4 If thou seekest it as silver, and seek it as treasure,

5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and you will find the knowledge of God.

6 For the Lord giveth wisdom; out of His mouth is knowledge and understanding;

7 He preserves salvation for the righteous; He is a shield for those who walk blamelessly;

8 He guards the ways of righteousness, and guards the path of his saints.

9 Then shall thou understand righteousness, and justice, and uprightness, every good path.

10 When wisdom shall enter into thy heart, and knowledge shall be pleasing to thy soul,

11 then prudence shall guard thee, understanding shall guard thee,

12 To save thee from the way of evil, from the man that speaketh lies,

13 of those who leave the straight paths to walk in the ways of darkness;

14 From those who rejoice in doing evil, and delight in evil debauchery,

15 Whose paths are crooked, and who wander in their paths;

16 To save thee from another's wife, from a stranger, who softeneth her speech,

17 who forsook the ruler of her youth, and forgot the covenant of her God.

18 Her house leadeth unto death, and her paths unto the dead;

19 No one who enters her returns or enters the way of life.

20 Therefore walk in the way of the good, and keep in the paths of the righteous,

21 For the righteous shall dwell in the earth, and the blameless shall abide in it;

22 but the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the wicked shall be rooted out of it.

Chapter 3

1 My son! do not forget my instructions, and let your heart guard my commandments;

2 For the lengths of days, the years of life, and the world they shall add to thee.

3 Let mercy and truth not leave thee: bind them around thy neck, and write them on the tablet of thy heart,

4 and thou shalt find mercy and favor in the sight of God and men.

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.

6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths.

7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and shun evil;

8 It shall be health to thy body, and nourishment to thy bones.