Proverbs 2

The Pursuit of Wisdom Brings Security

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My son, if you will receive my words
And treasure my commandments within you,

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So that your ear is attentive to [skillful and godly] wisdom,
And apply your heart to understanding [seeking it conscientiously and striving for it eagerly];

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Yes, if you cry out for insight,
And lift up your voice for understanding;

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If you seek skillful and godly wisdom as you would silver
And search for her as you would hidden treasures;

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Then you will understand the [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome]
And discover the knowledge of God.^(A)

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For the Lord gives [skillful and godly] wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

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He stores away sound wisdom for the righteous [those who are in right standing with Him];
He is a shield to those who walk in integrity [those of honorable character and moral courage],

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He guards the paths of justice;
And He preserves the way of His saints (believers).^(B)

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Then you will understand righteousness and justice [in every circumstance]
And integrity and every good path.

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For [skillful and godly] wisdom will enter your heart
And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

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Discretion will watch over you,
Understanding and discernment will guard you,

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To keep you from the way of evil and the evil man,
From the man who speaks perverse things;

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From those who leave the paths of uprightness
To walk in the ways of darkness;

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Who find joy in doing evil
And delight in the perversity of evil,

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Whose paths are crooked,
And who are devious in their ways;

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To keep you from the immoral woman;
From the seductress with her flattering words,^(C)

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Who leaves the companion (husband) of her youth,
And forgets the covenant of her God.

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For her house leads down to death
And her paths lead to the dead;

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None who go to her return again,
Nor do they regain the paths of life—

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So you will walk in the way of good men [that is, those of personal integrity, moral courage and honorable character],
And keep to the paths of the righteous.

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For the upright [those who are in right standing with God] will live in the land
And those [of integrity] who are blameless [in God’s sight] will remain in it;

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But the wicked will be cut off from the land
And the treacherous shall be [forcibly] uprooted and removed from it.

Cross references:

A. Proverbs 2:5: Proverbs 1:7

B. Proverbs 2:8: 1 Samuel 2:9; Psalm 66:8; Psalm 66:9

C. Proverbs 2:16: Proverbs 2:11