Proverbs 2:1–15

The Value of Wisdom

2 My son, if you receive my words, And atreasure my commands within you,

2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom,

And apply your heart to understanding;

3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment,

And lift up your voice for understanding,

4 bIf you seek her as silver,

And search for her as for hidden treasures;

5 cThen you will understand the fear of the Lord,

And find the knowledge of God.

6 dFor the Lord gives wisdom;

From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;

7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;

eHe is a shield to those who walk uprightly;

8 He guards the paths of justice,

And fpreserves the way of His saints.

9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice,

Equity and every good path.

10 When wisdom enters your heart,

And knowledge is pleasant to your soul,

11 Discretion will preserve you;

gUnderstanding will keep you,

12 To deliver you from the way of evil,

From the man who speaks perverse things,

13 From those who leave the paths of uprightness

To hwalk in the ways of darkness;

14 iWho rejoice in doing evil,

And delight in the perversity of the wicked;

15 jWhose ways are crooked,

And who are devious in their paths;