Chapter 2

My son, if thou wilt receive⁴ my words, and hide⁴ my commandments with thee;

So that thou incline⁵³ thine ear unto wisdom, [and] apply⁵⁵ thine heart to understanding;

Yea, if thou criest⁴ after knowledge, [and] liftest up⁴ thy voice for understanding;

If thou seekest¹⁷ her as silver, and searchest⁴ for her as [for] hid treasures;

Then shalt thou understand⁴ the fear of the LORD, and find⁴ the knowledge of God.

For the LORD giveth⁴ wisdom: out of his mouth [cometh] knowledge and understanding.

He layeth up^{4 6845 1} sound wisdom for the righteous: [he is] a buckler to them that walk⁶ uprightly.

He keepeth² the paths of judgment, and preserveth⁴ the way of his saints.

Then shalt thou understand⁴ righteousness, and judgment, and equity; [yea], every good path.

When wisdom entereth⁴ into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant⁴ unto thy soul;

Discretion shall preserve⁴ thee, understanding shall keep⁴ thee:

To deliver⁵³ thee from the way of the evil [man], from the man that speaketh¹⁸ froward things;

Who leave⁶ the paths of uprightness, to walk² in the ways of darkness;

Who rejoice to do² evil, [and] delight⁴ in the frowardness of the wicked;

Whose ways [are] crooked, and [they] froward¹² in their paths:

To deliver⁵³ thee from the strange⁵ woman, [even] from the stranger [which] flattereth⁵² with her words;

Which forsaketh⁶ the guide of her youth, and forgetteth¹ the covenant of her God.

For her house inclineth¹ unto death, and her paths unto the dead.

None that go⁶ unto her return again,⁴ neither take they hold⁵⁵ of the paths of life.

That thou mayest walk⁴ in the way of good [men], and keep⁴ the paths of the righteous.

For the upright shall dwell⁴ in the land, and the perfect shall remain¹¹ in it.

But the wicked shall be cut off¹¹ from the earth, and the transgressors⁶ shall be rooted⁴ out of it.