Chapter 2

1My son, if you accept my wordsAnd treasure up my commandments;

2If you make your ear attentive to wisdomAnd your mind open to discernment;

3If you call to understandingAnd cry aloud to discernment,

4If you seek it as you do silverAnd search for it as for treasures,

5Then you will understand the fear of the LORDAnd attain knowledge of God.

6For the LORD grants wisdom;Knowledge and discernment are by His decree.

7He reserves ability for the uprightAnd is a shield for those who live blamelessly,

8Guarding the paths of justice,Protecting the way of those loyal to Him.

9You will then understand what is right, just,And equitable—every good course.

10For wisdom will enter your mindAnd knowledge will delight you.

11Foresight will protect you,And discernment will guard you.

12It will save you from the way of evil men,From men who speak duplicity,

13Who leave the paths of rectitudeTo follow the ways of darkness,

14Who rejoice in doing evilAnd exult in the duplicity of evil men,

15Men whose paths are crookedAnd who are devious in their course.

16It will save you from the forbiddena woman,From the alien woman whose talk is smooth,

17Who forsakes the companion of her youthAnd disregards the covenant of her God.

18Her house sinks down to Death,And her course leads to the shades.

19All who go to her cannot returnAnd find again the paths of life.

20So follow the way of the goodAnd keep to the paths of the just.

21For the upright will inhabit the earth,The blameless will remain in it.

22While the wicked will vanish from the landAnd the treacherous will be rooted out of it.