smartparens is part of Spacemacs already and smartparens is a modern version of paredit. smartparens are part of the built-in lisp state, SPC k , so to slurp SPC k s which leaves you in lisp state so you can do further smartparens actions with a single key press. Smartparens works in all language major modes, not just Clojure. Keybinding are covered here: https://practicalli.github.io/spacemacs/structural-editing/lisp-state.html Details of the layer can be found via SPC h l lisp-state or at https://develop.spacemacs.org/layers/+lang/emacs-lisp/README.html If you are using Evil style editing, then enable Evil safe structural editing too https://practicalli.github.io/spacemacs/install-spacemacs/evil-structural-editing.html

paredit used to be included in the Clojure layer, but it has been removed. Even when paredit was included, no keybindings were included.

It does seem that something is pulling in paredit package, but I do not know where from. I assume its one of the packages that the Clojure layer pulls in.

Oh...I didn't know smartparens. I'll try to use it. Thanks!

I thought smart parens just kept things balanced. I use lisp mode "spc k ." It's nearly the same as paredit. Imo, Do not waste time looking into other options.