[1] My son, accept these things I say. Remember my commands.
[2] Listen to wisdom, and try your best to understand.
[3] Cry out for wisdom, and shout for understanding.
[4] Look for wisdom like silver. Look for it like a hidden treasure.
[5] If you do these things, then you will learn to respect the Lord. You will truly learn about God.
[6] The Lord gives wisdom. Knowledge and understanding come from his mouth.
[7] He saves and protects good, honest people.
[8] He protects people who are fair to other people. He guards his holy people.
[9] So the Lord will give you his wisdom. Then you will understand the things that are good and fair and right.
[10] Wisdom will come into your heart, and your soul will be happy with knowledge.
[11] Wisdom will protect you, and under standing will guard you.
[12] Wisdom and understanding will stop you from living the wrong way like evil people. Those people are evil even in the things they say.
[13] They have given up goodness and now live in darkness ˻(sin)˼.
[14] They are happy in doing wrong and enjoy the bad ways of evil.
[15] Those people can’t be trusted—they lie and cheat. But your wisdom and understanding will keep you away from all these things.
[16] Wisdom will save you from the woman stranger. Wisdom will save you from that foreign woman who says such sweet words when she tempts you to sin with her.
[17] She married when she was young—but she left her husband. She forgot the marriage vows she made before God.
[18] And now, going with her into her house leads to death! If you follow her, she will lead you to the grave!
[19] ˻She herself is like the grave˼—men who go into her lose their life and never return.
[20] Wisdom will help you follow the example of good people. Wisdom will help you live the way good people live.
[21] Good honest people will be able to live on their land. Simple honest people will get to keep their land.
[22] But evil people will lose their land. People who lie and cheat will be taken away from the land.