Proverbs 3:18

New English Translation

¹⁸She is like^[a] a tree of life^[b] to those who grasp onto her,
and everyone who takes hold of her will be blessed.^[c]

Proverbs 3:18 tn The comparative “like” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is implied by the metaphor.
Proverbs 3:18 sn The metaphor compares wisdom to the symbol of vitality and fullness of life. This might be an allusion to Gen 3:22, suggesting that what was lost as a result of the Fall may be recovered through wisdom: long and beneficial life (R. Marcus, “The Tree of Life in Proverbs,” JBL 62 [1943]: 117-20).
Proverbs 3:18 tn The singular participle מְאֻשָּׁר (m^eʾushar, literally, “he will be blessed”) functions as a distributive singular for a plural subject (GKC 464 §145.l): “each and everyone will be blessed.” Not recognizing this point of syntax, the BHS editors unnecessarily suggest emending this singular form to the plural.

New English Translation (NET)