Good and Happy
Proverbs 16:20 NKJV
He who heeds the word wisely will find good,
And whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.
One of the advantages of having different translations available is the ability to see different nuances of God's Word. This verse is a classic example of just that.
Here is the very same verse in different translations. "He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he." King James. "The one who understands a matter finds success, and the one who trusts in the Lord will be happy." CSB. "Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the LORD will be joyful." NLT. "He who gives attention to the word will find good, And blessed is he who trusts in the LORD."NASB. "The wise in any matter findeth good, And whoso is trusting in Jehovah, O his happiness." Young's Literal Translation.
So which one is right? The correct answer is all of them. It's easy to see that when we handle a situation with wisdom, things will turn out better. I know I have handled things with the wisdom of God and have handled things in my ignorance, and God's wisdom always works better. And we can also see that when we pay attention to God's Word, we are going to have access to God's wisdom. When we ignore God's wisdom, we don't prosper. When we listen, we do. So the bottom line is that seeking God's wisdom in His Word is the wisest course of action.
And it seems that all of the translations agree on the second part of our verse. When we trust in the Lord, we are happier, we are blessed, and we are more joyful. More trust equals more happiness. The search for happiness has been a major pursuit of Americans, particularly in the last 50 years. Here is an online summary of happiness since the 70's. The Book Market: In the 1970s, self-help was a small sub-section of bookstores. Today, it is a multi-billion-dollar industry. Modern hits like The Art of Happiness (2000) or The How of Happiness (2007) have sold millions of copies, whereas 50 years ago, happiness was largely discussed in dense philosophical or religious texts. The Digital Age: In 2026, the focus has shifted toward quantifiable happiness. Apps like Headspace or Calm (which didn't exist 15 years ago) now have over 100 million combined downloads, representing a massive shift toward the "daily maintenance" of happiness as a routine task.
Two things that most people want in life. To do well at what they do and to be happy. The Scriptures point us in the right direction as to how to have both.
Prayer
Lord, I am listening to You and Your Word. I receive the instructions You have for me, and I do them because I trust in You. I look to You as the ultimate source of my happiness.