[1] My child, believe what I say. And remember what I command you. [2] Listen to wisdom. Try with all your heart to gain understanding. [3] Cry out for wisdom. Beg for understanding. [4] Search for it as you would for silver. Hunt for it like hidden treasure. [5] Then you will understand what it means to respect the Lord. Then you will begin to know God. [6] Only the Lord gives wisdom. Knowledge and understanding come from him. [7] He stores up wisdom for those who are honest. Like a shield he protects those who are innocent. [8] He guards those who are fair to others. He protects those who are loyal to him. [9] Then you will understand what is honest and fair and right. You will understand what is good to do. [10] You will have wisdom in your heart. And knowledge will be pleasing to you. [11] Good sense will protect you. Understanding will guard you. [12] It will keep you from doing evil. It will save you from people whose words are bad. [13] Such people do not do what is right. They do what is evil. [14] They enjoy doing wrong. They are happy to do what is crooked and evil. [15] What they do is wrong. Their ways are dishonest. [16] It will save you from the unfaithful wife who tries to lead you into adultery with pleasing words. [17] Such women leave the husbands they married when they were young. They forget the promise they made before God. [18] If you go to her house, you are on your way to death. What she does leads to death. [19] No one who goes to her comes back. He will not continue to live. [20] But wisdom will help you be a good person. It will help you do what is right. [21] Those who are honest will stay in the land. Those who are innocent will remain in it. [22] But evil people will be removed from the land. The unfaithful will be thrown out of it.
