Rewards of Wisdom

2 My child, listen to what I say

and remember what I command you.

2  Listen carefully to wisdom;

set your mind on understanding.

3  Cry out for wisdom,

and beg for understanding.

4  Search for it like silver,

and hunt for it like hidden treasure.

5  Then you will understand respect for the Lord,

and you will find that you know God.

6  Only the Lord gives wisdom;

he gives knowledge and understanding.

7  He stores up wisdom for those who are honest.

Like a shield he protects the innocent.

8  He makes sure that justice is done,

and he protects those who are loyal to him.

9  Then you will understand what is honest and fair

and what is the good and right thing to do.

10  Wisdom will come into your mind,

and knowledge will be pleasing to you.

11  Good sense will protect you;

understanding will guard you.

12  It will keep you from the wicked,

from those whose words are bad,

13  who don’t do what is right

but what is evil.

14  They enjoy doing wrong

and are happy to do what is crooked and evil.

15  What they do is wrong,

and their ways are dishonest.

16  It will save you from the unfaithful wife

who tries to lead you into adultery with pleasing words.

17  She leaves the husband she married when she was young.

She ignores the promise she made before God.

18  Her house is on the way to death;

those who took that path are now all dead.

19  No one who goes to her comes back

or walks the path of life again.

20  But wisdom will help you be good

and do what is right.

21  Those who are honest will live in the land,

and those who are innocent will remain in it.

22  But the wicked will be removed from the land,

and the unfaithful will be thrown out of it.