Proverbs 2

Chapter 2

The Benefits of Wisdom

1 My child,t listen to what I say,
and treasure my commands.2 Tune your ears to wisdom,
and concentrate on understanding.3 Cry out for insight,
and ask for understanding.4 Search for them as you would for silver;
seek them like hidden treasures.5 Then you will understand what it means to fear the LORD,
and you will gain knowledge of God.6 For the LORD grants wisdom!
From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.7 He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.
He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.8 He guards the paths of the just
and protects those who are faithful to him.9 Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair,
and you will find the right way to go.10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will fill you with joy.11 Wise choices will watch over you.
Understanding will keep you safe.12 Wisdom will save you from evil people,
from those whose words are twisted.13 These men turn from the right way
to walk down dark paths.14 They take pleasure in doing wrong,
and they enjoy the twisted ways of evil.15 Their actions are crooked,
and their ways are wrong.16 Wisdom will save you from the immoral woman,
from the seductive words of the promiscuous woman.17 She has abandoned her husband
and ignores the covenant she made before God.18 Entering her house leads to death;
it is the road to the grave.t19 The man who visits her is doomed.
He will never reach the paths of life.20 Follow the steps of good men instead,
and stay on the paths of the righteous.21 For only the godly will live in the land,
and those with integrity will remain in it.22 But the wicked will be removed from the land,
and the treacherous will be uprooted.

PROVERBS 2

Wisdom and Bad Friends

1 My child, you must follow
and treasure my teachings
and my instructions.

2 Keep in tune with wisdom
and think what it means
to have common sense.

3 Beg as loud as you can
for good common sense.

4 Search for wisdom
as you would search for silver
or hidden treasure.

5 Then you will understand
what it means to respect
and to know the [Lord] God.

6  t All wisdom comes from the [Lord],
and so do common sense
and understanding.

7 God gives helpful advicet
to everyone who obeys him
and protects those
who live as they should.

8 God sees that justice is done,
and he watches over everyone
who is faithful to him.

9 With wisdom you will learn
what is right
and honest and fair.

10 Wisdom will control your mind,
and you will be pleased
with knowledge.

11 Sound judgment and good sense
will watch over you.

12 Wisdom will protect you
from evil schemes
and from those liars

13 who turned from doing good
to live in the darkness.

14 Most of all they enjoy
being mean and deceitful.

15 They are dishonest themselves,
and so are all their deeds.

Wisdom and Sexual Purity

16 Wisdom will protect you
from the smooth talk
of a sinful woman,

17 who breaks her wedding vows
and leaves the man she married
when she was young.

18 The road to her house leads
down
to the dark world
of the dead.

19 Visit her, and you will never
find the road to life again.

20 Follow the example
of good people
and live an honest life.

21 If you are honest and innocent,
you will keep your land;

22 if you do wrong
and can never be trusted,
you will be rooted out.