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  • Proverbs 2

    Benefits of wisdom

    My son, accept my words
        and store up my commands.
    Turn your ear toward wisdom,
        and stretch your mind toward understanding.
    Call out for insight,
        and cry aloud for understanding.
    Seek it like silver;
        search for it like hidden treasure.
    Then you will understand the fear of the Lord,
        and discover the knowledge of God.
    The Lord gives wisdom;
        from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
    He reserves ability for those with integrity.
        He is a shield for those who live a blameless life.
    He protects the paths of justice
        and guards the way of those who are loyal to him.
    Then you will understand righteousness and justice,
        as well as integrity, every good course.
    10 Wisdom will enter your mind,
        and knowledge will fill you with delight.
    11 Discretion will guard you;
        understanding will protect you.
    12 Wisdom will rescue you from the evil path,
        from people who twist their words.
    13 They forsake the way of integrity
        and go on obscure paths.
    14 They enjoy doing evil,
        rejoicing in their twisted evil.
    15 Their paths are confused;
        they get lost on their way.
    16 Wisdom will rescue you from the mysterious woman,
        from the foreign woman with her slick words.
    17 She leaves behind the partner of her youth;
        she even forgets her covenant with God.
    18 Her house sinks down to death,
        and her paths go down to the shadowy dead.
    19 All those who go to her will never return;
        they will never again reach the ways of the living.
    20 So you should stay on the path of good people,
        guarding the road of the righteous.
    21 Those who have integrity will dwell in the land;
        the innocent will remain in it.
    22 But the wicked will be cut off from the land,
        and the treacherous will be ripped up.