally: the Lord will be at your waist, or the Lord will be at your side] and will keep your foot from being caught. 

When someone goes to jail for embezzling funds from the company, you won’t be afraid. Why? Because you have been trustworthy and honorable with your employer. When someone gets an STD for sexual promiscuity, you won’t be afraid! Why? Because you haven’t engaged in sexual immorality! And you have been sexually faithful to your current or future spouse. 

You won’t wake up with regrets from the night before because you had too much to drink, and you don’t remember what happened. You won’t wake up with regrets because you were talked into going to a frat party and allowed yourself to release your inhibitions. I just heard this last week that more than 50% of murders take place in an alcohol filled environment and 50% of murder victims are legally drunk. Intoxication is the primary cause of domestic abuse. It’s the primary cause of date rape. 

Once again God has hardwired our world in such a way that obedience to his commands against drunkenness, sexual immorality, deceit, thievery, idolatry, etc. leads to a better life. In terms of probability and truism, it supplies divine protection. It protects you from the sin and fallenness of this world that produces suffering. 

And then on the spiritual plane, when death is imminent, you won’t be afraid. You won’t be afraid of “sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked.” Why? Because you have made your peace with God. You have had your sins forgiven by the blood of Jesus. Wisdom supplies divine protection (3:21-26) even in eternity. And I would say especially in eternity.

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And here’s a final benefit for the wisdom-seeker. Write this down as #4.

4. Wisdom prevents a comedy of errors (3:27-35)

In these last few verses Solomon is going to get really practical with you and me. He doesn’t want wisdom to turn into something esoteric and inaccessible. Wisdom is practical; it’s helpful. And so in the last few verses of Chapter 3, he tells us in specific scenarios how wisdom is applied. And you might be surprised how wisdom is illustrated with actions that are righteous and ethical. 

One of the things that has really surprised me over the years as I’ve studied Proverbs is how much ethics plays a part in the display of wisdom. Wisdom at its core has an ethical component to it. That shouldn’t surprise us though because wisdom originates from God. And our God is a righteous God. And the fear of the Lord leads to actions that are both righteous and wise. I think one of the overarching messages in this passage is that wisdom is righteous. And vice versa; righteousness is wise. 

So let’s look at this. There are six prohibitions given in the next few verses. I’ll call these six “do not commands.” And the first “do not command” is in verse 27:

27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. 

The second “do not” statement communicates something similar:

28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you. 

This whole scenario is really quite comical. It’s sad, but it’s also funny. I just imagine a guy coming over to his neighbor’s house yelling, “where’s my chainsaw?” And the guy responds, “I don’t know! Where’s my weed eater?”

We have here an individual inconveniencing his neighbor. And for what? For greed? For spite? For obnoxiousness? We don’t know. We just know that the action is dishonorable, and Solomon prohibits his son to behave like this. Solomon is saying implicitly here, “Son, pay your bills, on time! Give to whoever you owe. Don’t be a debtor to anyone. Better for you to be inconvenienced and pay your bills, than to inconvenience someone else and destroy your character.”

Verse 27 could be describing a number of different things. 

27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.

It could describe an employer who is withholding wages from his employee. It could describe a debtor not paying his debts. It’s framed generically enough that it could be used more broadly. It could be a son who doesn’t honor his parents. It could be a member of the community who disrespects his leaders. The bottom-line issue here is integrity. It’s about honor. And dishonorable conduct not only puts your poor character on display; it destroys your reputation in the community. And that’s unwise.

When I was an accountant at Soldier Field, I used to do Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable for the stadium. And I remember how shocking it was to me how debts would go unpaid for months. It was embarrassing at times. And many times I had the unenviable task of calling people who were 60, 90, or 120 days late on their payments. 

A few months ago our country tried to push through this massive spending package that would actually pay off the debts of college students who had taken out debt to pay for their education. And then they wanted other people to pay for it. Here’s my view on that issue… I’ll go on record saying this. If you took out debt to get something you wanted, then pay it back! Don’t look for other people to pay your debts. That’s dishonorable. 

I met a chiropractor once, a Christian man, who said he had $200,000 worth of unpaid Accounts Receivable. And many of his clients were confessing Christians! I think scenarios like that might become more commonplace in the days ahead as our country drifts deeper and deeper into debt. But as Christians we have an obligation to showcase God’s character. Remember Jesus’s words, “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matt 5:16). Integrity is an outworking of wisdom, and it’s not just the right thing to do, it’s the best thing for you. It protects your reputation, and also honors Christ whom you represent.   

The following verses are less comical. Look at verse 29. Here’s a third “do not command.”

29 Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you. 

This statement is totally without context. But I think that’s the point. In a general and broad way, Solomon is saying don’t betray the trust of someone who trusts you. Because “Trust is the glue that holds a community together.” Healthy marriages are built on trust. Healthy churches are built on trust. All healthy communities are built on trust. The worst thing you can do to destroy your community is betray that trust. 

So when your spouse hurts you, forgive him. Forgive her! Don’t plot revenge. Don’t return evil for evil. When someone in the church hurts your feelings, forgive them. Forgiveness builds trust. Resentment and bitterness and vindictiveness tear it down.   

Look at verse 30. Here’s a fourth “do not command.”

30 Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm. 

In other words, don’t thrive on conflict and controversy. Don’t be a contentious, dysfunctional person. Don’t punish and lash out at people to make yourself feel better. Curb that behavior. After all we represent the Lord. 

Proverbs 18:6 says, “A fool’s lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating.” Avoid contention. It’s not just the right thing to do, it’s the best thing for you. It’s the best thing for your physical health, and it’s the best thing for your soul. 

Here are the fifth and sixth “do not” statements in this passage. Again, this is super practical. 

31 Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways, 

Don’t watch the Godfather movies and think to yourself, “Man, I sure would like to be that guy!” “Vito Corleone! I want to be that guy.” Don’t do that. Not only do you violate this Biblical principle in doing that, but you violate the intent of the movie itself. 

Every great gangster movie or mafia movie is a tragedy. There are no happy endings in those movies. In fact there’s a great moment in “The Godfather 3” when Michael Corleone screams, “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!” The great story arch of those films is that violence begets violence. There’s nothing to romanticize in those movies. 

31 Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways, 

We shouldn’t romanticize or envy a man of violence. Why not? Why shouldn’t we envy a violent man? Well because a violent man is an abomination to the Lord.  

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.

Solomon again gives us two paths at the end of this chapter. There are two dereks [דֶּרֶךְ]. There’s the way of wisdom, and there’s the way of folly. 

In verse 32, the devious person, as an abomination to the LORD, is on the path of folly. But “the upright [person] is in the Lord’s confidence.” That’s an amazing statement. I’m not sure I even know exactly what that means. One way to translate this is that the upright are in intimate fellowship with the Lord. They are part of his inner circle of confidants. That’s the other path, the path of wisdom.  

Here are the two paths again in verse 33. “The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked.” That’s the path of folly. You are cursed by the Lord. That’s not a good place to be. But God “blesses the dwelling of the righteous.”

The word for “bless” is different here than earlier. It’s the word בָּרַךְ. And it has the idea of conferring blessing from the greater to the lesser. God confers blessing on the person who is righteous. That’s the way of wisdom. So there’s the way of blessing, and the way of cursing. Those are your two paths. 

Verse 34 says proud scoffers are on the path of folly. God scorns them. The humble are on the path of wisdom. God gives them favor. Just so you know the LXX translation of this verse reads like this, “God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble.” Does that sound familiar? James quotes this verse in his NT letter (Jas 4:6). And Peter quotes this verse in his NT letter (1 Pet 5:5). Humility is not an OT thing or a NT thing. It’s a people of God thing. Humility is access to God’s favor. It’s one of the many attributes of those who are travelling the path of wisdom.

Finally in verse 35, the “wise inherit honor, but fools get disgrace.” The path to wisdom leads to honor. Literally the word here כָּבֹוד means “heaviness” or “glory.” That’s an amazing statement right there. The wise get to share in God’s glory. The path of folly leads instead to disgrace.

So let me summarize if I could. There’s a good path and a bad path. There’s a path of wisdom and a path of folly. The path of wisdom leads to blessing, understanding, long life, pleasantness, peace, wealth, sound wisdom, discretion, life, security, sweetness of sleep, confidence, integrity, and honor. That’s the path of God-fearing. That’s the path of wisdom. 

The other path is not so desirable. There’s fear, folly, envy, violence, deviousness, abomination, curse, scorn, foolishness, and disgrace. Which path are you going to choose? Which way do want to go?