1My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and keep my commandments by thee,
2that thine ear may hearken unto wisdom, apply thine heart then to understanding.
3For if thou criest after wisdom, and callest after knowledge:
4If thou seekest after her as after money, and diggest for her as for treasures:
5then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
6For it is the LORD that giveth wisdom, out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
7He preserveth the welfare of the righteous, and defendeth them that walk innocently:
8He keepeth them in the right path, and preserveth the way of his saints.
9Then shalt thou understand righteousness, judgment and equity, yea and every good path.
10If wisdom enter into thine heart, and thy soul delight in knowledge:
11then shall counsel preserve thee, and understanding shall keep thee.
12That thou mayest be delivered from the evil way, and from the man that speaketh froward things.
13From such as leave the high street, and walk in the ways of darkness:
14Which rejoice in doing evil, and delight in wicked things:
15Whose ways are crooked, and their paths slanderous.(sclaunderous)
16That thou mayest be delivered also from the strange woman, and from her that is not thine own: which giveth sweet words,
17forsaketh the husband of her youth, and forgeteth the covenant of her God.
18For her house is inclined unto death, and her paths into hell.
19All they that go in unto her, come not again, neither take they hold of the way of life.
20That thou mayest walk in the good way, and keep the paths of the righteous.
21For the just shall dwell in the land, and the innocent shall remain in it.
22But the ungodly shall be rooted out of the land, and the wicked doers shall be taken out of it.