The one who acquires wisdom ¹  loves himself; ²  the one who preserves understanding will prosper. ³ 

biblegateway Pro 19:8

He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good.

The one who acquires good sense loves himself; one who safeguards understanding finds success.

A person who gains sense loves himself. One who guards understanding finds something good.

biblegateway Pro 19:8

He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; he who cherishes understanding prospers.

Whoever gets sense loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will discover good.

bibleoremus Pro 19:8

To get wisdom is to love oneself; to keep understanding is to prosper.

To learn sense is true self-love; cherish discernment and make sure of success.

biblegateway Pro 19:8

He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good.

He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.

biblegateway Pro 19:8

The one who acquires wisdom ¹  loves himself; ²  the one who preserves understanding will prosper. ³ 

¹ tn Heb “heart.” Most English versions translate as “wisdom,” but cf. NAB “intelligence.” This refers to a mind that works (e.g., Prov 7:7; 9:4).

² tn Heb “his own soul.” The expression “loves his soul” means that he is paying attention to his needs or taking care of his life (cf. NAB “is his own best friend”). This expression works with its parallel to provide the whole idea: “loving the soul” is the metonymy of the cause for prospering, and “prospering” is the metonymy of the effect (of loving).

³ tn Heb “finds good” (similar KJV, NASB); NCV “will succeed.” The MT reads לִמְצֹא (limtso’), a Qal infinitive construct. The LXX (as well as the other major early versions) renders it as a future, which reflects a Vorlage of יִמְצָא (yimtsa’). The infinitive is used here in a modal sense, meaning “is destined to” or “is certain of” finding good in life.