4:8

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

8a
Prize her, and she will exalt you ;

8b if you embrace her, she will honor you.

Here wisdom is spoken of as if it were a woman that a person should esteem and embrace.

4:8a–b

Prize her…embrace her: The word Prize probably means:

value (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
esteem (New International Version)
-or-
cherish

The parallel word, embrace, often refers to putting one’s arms around someone as a gesture of affection. It is used of friends and relatives, and also of lovers. Another way to translate the meaning in this context is:

hold tightly to her (Contemporary English Version)

she will exalt…honor: To exalt a person means to raise him in status. Personified wisdom exalts/honors someone in the following way: If a person receives and values wisdom, wisdom will help him to develop a good character. Because of this good character, other people will honor him.

General Comment on 4:8a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts. For example:

If you value Wisdom and hold tightly to her, great honors will be yours. (Contemporary English Version)

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