Proverbs 3:16 (DRB)

Passage

Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and glory.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 3:14 The purchasing thereof is better than the merchandise of silver, and her fruit than the chief and purest gold:

Proverbs 3:15 She is more precious than all riches: and all the things that are desired, are not to be compared to her.

Proverbs 3:16 Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and glory.

Proverbs 3:17 Her ways are beautiful ways, and all her paths are peaceable.

Proverbs 3:18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold on her: and he that shall retain her is blessed.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "length", "days", "right", "hand", "left", "riches", and "glory". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "length" and "days", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 15's "She is more precious than all riches..." into verse 17's "Her ways are beautiful ways and all...", so "length" and "days" 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 "length" and "days" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.