Proverbs 2:1-22 AMP

[1] My son, if you will receive my words And treasure my commandments within you, [2] So that your ear is attentive to [skillful and godly] wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding [seeking it conscientiously and striving for it eagerly]; [3] Yes, if you cry out for insight, And lift up your voice for understanding; [4] If you seek skillful and godly wisdom as you would silver And search for her as you would hidden treasures; [5] Then you will understand the [reverent] fear of the LORD [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] And discover the knowledge of God. [6] For the LORD gives [skillful and godly] wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. [7] He stores away sound wisdom for the righteous [those who are in right standing with Him]; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity [those of honorable character and moral courage], [8] He guards the paths of justice; And He preserves the way of His saints (believers). [9] Then you will understand righteousness and justice [in every circumstance] And integrity and every good path. [10] For [skillful and godly] wisdom will enter your heart And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. [11] Discretion will watch over you, Understanding and discernment will guard you, [12] To keep you from the way of evil and the evil man, From the man who speaks perverse things; [13] From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness; [14] Who find joy in doing evil And delight in the perversity of evil, [15] Whose paths are crooked, And who are devious in their ways; [16] To keep you from the immoral woman; From the seductress with her flattering words, [17] Who leaves the companion (husband) of her youth, And forgets the covenant of her God. [18] For her house leads down to death And her paths lead to the dead; [19] None who go to her return again, Nor do they regain the paths of life— [20] So you will walk in the way of good men [that is, those of personal integrity, moral courage and honorable character], And keep to the paths of the righteous. [21] For the upright [those who are in right standing with God] will live in the land And those [of integrity] who are blameless [in God’s sight] will remain in it; [22] But the wicked will be cut off from the land And the treacherous shall be [forcibly] uprooted and removed from it.