1My son, if thou wilt receive my words,
2So as to incline thine ear unto wisdom,
3Yea, if thou cry after discernment,
4If thou seek her as silver,
5Then shalt thou understand the fear of Yahweh,
6For Yahweh giveth wisdom; Out of his mouth [cometh] knowledge and understanding:
7He layeth up sound wisdom for the upright; [He is] a shield to them that walk in integrity;
8That he may guard the paths of justice,
9Then shalt thou understand righteousness and justice,
10For wisdom shall enter into thy heart,
11Discretion shall watch over thee; Understanding shall keep thee:
12To deliver thee from the way of evil,
13Who forsake the paths of uprightness,
14Who rejoice to do evil,
15Who are crooked in their ways,
16To deliver thee from the strange woman,
17That forsaketh the friend of her youth,
18For her house inclineth unto death,
19None that go unto her return again,
20That thou mayest walk in the way of good men,
21For the upright shall dwell in the land,
22But the wicked shall be cut off from the land,