The advantages of wisdom: and the evils from which it delivers.

[1] My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and wilt hide my commandments with thee, [2] That thy ear may hearken to wisdom: Incline thy heart to know prudence: [3] For if thou shalt call for wisdom, and incline thy heart to prudence: [4] If thou shalt seek her as money, and shalt dig for her as for a treasure: [5] Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and shalt find the knowledge of God.

[6] Because the Lord giveth wisdom: and out of his mouth cometh prudence and knowledge. [7] He will keep the salvation of the righteous, and protect them that walk in simplicity. [8] Keeping the paths of justice, and guarding the ways of saints. [9] Then shalt thou understand justice, and judgment, and equity, and every good path. [10] If wisdom shall enter into thy heart, and knowledge please thy soul:

[11] Counsel shall keep thee, and prudence shall preserve thee, [12] That thou mayst be delivered from the evil way, and from the man that speaketh perverse things: [13] Who leave the right way, and walk by dark ways: [14] Who are glad when they have done evil, and rejoice in most wicked things: [15] Whose ways are perverse, and their steps infamous.

[16] That thou mayst be delivered from the strange women, and from the stranger, who softeneth her words: [17] And forsaketh the guide of her youth, [18] And hath forgotten the covenant of her God: for her house inclineth unto death, and her paths to hell. [19] None that go in unto her shall return again, neither shall they take hold of the paths of life, [20] That thou mayst walk in a good way: and mayst keep the paths of the just.

[21] For they that are upright shall dwell in the earth, and the simple shall continue in it. [22] But the wicked shall be destroyed from the earth: and they that do unjustly shall be taken away from it.