Proverbs 2:1–3:12
2 My child, if you will receivea my sayings,
and hide my commands with you,
2 in order to incline your ear toward wisdom,
then you shall apply your heart to understanding.
3 For if you cry out for understanding,b
if you liftc your voice for insight,
and search her out ⌊like treasure⌋,d
5 then you will understand the fear of Yahweh,
and the knowledge of God you will find.
6 For Yahweh will give wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 For the upright, he storese sound judgment, a shield for those who walk uprightly,
8 in order to guard paths of justice
and keepf the way of his faithful ones.
9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice
and uprightness—every good course—
10 for wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasing to your soul.g
11 Discretion will watch over you;
understanding will protect you,
12 in order to deliver you from the way of evil,h
from a man who speaks devious things—
13 those who forsake the paths of uprightness
to walk in ways of darkness,
14 those who are happy to do evil,
for they delight in the deviousness of evil,
15 ⌊who are crooked in their ways⌋,i
and devious in their paths;
16 in order to deliver you from a strange woman,
from a foreign woman who flattersj with her sayings,
17 she who forsakes the partner of her youth
and has forgotten the covenant of her God,
18 for her house sinks to death,
and to the deadk are her paths.
19 Of all who go to her, none shall return,
nor do they reach paths of life.
20 So that you will walk on the road of those who are good,
and the paths of those who are righteous you shall keep.
21 For those who are upright will dwell in the land,l
and those who are blamelessm will remain in it.
22 And those who are wicked will be cut off from the land,
and those who are treacherous will be uprooted from it.
3 My child, do not forget my instruction,
and may your heart guard my commands.
2 For length of days, years of life,
and peace theya shall add to you.
3 May loyal loveb and truth not forsake you;
bind them around your neck,
write them upon your heart.
4 And you shall find favor and good sensec
in the eyes of God and humankind.
5 ⌊Trust Yahweh⌋d with all your heart;
do not lean toward your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will straighten your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear Yahweh and retreat from evil.
8 There shall be healing for your ⌊flesh⌋,e
and refreshment for your body.
9 Honor Yahweh from your substance,f
and from the firstfruits of all that will come to you,
10 and your barns shall be full of plenty,
and your vats shall burst with new wine.
Happy Is the One Who Finds Wisdom
11 Do not despise the discipline of Yahweh, my child.
Do not be weary of his reproof
12 because whomever Yahweh will love, he will rebuke,
as a father delights in his son.