GodsWord - Proverbs - 2

2:1  My son, if you take my words to heart and treasure my commands within you,

2:2  if you pay close attention to wisdom, and let your mind reach for understanding,

2:3  if indeed you call out for insight, if you ask aloud for understanding,

2:4  if you search for wisdom as if it were money and hunt for it as if it were hidden treasure,

2:5  then you will understand the fear of the LORD and you will find the knowledge of God.

2:6  The LORD gives wisdom. From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

2:7  He has reserved priceless wisdom for decent people. He is a shield for those who walk in integrity

2:8  in order to guard those on paths of justice and to watch over the way of his godly ones.

2:9  Then you will understand what is right and just and fair-- every good course in life.

2:10  Wisdom will come into your heart. Knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

2:11  Foresight will protect you. Understanding will guard you.

2:12  Wisdom will save you from the way of evil, from the person who speaks devious things,

2:13  from those who abandon the paths of righteousness to walk the ways of darkness,

2:14  from those who enjoy doing evil, from those who find joy in the deviousness of evil.

2:15  Their paths are crooked. Their ways are devious.

2:16  Wisdom will also save you from an adulterous woman, from a loose woman with her smooth talk,

2:17  who leaves her husband, the closest friend of her youth, and forgets her marriage vows to her God.

2:18  Her house sinks down to death. Her ways lead to the souls of the dead.

2:19  None who have sex with her come back. Nor do they ever reach the paths of life.

2:20  So walk in the way of good people and stay on the paths of righteous people.

2:21  Decent people will live in the land. People of integrity will remain in it.

2:22  But wicked people will be cut off from the land and treacherous people will be torn from it.