1My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
2My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
3So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
4So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
5Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;2.3 liftest…: Heb. givest thy voice
6Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;2.3 liftest…: Heb. givest thy voice
7If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
8If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
9Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
10Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
11For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
12For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
13He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
14He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
15He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.
16He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.
17Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.
18Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.
19¶ When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
20¶ When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
21Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:
22Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:
23To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;
24To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;
25Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;
26Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;
27Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;
28Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;
29Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:
30Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:
31To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;
32To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;
33Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.
34Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.
35For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.
36For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.
37None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.
38None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.
39That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.
40That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.
41For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.
42For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.
43But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.2.22 rooted: or, plucked up
44But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.2.22 rooted: or, plucked up