8:20–21

The relationship between 8:20 (Wisdom’s righteousness/justice) and 8:21 (Wisdom’s reward) may be interpreted in various ways: The main interpretations are:

(1) Wisdom does what is right and just in order to reward the people who love her (purpose or motivation). For example:

to endow my friends with my wealth (New Jerusalem Bible)

(2) The way that Wisdom does what is right and just is by rewarding the people who love her (means). For example:

giving wealth to those who love me (Good News Translation)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most scholars. This interpretation best fits the Hebrew infinitive construction that is used here.

Several English versions start this line with a separate sentence. They leave the relationship implied. For example:

I give wealth to those who love me (New Century Version)
-or-
I endow with riches those who love me (Revised English Bible)

This is also an acceptable way to express the relationship between 8:20 and 8:21.

8:20

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

20a I walk in the way of righteousness,

20b
along the paths of justice,

There is an ellipsis in 8:20b. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply the missing words from 8:20a. For example:

20b
⌊I walk⌋ along the paths of justice

8:20a–b

I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice: This verse means that Wisdom habitually does what is right and just/fair. For righteousness (ṣǝdaqah), see 8:18b and 1:3b. For justice, see 1:3b.

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