2:6. Because the Lord giveth wisdom: and out of his mouth cometh prudence and knowledge.
2:7. He wilt keep the salvation of the righteous, and protect them that walk in simplicity,
2:8. Keeping the paths of justice, and guarding the ways of saints.
2:9. Then shalt thou understand justice, and judgment, and equity, and every good path.
2:10. If wisdom shall enter into thy heart, and knowledge please thy soul:
2:11. Counsel shall keep thee, and prudence shall preserve thee,
2:12. That thou mayst be delivered from the evil way, and from the man that speaketh perverse things:
2:13. Who leave the right way, and walk by dark ways:
2:14. Who are glad when they have done evil, and rejoice in the most wicked things:
2:15. Whose ways are perverse, and their steps infamous.
2:16. That thou mayst be delivered from the strange woman, and from the stranger, who softeneth her words;
2:17. And forsaketh the guide of her youth,
2:18. And hath forgotten the covenant of her God: for her house inclineth unto death, and her paths to hell.
2:19. None that go in unto her, shall return again, neither shall they take hold of the paths of life.
2:20. That thou mayst walk in a good way: and mayst keep the paths of the just.
2:21. For they that are upright, shall dwell in the earth; and the simple shall continue in it.
2:22. But the wicked shall be destroyed from the earth: and they that do unjustly, shall be taken away from it.
Proverbs Chapter 3
An exhortation to the practice of virtue.
3:1. My son, forget not my law, and let thy heart keep my commandments.
3:2. For they shall add to thee length of days, and years of life, and peace.
3:3. Let not mercy and truth leave thee, put them about thy neck, and write them in the tables of thy heart.
3:4. And thou shalt find grace, and good understanding before God and men.
3:5. Have confidence in the Lord with all thy heart, and lean not upon thy own prudence.
3:6. In all thy ways think on him, and he will direct thy steps.
3:7. Be not wise in thy own conceit: fear God, and depart from evil:
3:8. For it shall be health to thy navel, and moistening to thy bones.
3:9. Honour the Lord with thy substance, and give him of the first of all thy fruits;
3:10. And thy barns shall be filled with abundance, and thy presses shall run over with wine.
3:11. My son, reject not the correction of the Lord: and do not faint when thou art chastised by him:
3:12. For whom the Lord loveth, he chastiseth: and as a father in the son he pleaseth himself.
3:13. Blessed is the man that findeth wisdom, and is rich in prudence:
3:14. The purchasing thereof is better than the merchandise of silver, and her fruit than the chief and purest gold:
3:15. She is more precious than all riches: and all the things that are desired, are not to be compared to her.
3:16. Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and glory.
3:17. Her ways are beautiful ways, and all her paths are peaceable.
3:18. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold on her: and he that shall retain her is blessed.
3:19. The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth, hath established the heavens by prudence.
3:20. By his wisdom the depths have broken out, and the clouds grow thick with dew.
3:21. My son, let not these things depart from thy eyes: keep the law and counsel:
3:22. And there shall be life to thy soul, and grace to thy mouth.
3:23. Then shalt thou walk confidently in thy way, and thy foot shall not stumble:
3:24. If thou sleep, thou shalt not fear: thou shalt rest, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
3:25. Be not afraid of sudden fear, nor of the power of the wicked falling upon thee.
3:26. For the Lord will be at thy side, and will keep thy foot that thou be not taken.
3:27. Do not withhold him from doing good, who is able: if thou art able, do good thyself also.
3:28. Say not to thy friend: Go, and come again: and to morrow I will give to thee: when thou canst give at present.
3:29. Practise not evil against thy friend, when he hath confidence in thee.
3:30. Strive not against a man without cause, when he hath done thee no evil.
3:31. Envy not the unjust man, and do not follow his ways.