1My son, if thou wouldst but accept my words, and treasure up my commandments with thee;

2To let thy ear listen unto wisdom: [if] thou wouldst incline thy heart to understanding.

3For if thou wilt call after intelligence; if after understanding thou wilt lift up thy voice;

4If thou wilt seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures:

5Then wilt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and the knowledge of God wilt thou find.

6For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth [come] knowledge and understanding.

7He treasureth up sound wisdom for the righteous, as a shield to those that walk in integrity:

8That men may keep the paths of justice; and the way of his pious servants doth he guard.

9Then wilt thou understand righteousness, and justice, and equity: yea, every track of goodness.

10For wisdom will enter thy heart, and knowledge will be pleasant unto thy soul;

11Discretion will watch over thee, understanding will keep thee;

12To deliver thee from the way of the bad, from the man that speaketh perverse things;

13[From those] who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;

14Who rejoice to do evil, who are delighted in the perverseness of the bad;

15Who as regardeth their paths are crooked, and froward in their tracks.

16To deliver thee from the adulteress, from the alien woman that useth flattering speeches;

17That forsaketh the friend of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.

18For she sinketh unto death—her house, and unto the departed [lead] her tracks.

19All that come unto her return not again, and they will not reach the paths of life.

20In order that thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and observe the paths of the righteous.

21For the upright will dwell on the earth, and the perfect will be left remaining on it.

22But the wicked will be cut off from the earth, and the treacherous shall be plucked up therefrom.