Proverbs 3:22
 Proverbs 3:22 
New International Version (©2011)
they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck.

New Living Translation (©2007)
for they will refresh your soul. They are like jewels on a necklace.

English Standard Version (©2001)
and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
So they will be life to your soul And adornment to your neck.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
They will be life for you and adornment for your neck.

International Standard Version (©2012)
and they will be life to you and a graceful ornament for your neck.

NET Bible (©2006)
So they will give life to you, and grace to adorn your neck.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
And it shall be Life to your soul and Grace to your neck.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Then they will mean life for you, and they will grace your neck.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
So shall they be life unto your soul, and grace to your neck.

American King James Version
So shall they be life to your soul, and grace to your neck.

American Standard Version
So shall they be life unto thy soul, And grace to thy neck.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And there shall be life to thy soul, and grace to thy mouth.

Darby Bible Translation
so shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace unto thy neck.

English Revised Version
So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

Webster's Bible Translation
So shall they be life to thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

World English Bible
so they will be life to your soul, and grace for your neck.

Young's Literal Translation
And they are life to thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

3:21-26 Let us not suffer Christ's words to depart from us, but keep sound wisdom and discretion; then shall we walk safely in his ways. The natural life, and all that belongs to it, shall be under the protection of God's providence; the spiritual life, and all its interests, under the protection of his grace, so that we shall be kept from falling into sin or trouble.


Pulpit Commentary

Verse 22. - So shall they he life to thy soul, and grace to thy neck. So shall they be (n'yikva); and they shall be. The "soul" and "neck" stand for the whole man in his twofold nature, internal and external. Life is in its highest and widest sense given to the soul (see Proverbs 2:16, 18; Proverbs 4:22; Proverbs 8:35), and favour is conferred on the man, i.e. he becomes acceptable to his neighbours, if he has wisdom. The latter expression is very similar to Proverbs 1:9, where the same promise is expressed, "grace" (hon) being equivalent to "ornament of grace" (liv'yath hon). Others understand "grace to thy neck" (hon l'garg grotheyka), as gratia guttturis, in the sense of "grace of the lips," as in Psalm 45:3 and Proverbs 22:11, that is, as the grace of speaking, power of eloquent and effective utterance (Gejerus, Bayne, Lapide). It is better to take it as referring to the adornment of the personal character, and so by metonymy of the favour and kindness which it procures.


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

So shall they be life unto thy soul,.... Give it a better life than it naturally has, though immortal; Christ is both the spiritual and eternal life of the souls of those that look unto him by faith; and his Gospel, and the doctrines of it, are the means of reviving drooping saints, and of quickening them to the discharge of their duty; wherefore both he and they should be kept in continual view, and held fast;

and grace to thy neck; an ornament to that and to the whole man; how ornamental is Christ and his righteousness to a believer! how lovely is the person that is steady in his principles, and regular in his practices! who stands fast in the truths of the Gospel, and whose conversation is as becomes it! see Proverbs 1:9.


Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

22-24. assign reasons in their value for happiness and ornament, guidance and support in dangers, both when waking and sleeping.


Proverbs 3:22 Parallel Commentaries

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Blessed is He who Finds Wisdom
21My son, let not them depart from your eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: 22So shall they be life to your soul, and grace to your neck. 23Then shall you walk in your way safely, and your foot shall not stumble. …

Deuteronomy 32:47 They are not just idle words for you--they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess."
Proverbs 1:9 They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.
Proverbs 4:13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.
Proverbs 4:22 for they are life to those who find them and health to one's whole body.
Proverbs 8:35 For those who find me find life and receive favor from the LORD.
Proverbs 16:22 Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent, but folly brings punishment to fools.
Proverbs 21:21 Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.