Proverbs 2:6–20

⁶The Lord gives wisdom.

Knowledge and understanding come from his mouth.

⁷He stores up success for honest people.

He is like a shield to those who live without blame. He keeps them safe.

⁸He guards the path of those who are honest.

He watches over the way of his faithful ones.

⁹You will understand what is right and honest and fair.

You will understand the right way to live.

¹⁰Your heart will become wise.

Your mind will delight in knowledge.

¹¹Good sense will keep you safe.

Understanding will guard you.

¹²Wisdom will save you from the ways of evil men.

It will save you from men who twist their words.

¹³Men like that leave the straight paths

to walk in dark ways.

¹⁴They take delight in doing what is wrong.

They take joy in twisting everything around.

¹⁵Their paths are crooked.

Their ways are not straight.

¹⁶Wisdom will save you from a woman who commits adultery.

It will save you from a sinful wife and her tempting words.

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

She breaks the promise she made to her God.

¹⁸Her house leads down to death.

Her paths lead to the spirits of the dead.

¹⁹No one who goes to her comes back

or reaches the paths of life.

²⁰You will walk in the ways of good people.

You will follow the paths of those who do right.