1 The Pursuit of Wisdom Brings Security My son, if you will receive my wordsAnd treasure my commandments within you,
2 So that your ear is attentive to [skillful and godly] wisdom,And apply your heart to understanding [seeking it conscientiously and striving for it eagerly];
3 Yes, if you cry out for insight,And lift up your voice for understanding;
4 If you seek skillfulandgodly wisdom as you would silverAnd search for her as you would hidden treasures;
5 Then you will understand the [reverent] fear of the L[that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome]And discover the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lgives [skillful and godly] wisdom;From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He stores away sound wisdom for the righteous [those who are in right standing with Him];He isa shield to those who walk in integrity [those of honorable character and moral courage],
8 He guards the paths of justice;And He preserves the way of His saints (believers).
9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice [in every circumstance]And integrity and every good path.
10 For [skillful and godly] wisdom will enter your heartAnd knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
11 Discretion will watch over you,Understandinganddiscernment will guard you,
12 To keep you from the way of evilandthe evil man,From the man who speaks perverse things;
13 From those who leave the paths of uprightnessTo walk in the ways of darkness;
14 Who find joy in doing evilAnd delight in the perversity of evil,
15 Whose paths are crooked,And who are devious in their ways;
16 To keep you from the immoral woman;From the seductress with her flattering words,
17 Who leaves the companion (husband) of her youth,And forgets the covenant of her God.
18 For her house leads down to deathAnd her paths lead to the dead;
19 None who go to her return again,Nor do they regain the paths of life—
20 So you will walk in the way of good men [that is, those of personal integrity, moral courage and honorable character],And keep to the paths of the righteous.
21 For the upright [those who are in right standing with God] will live in the landAnd those [of integrity] who are blameless [in God’s sight] will remain in it;
22 But the wicked will be cut off from the landAnd the treacherous shall be [forcibly] uprootedandremoved from it.