Proverbs 2:6–20

⁶For the Lord gives wisdom;

from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. ^z

⁷He stores up success ^afor the upright;

He is a shield for those who live with integrity ^b

⁸so that He may guard the paths of justice

and protect the way of His loyal followers. ^c

⁹Then you will understand righteousness, justice,

and integrity—every good path.

¹⁰For wisdom will enter your mind,

and knowledge will delight your heart.

¹¹Discretion will watch over you,

and understanding will guard you, ^d

¹²rescuing you from the way of evil—

from the one who says perverse things,

¹³from those who abandon the right paths

to walk in ways of darkness, ^e

¹⁴from those who enjoy doing evil ^f

and celebrate perversion,

¹⁵whose paths are crooked, ^g

and whose ways are devious. ^h

¹⁶It will rescue you from a forbidden woman, ⁱ

from a stranger ^jwith her flattering talk, ^k

¹⁷who abandons the companion of her youth ^l

and forgets the covenant of her God;

¹⁸for her house sinks down to death

and her ways to the land of the departed spirits. ^m

¹⁹None return who go to her;

none reach the paths of life. ⁿ

²⁰So follow the way of good people, ^o

and keep to the paths of the righteous.