(KJV) Proverbs 2¹

⥃The Benefits of Wisdom

[1] My son, if² thou wilt receive my words, and hide³ my commandments with thee; [2] So that thou⁴ incline thine ear unto wisdom, [and] apply⁵ thine heart to understanding; [3] Yea, if⁶ thou criest after knowledge, [and] liftest up thy voice⁷ for understanding; [4] If thou⁸ seekest her as silver, and searchest⁹ for her as [for] hid treasures; [5] Then shalt¹⁰ thou understand the fear¹¹ of the Lord, and find¹² the knowledge of God. [6] For the Lord¹³ giveth wisdom: out¹⁴ of his mouth [cometh] knowledge and understanding. [7] He layeth¹⁵ up sound wisdom for the righteous: [he is] a buckler¹⁶ to them that walk uprightly. [8] He keepeth¹⁷ the paths of judgment, and¹⁸ preserveth the way of his saints. [9] Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; [yea], every good path.¹⁹

[10] When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;²⁰ [11] Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:²¹ [12] To deliver²² thee from the way of the evil [man], from the man²³ that speaketh froward things; [13] Who leave²⁴ the paths of uprightness, to walk²⁵ in the ways of darkness; [14] Who rejoice²⁶ to do evil, [and²⁷] delight in the frowardness of the wicked; [15] Whose ways [are] crooked, and [they] froward in their paths:²⁸ [16] To deliver²⁹ thee from the strange woman, [even] from the stranger [which] flattereth³⁰ with her words; [17] Which forsaketh the guide³¹ of her youth, and forgetteth³² the covenant of her God. [18] For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.³³ [19] None³⁴ that go unto her return again, neither take³⁵ they hold of the paths of life. [20] That thou mayest walk in the way of good [men], and keep the paths of the righteous.³⁶ [21] For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.³⁷ [22] But the wicked³⁸ shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted³⁹ out of it.