The Benefits of Wisdom

1{2}That thy ear may hearken to wisdom: incline thy heart to know prudence.

2{3}For if thou shalt call for wisdom, and incline thy heart to prudence:

3{4}If thou shalt seek her as money, and shalt dig for her as for a treasure:

4{5}Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and shalt find the knowledge of God:

5{6}Because the Lord giveth wisdom: and out of his mouth cometh prudence and knowledge.

6{7}He wilt keep the salvation of the righteous, and protect them that walk in simplicity,

7{8}Keeping the paths of justice, and guarding the ways of saints.

8{9}Then shalt thou understand justice, and judgment, and equity, and every good path.

9{10}If wisdom shall enter into thy heart, and knowledge please thy soul:

10{11}Counsel shall keep thee, and prudence shall preserve thee,

11{12}That thou mayst be delivered from the evil way, and from the man that speaketh perverse things:

12{13}Who leave the right way, and walk by dark ways:

13{14}Who are glad when they have done evil, and rejoice in the most wicked things:

14{15}Whose ways are perverse, and their steps infamous.

15{16}That thou mayst be delivered from the strange woman, and from the stranger, who softeneth her words;

16{17}And forsaketh the guide of her youth,

17{18}And hath forgotten the covenant of her God: for her house inclineth unto death, and her paths to hell.

18{19}None that go in unto her, shall return again, neither shall they take hold of the paths of life.

19{20}That thou mayst walk in a good way: and mayst keep the paths of the just.

20{21}For they that are upright, shall dwell in the earth; and the simple shall continue in it.

21{22}But the wicked shall be destroyed from the earth: and they that do unjustly, shall be taken away from it.

22{3:1}My son, forget not my law, and let thy heart keep my commandments.