Proverbs 2:1-18 in English

¹ My son, if thou wilt receive my words, And lay up my commandments with thee;

² So as to incline thine ear unto wisdom, And apply thy heart to understanding;

³ Yea, if thou cry after discernment, And lift up thy voice for understanding;

⁴ If thou seek her as silver, And search for her as for hid treasures:

⁵ Then shalt thou understand the fear of Jehovah, And find the knowledge of God.

⁶ For Jehovah giveth wisdom; Out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding:

⁷ He layeth up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to them that walk in integrity;

⁸ That he may guard the paths of justice, And preserve the way of his saints.

⁹ Then shalt thou understand righteousness and justice, And equity, yea, every good path.

¹⁰ For wisdom shall enter into thy heart, And knowledge shall be pleasant unto thy soul;

¹¹ Discretion shall watch over thee; Understanding shall keep thee:

¹² To deliver thee from the way of evil, From the men that speak perverse things;

¹³ Who forsake the paths of uprightness, To walk in the ways of darkness;

¹⁴ Who rejoice to do evil, And delight in the perverseness of evil;

¹⁵ Who are crooked in their ways, And wayward in their paths:

¹⁶ To deliver thee from the strange woman, Even from the foreigner that flattereth with her words;

¹⁷ That forsaketh the friend of her youth, And forgetteth the covenant of her God:

¹⁸ For her house inclineth unto death, And her paths unto the dead;

¹ My son, if thou wilt receive the utterance of my commandment, and hide it with thee;

² thine ear shall hearken to wisdom; thou shalt also apply thine heart to understanding, and shalt apply it to the instruction of thy son.

³ For if thou shalt call to wisdom, and utter thy voice for understanding;

⁴ and if thou shalt seek it as silver, and search diligently for it as for treasures;

⁵ then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.

⁶ For the Lord gives wisdom; and from his presence come knowledge and understanding,

⁷ and he treasures up salvation for them that walk uprightly: he will protect their way;

⁸ that he may guard the righteous ways: and he will preserve the way of them that fear him.

⁹ Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment; and shalt direct all thy course aright.

¹⁰ For if wisdom shall come into thine understanding, and discernment shall seem pleasing to thy soul,

¹¹ good counsel shall guard thee, and holy understanding shall keep thee;

¹² to deliver thee from the evil way, and from the man that speaks nothing faithfully.

¹³ Alas for those who forsake right paths, to walk in ways of darkness;

¹⁴ who rejoice in evils, and delight in wicked perverseness;

¹⁵ whose paths are crooked, and their courses winding;

¹⁶ to remove thee far from the straight way, and to estrange thee from a righteous purpose. My son, let not evil counsel overtake thee,

¹⁷ of her who has forsaken the instruction of her youth, and forgotten the covenant of God.

¹⁸ For she has fixed her house near death, and guided her wheels near Hades with the giants.

¹ My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

² So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;

³ Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;

⁴ If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

⁵ Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

⁶ For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

⁷ He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.

⁸ He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.

⁹ Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.

¹⁰ When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;

¹¹ Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

¹² To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;

¹³ Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;

¹⁴ Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;

¹⁵ Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:

¹⁶ To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;

¹⁷ Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.

¹⁸ For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.

¹ My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

² So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;

³ Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;

⁴ If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

⁵ Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

⁶ For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

⁷ He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.

⁸ He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.

⁹ Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.

¹⁰ When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;

¹¹ Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

¹² To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;

¹³ Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;

¹⁴ Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;

¹⁵ Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:

¹⁶ To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;

¹⁷ Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.

¹⁸ For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.

¹ My son, if you will receive the utterance of my commandment, and hide it with you;

² your ear shall listen to wisdom; you shall also apply your heart to understanding, and shall apply it to the instruction of your son.

³ For it you shall call to wisdom, and utter your voice for understanding;

⁴ and if you shall seek it as silver, and search diligently for it as for treasures;

⁵ then shall you understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.

⁶ For the Lord gives wisdom; and from his presence come knowledge and understanding,

⁷ and he treasures up salvation for them that walk uprightly: he will protect their way;

⁸ that he may guard the righteous ways: and he will preserve the way of them that fear him.

⁹ Then shall you understand righteousness, and judgment; and shall direct all your course aright.

¹⁰ For if wisdom shall come into your understanding, and discernment shall seem pleasing to your soul,

¹¹ good counsel shall guard you, and holy understanding shall keep you;

¹² to deliver you from the evil way, and from the man that speaks nothing faithfully.

¹³ Alas for those who forsake right paths, to walk in ways of darkness;

¹⁴ who rejoice in evils, and delight in wicked perverseness;

¹⁵ whose paths are crooked, and their courses winding;

¹⁶ to remove you far from the straight way, and to estrange you from a righteous purpose. My son, let not evil counsel overtake you,

¹⁷ of her who has forsaken the instruction of her youth, and forgotten the covenant of God.

¹⁸ For she has fixed her house near death, and guided her wheels near Hades with the giants.

¹ My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and lay up my commandments with thee;

² So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;

³ Yea, if thou cry after discernment, and lift up thy voice for understanding;

⁴ If thou seek her as silver, and search for her as for hid treasures;

⁵ Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

⁶ For the LORD giveth wisdom; out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding:

⁷ He layeth up sound wisdom for the upright, he is a shield to them that walk in integrity;

⁸ That he may guard the paths of judgment, and preserve the way of his saints.

⁹ Then shalt thou understand righteousness and judgment, and equity, yea, every good path.

¹⁰ For wisdom shall enter into thine heart, and knowledge shall be pleasant unto thy soul;

¹¹ Discretion shall watch over thee, understanding shall keep thee:

¹² To deliver thee from the way of evil, from the men that speak froward things;

¹³ Who forsake the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;

¹⁴ Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of evil;

¹⁵ Who are crooked in their ways, and perverse in their paths:

¹⁶ To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;

¹⁷ Which forsaketh the friend of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God:

¹⁸ For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead:

¹ My son, listen to what I say, and consider my instructions to be as valuable as MET a treasure.

² Pay attention to wisdom and try hard to understand it.

³ Call out to God to get insight; plead with him to help you to understand more of what he wants you to know.

⁴ Search eagerly for wisdom, like you would search for silver, like you would search for a treasure that someone has hidden.

⁵ If you do that, you will understand how to revere Yahweh, and you will succeed in knowing God.

⁶ Yahweh is the one who gives us wisdom. He is the one who tells us things that we need to know and understand.

⁷ He gives good advice to those who conduct their lives as they should. He protects MET those who do what is right.

⁸ He guards those who act justly/fairly toward others, and he watches over those who are faithful/loyal to him.

⁹ If you ask God for wisdom, you will understand what is right and just DOU to do, and you will know the right way to conduct your life,

¹⁰ because you will be wise in your inner being; and knowing what God wants you to know will cause you to be joyful.

¹¹ If you know PRS how to choose what is right to do and if you understand what God wants you to do, God will protect you and guard you and keep you safe.

¹² If you are wise PRS, you will not do what evil people do, and you will not believe what deceitful people say.

¹³ Deceitful people have stopped acting fairly/justly toward others and ◄walk on dark and evil paths/do what evil people do► MET.

¹⁴ They enjoy doing what is wrong; they like to do what is evil and to deceive people.

¹⁵ They ◄walk on crooked paths/always deceive others► and are always dishonest.

¹⁶ If you are wise PRS, you will also be saved from ◄immoral women/prostitutes►; you will not pay attention when adulterous women try to ◄seduce/entice you by what they say.►

¹⁷ Those women have left the husbands whom they married when they were young; they have disregarded the solemn promise they made to God not to commit adultery.

¹⁸ If you go into houses of women who are like that, you will die when you are still young; the road to their houses leads to hell.

¹ My son, if you will receive the utterance of my commandment, and hide it with you;

² your ear shall listen to wisdom; you shall also apply your heart to understanding, and shall apply it to the instruction of your son.

³ For it you shall call to wisdom, and utter your voice for understanding;

⁴ and if you shall seek it as silver, and search diligently for it as for treasures;

⁵ then shall you understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.

⁶ For the Lord gives wisdom; and from his presence come knowledge and understanding,

⁷ and he treasures up salvation for them that walk uprightly: he will protect their way;

⁸ that he may guard the righteous ways: and he will preserve the way of them that fear him.

⁹ Then shall you understand righteousness, and judgement; and shall direct all your course aright.

¹⁰ For if wisdom shall come into your understanding, and discernment shall seem pleasing to your soul,

¹¹ good counsel shall guard you, and holy understanding shall keep you;

¹² to deliver you from the evil way, and from the man that speaks nothing faithfully.

¹³ Alas for those who forsake right paths, to walk in ways of darkness;

¹⁴ who rejoice in evils, and delight in wicked perverseness;

¹⁵ whose paths are crooked, and their courses winding;

¹⁶ to remove you far from the straight way, and to estrange you from a righteous purpose. My son, let not evil counsel overtake you,

¹⁷ of her who has forsaken the instruction of her youth, and forgotten the covenant of God.

¹⁸ For she has fixed her house near death, and guided her wheels near Hades with the giants.

¹ My son, if you will receive my words, and store up my commandments within you,

² so as to turn your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding;

³ yes, if you call out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding;

⁴ if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures;

⁵ then you will understand the fear of Yahweh, and find the knowledge of God.

⁶ For Yahweh gives wisdom. Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

⁷ He lays up sound wisdom for the upright. He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,

⁸ that he may guard the paths of justice, and preserve the way of his saints.

⁹ Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path.

¹⁰ For wisdom will enter into your heart. Knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

¹¹ Discretion will watch over you. Understanding will keep you,

¹² to deliver you from the way of evil, from the men who speak perverse things,

¹³ who forsake the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness,

¹⁴ who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the perverseness of evil,

¹⁵ who are crooked in their ways, and wayward in their paths,

¹⁶ to deliver you from the strange woman, even from the foreigner who flatters with her words,

¹⁷ who forsakes the friend of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God;

¹⁸ for her house leads down to death, her paths to the departed spirits.

¹ My son, if you will receive my words, and store up my commandments within you,

² so as to turn your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding;

³ yes, if you call out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding;

⁴ if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures;

⁵ then you will understand the fear of Yahweh, and find the knowledge of God.

⁶ For Yahweh gives wisdom. Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

⁷ He lays up sound wisdom for the upright. He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,

⁸ that he may guard the paths of justice, and preserve the way of his saints.

⁹ Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path.

¹⁰ For wisdom will enter into your heart. Knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

¹¹ Discretion will watch over you. Understanding will keep you,

¹² to deliver you from the way of evil, from the men who speak perverse things,

¹³ who forsake the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness,

¹⁴ who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the perverseness of evil,

¹⁵ who are crooked in their ways, and wayward in their paths,

¹⁶ to deliver you from the strange woman, even from the foreigner who flatters with her words,

¹⁷ who forsakes the friend of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God;

¹⁸ for her house leads down to death, her paths to the departed spirits.

¹ My son, if you will receive my words, and store up my commandments within you,

² so as to turn your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding;

³ yes, if you call out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding;

⁴ if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures;

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

⁶ For the LORD gives wisdom. Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

⁷ He lays up sound wisdom for the upright. He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,

⁸ that he may guard the paths of justice, and preserve the way of his saints.

⁹ Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path.

¹⁰ For wisdom will enter into your heart. Knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

¹¹ Discretion will watch over you. Understanding will keep you,

¹² to deliver you from the way of evil, from the men who speak perverse things,

¹³ who forsake the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness,

¹⁴ who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the perverseness of evil,

¹⁵ who are crooked in their ways, and wayward in their paths,

¹⁶ to deliver you from the strange woman, even from the foreigner who flatters with her words,

¹⁷ who forsakes the friend of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God;

¹⁸ for her house leads down to death, her paths to the departed spirits.

¹ My son, if you will take my words to your heart, storing up my laws in your mind;

² So that your ear gives attention to wisdom, and your heart is turned to knowledge;

³ Truly, if you are crying out for good sense, and your request is for knowledge;

⁴ If you are looking for her as for silver, and searching for her as for stored-up wealth;

⁵ Then the fear of the Lord will be clear to you, and knowledge of God will be yours.

⁶ For the Lord gives wisdom; out of his mouth come knowledge and reason:

⁷ He has salvation stored up for the upright, he is a breastplate to those in whom there is no evil;

⁸ He keeps watch on the ways which are right, and takes care of those who have the fear of him.

⁹ Then you will have knowledge of righteousness and right acting, and upright behaviour, even of every good way.

¹⁰ For wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasing to your soul;

¹¹ Wise purposes will be watching over you, and knowledge will keep you;

¹² Giving you salvation from the evil man, from those whose words are false;

¹³ Who give up the way of righteousness, to go by dark roads;

¹⁴ Who take pleasure in wrongdoing, and have joy in the evil designs of the sinner;

¹⁵ Whose ways are not straight, and whose footsteps are turned to evil:

¹⁶ To take you out of the power of the strange woman, who says smooth words with her tongue;

¹⁷ Who is false to the husband of her early years, and does not keep the agreement of her God in mind:

¹⁸ For her house is on the way down to death; her footsteps go down to the shades:

¹ My son, if thou receivest my words, and layest up my commandments with thee,

² so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom and thou apply thy heart to understanding;

³ yea, if thou criest after discernment and liftest up thy voice to understanding;

⁴ if thou seekest her as silver and searchest for her as for hidden treasures:

⁵ then shalt thou understand the fear of Jehovah, and find the knowledge of God.

⁶ For Jehovah giveth wisdom; out of his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

⁷ He layeth up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to them that walk in integrity;

⁸ guarding the paths of just judgment and keeping the way of his godly ones.

⁹ Then shalt thou understand righteousness and judgment and equity: every good path.

¹⁰ When wisdom entereth into thy heart and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul,

¹¹ discretion shall keep thee, understanding shall preserve thee:

¹² To deliver thee from the way of evil, from the man that speaketh froward things;

¹³ from those who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;

¹⁴ who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of evil;

¹⁵ whose paths are crooked, and who are perverted in their course:

¹⁶ To deliver thee from the strange woman, from the stranger who flattereth with her words;

¹⁷ who forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God;

¹⁸ — for her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead;

¹ My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and wilt hide my commandments with thee,

² That thy ear may hearken to wisdom: Incline thy heart to know prudence:

³ For if thou shalt call for wisdom, and incline thy heart to prudence:

⁴ If thou shalt seek her as money, and shalt dig for her as for a treasure:

⁵ Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and shalt find the knowledge of God.

⁶ Because the Lord giveth wisdom: and out of his mouth cometh prudence and knowledge.

⁷ He will keep the salvation of the righteous, and protect them that walk in simplicity.

⁸ Keeping the paths of justice, and guarding the ways of saints.

⁹ Then shalt thou understand justice, and judgment, and equity, and every good path.

¹⁰ If wisdom shall enter into thy heart, and knowledge please thy soul:

¹¹ Counsel shall keep thee, and prudence shall preserve thee,

¹² That thou mayst be delivered from the evil way, and from the man that speaketh perverse things:

¹³ Who leave the right way, and walk by dark ways:

¹⁴ Who are glad when they have done evil, and rejoice in most wicked things:

¹⁵ Whose ways are perverse, and their steps infamous.

¹⁶ That thou mayst be delivered from the strange women, and from the stranger, who softeneth her words:

¹⁷ And forsaketh the guide of her youth,

¹⁸ And hath forgotten the covenant of her God: for her house inclineth unto death, and her paths to hell.

¹ My son, if you accept what I say and value my instructions,

² if you pay attention to wisdom and really try to understand;

³ if you cry out for insight and call loudly for help in understanding;

⁴ if you look for it as if it were silver and search for it as if it were hidden treasure;

⁵ then you will understand how to relate to the Lord and discover the truth about God.

⁶ The Lord is the source of wisdom; what he says provides knowledge that makes sense.

⁷ He gives good judgment to those who live right; he defends those who have good sense.

⁸ He supports those who act fairly and protects those who trust in him.

⁹ Then you will be able to recognize what is right and just and fair, in fact all that is good in the way you should live.

¹⁰ For wisdom will fill your mind, and knowledge will make you happy.

¹¹ Good decisions will keep you on track; thinking logically will keep you safe.

¹² Doing this will save you from the ways of evil, from men who tell twisted lies,

¹³ who turn away from following what is right to walk down paths of darkness.

¹⁴ They happily do wrong; they love how twisted evil is.

¹⁵ They live crooked lives doing deceitful things.

¹⁶ Doing this will also save you from a woman who acts immorally, from a woman who like a prostitute tries to seduce you with flattering words.

¹⁷ Such a woman has left her husband she married when she was young, forgetting the promises she made before God.

¹⁸ What happens in her house leads to death; following her way leads to the grave.

¹ My sonne, if thou wilt receiue my wordes, and hide my commandements within thee,

² And cause thine eares to hearken vnto wisdome, and encline thine heart to vnderstanding,

³ (For if thou callest after knowledge, and cryest for vnderstanding:

⁴ If thou seekest her as siluer, and searchest for her as for treasures,

⁵ Then shalt thou vnderstand the feare of the Lord, and finde the knowledge of God.

⁶ For the Lord giueth wisdome, out of his mouth commeth knowledge and vnderstanding.

⁷ He preserueth the state of the righteous: he is a shielde to them that walke vprightly,

⁸ That they may keepe the wayes of iudgement: and he preserueth the way of his Saintes)

⁹ Then shalt thou vnderstand righteousnes, and iudgement, and equitie, and euery good path.

¹⁰ When wisdome entreth into thine heart, and knowledge deliteth thy soule,

¹¹ Then shall counsell preserue thee, and vnderstanding shall keepe thee,

¹² And deliuer thee from the euill way, and from the man that speaketh froward things,

¹³ And from them that leaue the wayes of righteousnes to walke in the wayes of darkenes:

¹⁴ Which reioyce in doing euill, and delite in the frowardnesse of the wicked,

¹⁵ Whose wayes are crooked and they are lewde in their paths.

¹⁶ And it shall deliuer thee from the strange woman, euen from the stranger, which flattereth with her wordes.

¹⁷ Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the couenant of her God.

¹⁸ Surely her house tendeth to death, and her paths vnto the dead.

¹ My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and lay up my commandments with thee;

² So that thou make thine ear attend unto wisdom, and thy heart incline to discernment;

³ Yea, if thou call for understanding, and lift up thy voice for discernment;

⁴ If thou seek her as silver, and search for her as for hid treasures;

⁵ Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

⁶ For the LORD giveth wisdom, out of His mouth cometh knowledge and discernment;

⁷ He layeth up sound wisdom for the upright, He is a shield to them that walk in integrity;

⁸ That He may guard the paths of justice, and preserve the way of His godly ones.

⁹ Then shalt thou understand righteousness and justice, and equity, yea, every good path.

¹⁰ For wisdom shall enter into thy heart, and knowledge shall be pleasant unto thy soul;

¹¹ Discretion shall watch over thee, discernment shall guard thee;

¹² To deliver thee from the way of evil, from the men that speak froward things;

¹³ Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;

¹⁴ Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of evil;

¹⁵ Who are crooked in their ways, and perverse in their paths;

¹⁶ To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the alien woman that maketh smooth her words;

¹⁷ That forsaketh the lord of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.

¹⁸ For her house sinketh down unto death, and her paths unto the shades;

¹ My son, if thou wilt receive my words, And hide my commandments with thee;

² So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, And apply thine heart to understanding;

³ Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, And liftest up thy voice for understanding;

⁴ If thou seekest her as silver, And searchest for her as for hid treasures;

⁵ Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God.

⁶ For the Lord giveth wisdom: Out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

⁷ He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.

⁸ He keepeth the paths of judgment, And preserveth the way of his saints.

⁹ Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, And equity; yea, every good path.

¹⁰ When wisdom entereth into thine heart, And knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;

¹¹ Discretion shall preserve thee, Understanding shall keep thee:

¹² To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, From the man that speaketh froward things;

¹³ Who leave the paths of uprightness, To walk in the ways of darkness;

¹⁴ Who rejoice to do evil, And delight in the frowardness of the wicked;

¹⁵ Whose ways are crooked, And they froward in their paths:

¹⁶ To deliver thee from the strange woman, Even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;

¹⁷ Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, And forgetteth the covenant of her God.

¹⁸ For her house inclineth unto death, And her paths unto the dead.

¹ My son, if thou wouldst but accept my words, and treasure up my commandments with thee;

² To let thy ear listen unto wisdom: if thou wouldst incline thy heart to understanding.

³ For if thou wilt call after intelligence; if after understanding thou wilt lift up thy voice;

⁴ If thou wilt seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures:

⁵ Then wilt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and the knowledge of God wilt thou find.

⁶ For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

⁷ He treasureth up sound wisdom for the righteous, as a shield to those that walk in integrity:

⁸ That men may keep the paths of justice; and the way of his pious servants doth he guard.

⁹ Then wilt thou understand righteousness, and justice, and equity: yea, every track of goodness.

¹⁰ For wisdom will enter thy heart, and knowledge will be pleasant unto thy soul;

¹¹ Discretion will watch over thee, understanding will keep thee;

¹² To deliver thee from the way of the bad, from the man that speaketh perverse things;

¹³ From those who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;

¹⁴ Who rejoice to do evil, who are delighted in the perverseness of the bad;

¹⁵ Who as regardeth their paths are crooked, and froward in their tracks.

¹⁶ To deliver thee from the adulteress, from the alien woman that useth flattering speeches;

¹⁷ That forsaketh the friend of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.

¹⁸ For she sinketh unto death—her house, and unto the departed lead her tracks.

¹ My son, if thou wilt receive the utterance of my commandment, and hide it with thee;

² Thine ear shall hearken to wisdom; Thou shalt also apply thy heart to understanding, And shalt apply it to the instruction of thy son.

³ For if thou shalt call to wisdom, And utter thy voice for understanding;

⁴ And if thou shalt seek it as silver, And search diligently for it as for treasures;

⁵ Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God.

⁶ For the Lord gives wisdom; And from his presence come knowledge and understanding,

⁷ And he treasures up salvation for them that walk uprightly: He will protect their way;

⁸ That he may guard the righteous ways: And he will preserve the way of them that fear him.

⁹ Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment; And shalt direct all thy course aright.

¹⁰ For if wisdom shall come into thine understanding, And discernment shall seem pleasing to thy soul,

¹¹ Good counsel shall guard thee, And holy understanding shall keep thee;

¹² To deliver thee from the evil way, And from the man that speaks nothing faithfully.

¹³ Alas for those who forsake right paths, To walk in ways of darkness;

¹⁴ Who rejoice in evils, And delight in wicked perverseness;

¹⁵ Whose paths are crooked, And their courses winding;

¹⁶ To remove thee far from the straight way, And to estrange thee from a righteous purpose. My son, let not evil counsel overtake thee,

¹⁷ Of her who has forsaken the instruction of her youth, And forgotten the covenant of God.

¹⁸ For she has fixed her house near death, And guided her wheels near Hades with the giants.

¹ Oh, my son, that thou wouldst receive my words, And treasure up my precepts within thee;

² That thou wouldst apply thine ear to wisdom, And incline thy heart to understanding!

³ For if thou wilt call aloud to knowledge, And lift up thy voice to understanding,—

⁴ If thou wilt seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures,

⁵ Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God.

⁶ For the LORD giveth wisdom; From his mouth proceed knowledge and understanding:

⁷ He layeth up safety for the righteous; He is a shield to them that walk uprightly:

⁸ He guardeth the paths of equity, And defendeth the way of his servants.

⁹ Then shalt thou understand righteousness and equity And uprightness, yea, every good path.

¹⁰ When wisdom entereth into thy heart, And knowledge is pleasant to thy soul,

¹¹ Discretion will guard thee, Understanding will preserve thee.

¹² It will deliver thee from the way of the wicked, From the men who speak perverse things;

¹³ Who forsake the paths of uprightness, To walk in the ways of darkness;

¹⁴ Who rejoice in doing evil, And delight in the perverseness of the wicked;

¹⁵ Whose paths are crooked, And who are froward in their ways.

¹⁶ It will deliver thee from the wife of another, From the stranger, who useth smooth words;

¹⁷ Who forsaketh the friend of her youth, And forgetteth the covenant of her God.

¹⁸ For her house sinketh down to Death, And her paths to the shades of the dead:

¹ My son, if you will receive my words, and store up my mitzvot ·instructions· within you;

² So as to turn your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding;

³ Yes, if you call out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding;

⁴ If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures:

⁵ then you will understand the fear of Adonai , and find the knowledge of God.

⁶ For Adonai gives wisdom. Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

⁷ He lays up sound wisdom for the upright. He is a shield to those who walk in integrity;

⁸ that he may guard the paths of mishpat ·justice·, and preserve the way of his saints.

⁹ Then you will understand righteousness and mishpat ·justice·, equity and every good path.

¹⁰ For wisdom will enter into your heart. Knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

¹¹ Discretion will watch over you. Understanding will keep you,

¹² to deliver you from the way of evil, from the men who speak perverse things;

¹³ who forsake the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;

¹⁴ who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the perverseness of evil;

¹⁵ who are crooked in their ways, and wayward in their paths:

¹⁶ To deliver you from the strange woman, even from the foreigner who flatters with her words;

¹⁷ who forsakes the friend of her youth, and forgets the covenant ·binding contract between two or more parties· of her God:

¹⁸ for her house leads down to death, her paths to the departed spirits.

¹ My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you,

² make your ears pay attention to wisdom and incline your heart to understanding.

³ If you cry out for understanding and raise your voice for it,

⁴ if you seek it like you would seek silver and search for understanding as you would seek hidden treasures,

⁵ then you will understand the fear of Yahweh and you will find the knowledge of God.

⁶ For Yahweh gives wisdom, from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

⁷ He stores up sound wisdom for those who please him, he is a shield for those who walk in integrity,

⁸ he guards the paths of justice and he will preserve the way of those who are faithful to him.

⁹ Then you will understand righteousness, justice, and equity, and every good path.

¹⁰ For wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

¹¹ Discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you.

¹² They will rescue you from the way of evil, from those who speak perverse things,

¹³ who abandon the right paths and walk in the ways of darkness.

¹⁴ They rejoice when they do evil and delight in the perversities of evil.

¹⁵ They follow crooked paths, and using deception they hide their tracks.

¹⁶ Wisdom and discretion will save you from an adulterous woman, from an immoral woman and her flattering words.

¹⁷ She forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God.

¹⁸ For her house leads down to death and her tracks will lead you to those in the grave.

¹ My son, if you will receive my words, and store up my commandments within you,

² so as to turn your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding;

³ yes, if you call out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding;

⁴ if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures;

⁵ then you will understand the fear of Yahweh, and find the knowledge of God.

⁶ For Yahweh gives wisdom. Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

⁷ He lays up sound wisdom for the upright. He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,

⁸ that he may guard the paths of justice, and preserve the way of his saints.

⁹ Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path.

¹⁰ For wisdom will enter into your heart. Knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

¹¹ Discretion will watch over you. Understanding will keep you,

¹² to deliver you from the way of evil, from the men who speak perverse things,

¹³ who forsake the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness,

¹⁴ who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the perverseness of evil,

¹⁵ who are crooked in their ways, and wayward in their paths,

¹⁶ to deliver you from the strange woman, even from the foreigner who flatters with her words,

¹⁷ who forsakes the friend of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God;

¹⁸ for her house leads down to death, her paths to the departed spirits.

¹ My son, if you will receive my words, and store up my commandments within you,

² so as to turn your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding;

³ yes, if you call out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding;

⁴ if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures;

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

⁶ For the LORD gives wisdom. Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

⁷ He lays up sound wisdom for the upright. He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,

⁸ that he may guard the paths of justice, and preserve the way of his saints.

⁹ Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path.

¹⁰ For wisdom will enter into your heart. Knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

¹¹ Discretion will watch over you. Understanding will keep you,

¹² to deliver you from the way of evil, from the men who speak perverse things,

¹³ who forsake the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness,

¹⁴ who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the perverseness of evil,

¹⁵ who are crooked in their ways, and wayward in their paths,

¹⁶ to deliver you from the strange woman, even from the foreigner who flatters with her words,

¹⁷ who forsakes the friend of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God;

¹⁸ for her house leads down to death, her paths to the departed spirits.

¹ My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

² So that thou incline thy ear to wisdom, and apply thy heart to understanding;

³ Yes, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;

⁴ If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

⁵ Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

⁶ For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

⁷ He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.

⁸ He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.

⁹ Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; and every good path.

¹⁰ When wisdom entereth into thy heart, and knowledge is pleasant to thy soul;

¹¹ Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

¹² To deliver thee from the way of the evil man , from the man that speaketh froward things;

¹³ Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;

¹⁴ Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;

¹⁵ Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:

¹⁶ To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger who flattereth with her words;

¹⁷ Who forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.

¹⁸ For her house inclineth to death, and her paths to the dead.

¹ My son, if you will receive my words, and store up my commandments within you,

² so as to turn your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding;

³ yes, if you call out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding;

⁴ if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures;

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

⁶ For the LORD gives wisdom. Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

⁷ He lays up sound wisdom for the upright. He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,

⁸ that he may guard the paths of justice, and preserve the way of his holy ones.

⁹ Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path.

¹⁰ For wisdom will enter into your heart. Knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

¹¹ Discretion will watch over you. Understanding will keep you,

¹² to deliver you from the way of evil, from the men who speak perverse things,

¹³ who forsake the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness,

¹⁴ who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the perverseness of evil,

¹⁵ who are crooked in their ways, and wayward in their paths,

¹⁶ to deliver you from the strange woman, even from the foreigner who flatters with her words,

¹⁷ who forsakes the friend of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God;

¹⁸ for her house leads down to death, her paths to the departed spirits.

¹ My son, if you will receive my words, and store up my commandments within you,

² so as to turn your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding;

³ yes, if you call out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding;

⁴ if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures;

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

⁶ For the LORD gives wisdom. Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

⁷ He lays up sound wisdom for the upright. He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,

⁸ that he may guard the paths of justice, and preserve the way of his holy ones.

⁹ Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path.

¹⁰ For wisdom will enter into your heart. Knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

¹¹ Discretion will watch over you. Understanding will keep you,

¹² to deliver you from the way of evil, from the men who speak perverse things,

¹³ who forsake the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness,

¹⁴ who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the perverseness of evil,

¹⁵ who are crooked in their ways, and wayward in their paths,

¹⁶ to deliver you from the strange woman, even from the foreigner who flatters with her words,

¹⁷ who forsakes the friend of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God;

¹⁸ for her house leads down to death, her paths to the departed spirits.

¹ My son, if thou receivest my words, and hidest my behests with thee;

² that thine ear hear wisdom, bow thine heart to know prudence.

³ For if thou inwardly callest wisdom, and bowest thine heart to prudence;

⁴ if thou seekest it as money, and diggest it out as treasures;

⁵ then thou shalt understand the dread of the Lord, and shalt find the knowing of God.

⁶ For the Lord giveth wisdom; and prudence and knowing is of his mouth.

⁷ He shall keep the health of rightful or rightwise men, and he shall defend them that go simply.

⁸ And he shall keep the paths of rightwiseness, and he shall keep the ways of holy men.

⁹ Then thou shalt understand rightfulness or rightwiseness, and doom, and equity, and each good path.

¹⁰ If wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowing pleaseth thy soul,

¹¹ good counsel shall keep thee, and prudence shall keep thee;

¹² that thou be delivered from an evil way, and from a man that speaketh wayward things.

¹³ Which forsake a rightful or right way, and go by dark ways;

¹⁴ which be glad, when they have done evil, and make full out joy in worst things;

¹⁵ whose ways be wayward, and their goings be of evil fame.

¹⁶ That thou be delivered from an alien woman, and from a strange woman, that maketh soft her words;

¹⁷ and forsaketh the duke of her time of marriage, and hath forgotten the covenant of her God.

¹⁸ For the house of her is bowed to death, and her paths to hell.

¹ My son, if thou receivest my words, and hidest my behests with thee (or and hidest my commands with thee);

² (so) that thine ear hear wisdom, bow (down) thine heart to know prudence.

³ For if thou inwardly callest (to) wisdom, and bowest thine heart to(ward) prudence;

⁴ if thou seekest it as money, and diggest it out as treasures;

⁵ then thou shalt understand the dread of the Lord, and shalt find the knowing of God. (then thou shalt understand the fear of the Lord or then thou shalt understand reverence for the Lord, and shalt find the knowledge of God.)

⁶ For the Lord giveth wisdom; and prudence and knowing is of his mouth. (For the Lord giveth wisdom; and understanding and knowledge cometh from his mouth.)

⁷ He shall keep the health of rightful men, and he shall defend them that go simply. (He shall keep safe the salvation, or the deliverance, of the righteous, and he shall defend those who go with honesty, or with integrity.)

⁸ And he shall keep (safe) the paths of rightwiseness, and he shall keep (safe) the ways of holy men.

⁹ Then thou shalt understand rightfulness, and doom, and equity, and each good path. (Then thou shalt understand righteousness, and judgement, and fairness, and each good way.)

¹⁰ If wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowing pleaseth thy soul,

¹¹ good counsel shall keep thee, and prudence shall keep thee; (good advice shall keep thee safe, and understanding shall keep thee safe;)

¹² (so) that thou be delivered from an evil way, and from a man that speaketh wayward things (or and from the person who speaketh wicked things).

¹³ Which forsake a rightful way, (or From those who abandon the right way), and go by dark ways;

¹⁴ which be glad, when they have done evil, and make full out joy in worst things; (who be glad, when they have done evil, and rejoice in the worst things;)

¹⁵ whose ways be wayward, and their goings be of evil fame. (whose ways be wicked, and whose deeds be shameful.)

¹⁶ That thou be delivered from an alien woman, and from a strange woman, that maketh soft her words; (And so that thou be rescued from a strange, or an unknown, woman, who maketh her words soft;)

¹⁷ and (who) forsaketh the duke, or (the) leader, of her time of marriage, and hath forgotten the covenant of her God.

¹⁸ For the house of her is bowed to death, and her paths to hell. (For her house is on the way to death, and her paths lead down to Sheol, or the land of the dead, or and her paths lead down to hell.)

¹ My son, if thou dost accept my sayings, And my commands dost lay up with thee,

² To cause thine ear to attend to wisdom, Thou inclinest thy heart to understanding,

³ For, if for intelligence thou callest, For understanding givest forth thy voice,

⁴ If thou dost seek her as silver, And as hid treasures searchest for her,

⁵ Then understandest thou fear of Jehovah, And knowledge of God thou findest.

⁶ For Jehovah giveth wisdom, From His mouth knowledge and understanding.

⁷ Even to lay up for the upright substance, A shield for those walking uprightly.

⁸ To keep the paths of judgment, And the way of His saints He preserveth.

⁹ Then understandest thou righteousness, And judgment, and uprightness — every good path.

¹⁰ For wisdom cometh into thy heart, And knowledge to thy soul is pleasant,

¹¹ Thoughtfulness doth watch over thee, Understanding doth keep thee,

¹² To deliver thee from an evil way, From any speaking froward things,

¹³ Who are forsaking paths of uprightness, To walk in ways of darkness,

¹⁴ Who are rejoicing to do evil, They delight in frowardness of the wicked,

¹⁵ Whose paths are crooked, Yea, they are perverted in their ways.

¹⁶ To deliver thee from the strange woman, From the stranger who hath made smooth her sayings,

¹⁷ Who is forsaking the guide of her youth, And the covenant of her God hath forgotten.

¹⁸ For her house hath inclined unto death, And unto Rephaim her paths.