New Living Translation

1 My child, listen to what I say,<br>and treasure my commands.<br> 2 Tune your ears to wisdom,<br>and concentrate on understanding.<br> 3 Cry out for insight,<br>and ask for understanding.<br> 4 Search for them as you would for silver;<br>seek them like hidden treasures.<br> 5 Then you will understand what it means to fear the LORD,<br>and you will gain knowledge of God (Elohim).<br> 6 For the LORD grants wisdom!<br>From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.<br> 7 He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.<br>He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.<br> 8 He guards the paths of the just<br>and protects those who are faithful to him.<br> 9 Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair,<br>and you will find the right way to go.<br> 10 For wisdom will enter your heart,<br>and knowledge will fill you with joy.<br> 11 Wise choices will watch over you.<br>Understanding will keep you safe.<br> 12 Wisdom will save you from evil people,<br>from those whose words are twisted.<br> 13 These men turn from the right way<br>to walk down dark paths.<br> 14 They take pleasure in doing wrong,<br>and they enjoy the twisted ways of evil.<br> 15 Their actions are crooked,<br>and their ways are wrong.<br> 16 Wisdom will save you from the immoral woman,<br>from the seductive words of the promiscuous woman.<br> 17 She has abandoned her husband<br>and ignores the covenant she made before God (Elohim).<br> 18 Entering her house leads to death;<br>it is the road to the grave.<br> 19 The man who visits her is doomed.<br>He will never reach the paths of life.<br> 20 So follow the steps of the good,<br>and stay on the paths of the righteous.<br> 21 For only the godly will live in the land,<br>and those with integrity will remain in it.<br> 22 But the wicked will be removed from the land,<br>and the treacherous will be uprooted.<br>