4:6

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning. In each line there is a command followed by a promised result.

6a
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you ;

6b
love her, and she will guard you.

4:6a–b

Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you: Here again wisdom is personified as a woman, using the feminine pronouns she and her. The author describes her as someone who protects and takes care of those who love her.

Some English versions capitalize wisdom here. Others do not. Some use the feminine pronouns. Others use the pronoun “it.” For example:

If you love Wisdom and don’t reject her (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Do not abandon wisdom, and she will protect you (Good News Translation)
-or-
Hold on to wisdom, and it will take care of you (New Century Version)

Use whatever forms are natural in your language for this kind of personification.

See the note on personification in 1:20a–b.

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts. It is also possible to translate the commands as “if” clauses. See 4:6a–b (combined/reordered) in the Display.

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