Proverbs 3:13 says, Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.  I believe that there is a difference between gaining knowledge and gaining wisdom.  True wisdom comes from understanding how God works in the world and how He expects us to live in the world.  Knowledge is more an accumulation of facts, but wisdom allows us to see God behind those facts.  Many people, who have a great deal of knowledge, attempt to explain how the world was created and functions without the wisdom of God behind it all, but through the wisdom of God, we must acknowledge that He is the Creator and Sustainer.  Verse fourteen states, For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.  Some people equate wisdom with riches, but God tells us that wisdom is more important than riches, and therefore separate from them.  Many people gain great riches without ever having any true wisdom, which can only come from God.  Verse fifteen says, She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.  This is a continuation of the discussion of the value of wisdom over material things.  We are told that wisdom is more precious than anything else that we might desire.  This would imply that we should spend more time and effort on gaining the wisdom of God than we do on gaining material blessings.  Verse sixteen states, Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.  Living by wisdom can bring long life and riches, but this may not be in this world.  If we are wise enough to live by faith in God, then we have everlasting life and security.  Verse seventeen declares, Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.  I don't believe that this means that all war and fighting will cease when we gain the wisdom of God, but that we can live with peace in our souls in spite of all that is going on in the world.  Because we are God's children forever when we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord, then we should not allow the things of this world to rob us of our peace through our faith in Him.  Verse eighteen states , She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.  Once more, since true wisdom comes from accepting Christ as our Savior and Lord, then wisdom is indeed a tree of life to those who claim this wisdom.  Verse nineteen declares, The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.  This verse tells us that the heavens and earth were founded on the wisdom of God.  This disputes the theory based on the knowledge of man that the heavens and earth were created by some cosmic explosion.  God created the heavens and earth to function in a specific way, and He continues to keep it working in accordance with His will.  Verse twenty states, By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.  This is more than just intelligent design by some creative force.  This is a statement that everything was created in accordance with God's design.  Verse twenty-one says, My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:  We are advised to never forget that God is behind it all, and that by doing so, we display sound wisdom.  Verse twenty-two says, So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.  Wisdom that comes from God, the only true wisdom, will bring life to our souls.  Until we have the wisdom to accept Christ as our Savior and Lord, our souls are spiritually dead.  Though the soul is the everlasting part of every person, it is separated from God until we come to Him through Christ.  When we accept Christ, we are spiritually alive with God forever.  Verse twenty-three states, Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.  I believe that this is referring to walking safely spiritually without stumbling.  When we live by God's direction, under the guidance of His wisdom, we are safe from the power of sin forever, and we should never stumble in our walk with Him.  This is true even when the world around us seems to be going insane.  The wisdom of God is still true.  Verse twenty-four says, When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.  When we are secure in our relationship with God, physical aches and pains may keep us awake, but worries never should.  We can sleep peacefully knowing that we are God's children forever through our faith in Christ.