2:1 My child,1 if2 you receive my words,
and store up3 my commands within you,
2:2 by making4 your ear5 attentive to wisdom,
and6 by turning7 your heart8 to understanding,
2:3 indeed, if9 you call out for10 understanding,11
and12 raise your voice13 for understanding,
2:4 if14 you seek15 it like silver,16
and search for it17 like hidden treasure,
2:5 then you will understand18 how to fear the Lord,19
and you will discover20 knowledge21 about God.22
2:6 For23 the Lord gives24 wisdom,
and from his mouth25 comes26 knowledge and understanding.
2:7 He stores up27 effective counsel28 for the upright,29
and is like30 a shield31 for those who live32 with integrity,33
2:8 to guard34 the paths of the righteous35
and to protect36 the way of his pious ones.37
2:9 Then you will understand38 righteousness and justice
and equity—every39 good40 way.41
2:10 For wisdom will enter your heart,42
and moral knowledge43 will be attractive44 to you.45
2:11 Discretion46 will protect you,47
understanding will guard you,
2:12 to deliver48 you from the way of the wicked,49
from those50 speaking perversity,51
2:13 who leave52 the upright53 paths
to walk on the dark54 ways,
2:14 who delight55 in doing56 evil,57
they rejoice in perverse evil;58
2:15 whose paths59 are morally crooked,60
and who are devious61 in their ways;
2:16 to deliver you62 from the adulteress,63
from the sexually loose woman64 who speaks flattering65 words;66
2:17 who leaves67 the husband68 from her youth,69
and forgets her marriage covenant70 made before God.71
2:18 For her house72 sinks73 down to death,
and her paths lead74 to the place of the departed spirits.75
2:19 None who go in to her will return,76
nor will they reach the paths of life.77
2:20 So78 you will walk in the way of good people,79
and will keep on the paths of the righteous.80
2:21 For the upright will reside in the land,
and those with integrity81 will remain in it,
2:22 but the wicked82 will be cut off83 from the land,
and the treacherous84 will be torn away85 from it.
Exhortations to Seek Wisdom and Walk with the Lord86