Proverbs 2

The Benefits of Wisdom

^{verse 1}My son, if you accept my words

and hide my commandments within you,

^{verse 2}if you incline your ear to wisdom

and direct your heart to understanding,

^{verse 3}if you truly call out to insight

and lift your voice to understanding,

^{verse 4}if you seek it like silver

and search it out like hidden treasure,

^{verse 5}then you will discern the fear of the LORD

and discover the knowledge of God.

^{verse 6}For the LORD gives wisdom;

from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

^{verse 7}He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;

He is a shield to those who walk with integrity,

^{verse 8}to guard the paths of justice

and protect the way of His saints.

^{verse 9}Then you will discern righteousness

and justice and equity— every good path.

^{verse 10}For wisdom will enter your heart,

and knowledge will delight your soul.

^{verse 11}Discretion will watch over you,

and understanding will guard you,

^{verse 12}to deliver you from the way of evil,

from the man who speaks perversity,

^{verse 13}from those who leave the straight paths

to walk in the ways of darkness,

^{verse 14}from those who enjoy doing evil

and rejoice in the twistedness of evil,

^{verse 15}whose paths are crooked

and whose ways are devious.

^{verse 16}It will rescue you from the forbidden woman,^a

from the stranger^b with seductive words

^{verse 17}who abandons the partner of her youth

and forgets the covenant of her God.

^{verse 18}For her house sinks down to death,

and her tracks to the departed spirits.^c

^{verse 19}None who go to her return

or negotiate the paths of life.

^{verse 20}So you will follow in the ways of the good,

and keep to the paths of the righteous.

^{verse 21}For the upright will inhabit the land,

and the blameless will remain in it;

^{verse 22}but the wicked will be cut off from the land,

and the unfaithful will be uprooted.