24:14

14a Know therefore that wisdom is sweet to your soul.

14b If you find it, there is a future for you,

14c and your hope will never be cut off.

24:14a

Know therefore that wisdom is sweet to your soul: In Hebrew, this line is literally “Thus know wisdom to/for your soul.” It indicates that the benefits of wisdom for a person’s life or inner being (soul) are similar to the benefits of honey.

Know: In some languages, it is not natural to use this verb as a command. Some other ways to translate the meaning are:

Remember that…
-or-
You should be aware that…
-or-
It is true that…

therefore: In Hebrew, this word is literally “thus/so.” Here it introduces a comparison. Some other ways to introduce this comparison are:

Likewise, know that wisdom… (NET Bible)
-or-
In the same way, you need to realize that wisdom…

wisdom is sweet to your soul: In Hebrew, the similarity of wisdom to honey is not explicit. The Berean Standard Bible has made explicit the words is sweet. Some other ways to translate this comparison are:

wisdom is good for the soul (Good News Translation)
-or-
wisdom is like honey for you (New International Version (2011))
-or-
wisdom has similar benefits for your life

24:14b–c

These two lines describe the benefits of finding wisdom. In order to gain these benefits, a person first needs to gain wisdom.

If you find it: Some other ways to translate this clause are:

If you gain/get it
-or-
If you become wise

there is a future for you, and your hope will never be cut off: See the notes on 23:18a and 23:18b, where these identical clauses occur. The only difference is that in Hebrew, verse 23:18a begins with two words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as “For surely.”

General Comment on 24:13–14

In the first verse of this saying, the teacher commands his son to eat honey. He does not talk about wisdom until the second verse. In some languages, it may not be clear that the teacher’s main advice is about gaining wisdom rather than eating honey. One way to make the emphasis on wisdom clearer is to reorder some parts of the comparison. For example:

My child, you need to know that wisdom is like honey. You should eat honey, because it is good ⌊for your health⌋ and it is also delicious. Similarly, ⌊it is important that you become wise.⌋ If are wise, then your hope for ⌊a good life in⌋ the future will certainly be fulfilled.

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