Proverbs 24 · Verse 14

Proverbs 24:14

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.
Proverbs 24:14, King James Version

Proverbs 24:14 in other translations

BSBKnow 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.
WEBso 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.
ASVSo shalt thou know wisdom to be unto thy soul; If thou hast found it, then shall there be a reward, And thy hope shall not be cut off.
YLTSo is the knowledge of wisdom to thy soul, If thou hast found that there is a posterity And thy hope is not cut off.
DARBYso consider wisdom for thy soul; if thou hast found it, there shall be a result, and thine expectation shall not be cut off.
BBESo let your desire be for wisdom: if you have it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
WebsterSo shall the knowledge of wisdom be to thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.

What does Proverbs 24:14 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 24:13-14

13-14. As delicious food whets the appetite, so should the rewards of wisdom excite us to seek it.

Read the full comment on Proverbs 24:13-14 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul - True religion, experimental godliness, shall be to thy soul as the honey-comb is to thy mouth. Then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off - This is precisely the same with that in Pro 23:18 (note), where see the note. The word אחרית acharith, we translate in the former place an end, and here we translate it a reward; but there is no place I believe in the sacred writings in which it has any such acceptation; nor can such a meaning be deduced from the root אחר achar, which always refers to behind, after, extremity, latter part, time, etc., but never carries the idea of recompense, compensation, or such like; nor has one of the versions understood it so. There is another state or life, and thy expectation of happiness in a future world shall not be cut off. In this sense the versions all understood it. I will take them as they lie before me. "Which (wisdom) when thou shalt have found, thou shalt have hope in thy last days; and thy hope shall not perish." - Vulgate. "And if thou find it, thou shalt have a good death; and hope shall not forsake thee." - Septuagint. "Which, if thou have found, thy latter days shall be better than the former; and thy hope shall not be consumed." - Chaldee. "There shall be an end, and thy hope shall not be cut off." - Syriac. "For, if thou shalt find her, (wisdom), thy death shall be glorious, and thy hope will not fail thee." - Arabic. Whiche whan thou fyndist schalt han in the last thingis, hope: and thin hope schal not perischen - Old MS. Bible. "And there is Good Hope; yee that hope shal not be in vayne." - Coverdale. This rendering is indefinite, which is not the usual custom of the translator.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 24:13-14

We are quickened to the study of wisdom by considering both the pleasure and the profit of it. All men relish things that are sweet to the palate; but many have no relish for the things that are sweet to the purified soul, and that make us wise unto salvation.

Read the full comment on Proverbs 24:13-14 →

Proverbs 24:14 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

כֵּ֤ן\׀kenthusH3651
דְּעֶ֥הde.'Ehknow !H3045
חָכְמָ֗הchokh.mahwisdomH2451
לְנַ֫פְשֶׁ֥ךָle.Naf.She.khafor self yourH5315
אִם\־'im-ifH518
מָ֭צָאתָMa.tza.tayou find [it]H4672
וְיֵ֣שׁve.Yeshand thereH3426
אַחֲרִ֑ית'a.cha.Rit[is] a futureH319
וְ֝תִקְוָתְךָ֗ve.tik.va.te.chaand hope yourH8615
לֹ֣אlo'notH3808
תִכָּרֵֽת\׃\ \פti.ka.Retit will be cut offH3772

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 24:14

  • James 1:25

    But 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.

  • Proverbs 2:10

    When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;

  • Jeremiah 15:16

    Thy 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.

  • Psalms 119:103

    How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

  • Proverbs 23:18

    For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

  • Proverbs 22:18

    For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.

  • Proverbs 3:13-18

    Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. …

  • Proverbs 2:1-5

    My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; …

  • Psalms 119:111

    Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.

  • Psalms 19:10-11

    More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

  • Matthew 19:21

    Jesus 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.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
shall the.
22:18; Ps 19:10,11; 119:103,111; Jer 15:16
when.
2:1-5,10; 3:13-18
there.
23:18; Mt 19:21; Jas 1:25

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 24:13

    My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:

  • Proverbs 24:14

    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.

  • Proverbs 24:15

    Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:

Read all of Proverbs 24

Proverbs 24:14 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Tal será el conocimiento de la sabiduría á tu alma: si la hallares tendrá recompensa, y al fin tu esperanza no será cortada.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Ainsi connais pour ton âme la sagesse: si tu l’as trouvée, il y a un avenir, et ton attente ne sera point réduite à néant.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ebenso betrachte die Weisheit für deine Seele: wenn du sie gefunden hast, so gibt es eine Zukunft, und deine Hoffnung wird nicht vernichtet werden.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Sic et doctrina sapientiæ animæ tuæ: quam cum inveneris, habebis in novissimis spem, et spes tua non peribit.