Proverbs 3:13 (ASV)

Passage

Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, And the man that getteth understanding.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 3:11 My son, despise not the chastening of Jehovah; Neither be weary of his reproof:

Proverbs 3:12 For whom Jehovah loveth he reproveth; Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Proverbs 3:13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, And the man that getteth understanding.

Proverbs 3:14 For the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver, And the profit thereof than fine gold.

Proverbs 3:15 She is more precious than rubies: And none of the things thou canst desire are to be compared unto her.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "happy", "findeth", "wisdom", "getteth", and "understanding". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "happy" and "findeth", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 12's "For whom Jehovah loveth he reproveth Even..." into verse 14's "For the gaining of it is better...", so "happy" and "findeth" belong inside that flow. In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "happy" and "findeth" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.