[1] My child, you must follow and treasure my teachings and my instructions. [2] Keep in tune with wisdom and think what it means to have common sense. [3] Beg as loud as you can for good common sense. [4] Search for wisdom as you would search for silver or hidden treasure. [5] Then you will understand what it means to respect and to know the LORD God. [6] All wisdom comes from the LORD, and so do common sense and understanding. [7] God gives helpful advice to everyone who obeys him and protects all of those who live as they should. [8] God sees that justice is done, and he watches over everyone who is faithful to him. [9] With wisdom you will learn what is right and honest and fair. [10] Wisdom will control your mind, and you will be pleased with knowledge. [11] Sound judgment and good sense will watch over you. [12] Wisdom will protect you from evil schemes and from those liars [13] who turned from doing good to live in the darkness. [14] Most of all they enjoy being mean and deceitful. [15] They are dishonest themselves, and all they do is crooked. [16] Wisdom will protect you from the smooth talk of a sinful woman, [17] who breaks her wedding vows and leaves the man she married when she was young. [18] The road to her house leads down to the dark world of the dead. [19] Visit her, and you will never find the road to life again. [20] Follow the example of good people and live an honest life. [21] If you are honest and innocent, you will keep your land; [22] if you do wrong and can never be trusted, you will be rooted out.
