Proverbs 2

HCSB

Proverbs 2

Wisdom’s Worth

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My son, if you accept my words^(A)
and store up my commands within you,

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listening closely^(a) to wisdom
and directing your heart to understanding;

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furthermore, if you call out to insight
and lift your voice to understanding,

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if you seek it like silver
and search for it like hidden treasure,^(B)

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then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and discover the knowledge of God.

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For the Lord gives wisdom;
from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.^(C)

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He stores up success^(b) for the upright;
He is a shield for those who live with integrity^(D)

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so that He may guard the paths of justice
and protect the way of His loyal followers.^(E)

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Then you will understand righteousness, justice,
and integrity—every good path.

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For wisdom will enter your mind,
and knowledge will delight your heart.

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Discretion will watch over you,
and understanding will guard you,^(F)

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rescuing you from the way of evil—
from the one who says perverse things,

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from those who abandon the right paths
to walk in ways of darkness,^(G)

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from those who enjoy doing evil^(H)
and celebrate perversion,

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whose paths are crooked,^(I)
and whose ways are devious.^(J)

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It will rescue you from a forbidden woman,^(K)
from a stranger^(c) with her flattering talk,^(L)

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who abandons the companion of her youth^(M)
and forgets the covenant of her God;

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for her house sinks down to death
and her ways to the land of the departed spirits.^(N)

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None return who go to her;
none reach the paths of life.^(O)

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So follow the way of good people,^(P)
and keep to the paths of the righteous.

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For the upright will inhabit the land,
and those of integrity will remain in it;^(Q)

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but the wicked will be cut off from the land,^(R)
and the treacherous uprooted from it.^(S)

Footnotes:

a. Proverbs 2:2: Lit you, stretching out your ear

b. Proverbs 2:7: Or resourcefulness

c. Proverbs 2:16: Or foreign woman

Cross references:

A. Proverbs 2:1: Proverbs 4:10

B. Proverbs 2:4: Job 3:21; Matthew 13:44

C. Proverbs 2:6: Job 32:8

D. Proverbs 2:7: Psalm 84:11; Proverbs 10:9; Proverbs 20:7; Proverbs 28:18; Proverbs 30:5

E. Proverbs 2:8: Psalm 66:9

F. Proverbs 2:11: Proverbs 4:6; Proverbs 6:22

G. Proverbs 2:11: Psalm 82:5; Proverbs 15:19; Proverbs 16:17; John 3:19; John 3:20

H. Proverbs 2:14: Proverbs 10:23

I. Proverbs 2:15: Psalm 125:5; Proverbs 21:8

J. Proverbs 2:15: Proverbs 3:32; Proverbs 14:2

K. Proverbs 2:16: Proverbs 9:13-18

L. Proverbs 2:16: Proverbs 5:3; Proverbs 5:20; Proverbs 6:24; Proverbs 7:5; Proverbs 7:21; Proverbs 23:27

M. Proverbs 2:17: Malachi 2:14-15

N. Proverbs 2:18: Proverbs 7:27; Proverbs 9:18; Proverbs 21:16

O. Proverbs 2:16: Psalm 16:11; Proverbs 5:6; Proverbs 7:5; Proverbs 7:21-27; Proverbs 23:27-28; Ecclesiastes 7:26

P. Proverbs 2:20: Hebrews 6:12

Q. Proverbs 2:21: Proverbs 10:30; Matthew 5:5-6

R. Proverbs 2:22: Psalm 37:38

S. Proverbs 2:22: Deuteronomy 28:63; Psalm 52:5