Proverbs 2:1-3:20

New International Version

⁹ Then you will understand^(K) what is right and just
    and fair—every good path.
¹⁰ For wisdom will enter your heart,^(L)
    and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
¹¹ Discretion will protect you,
    and understanding will guard you.^(M)

¹² Wisdom will save^(N) you from the ways of wicked men,
    from men whose words are perverse,
¹³ who have left the straight paths
    to walk in dark ways,^(O)
14 who delight in doing wrong
    and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,^(P)
15 whose paths are crooked^(Q)
    and who are devious in their ways.^(R)

¹⁶ Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman,^(S)
    from the wayward woman with her seductive words,
¹⁷ who has left the partner of her youth
    and ignored the covenant she made before God.^[a](T)
18 Surely her house leads down to death
    and her paths to the spirits of the dead.^(U)
19 None who go to her return
    or attain the paths of life.^(V)

²⁰ Thus you will walk in the ways of the good
    and keep to the paths of the righteous.
²¹ For the upright will live in the land,^(W)
    and the blameless will remain in it;
²² but the wicked^(X) will be cut off from the land,^(Y)
    and the unfaithful will be torn from it.^(Z)

³ Let love and faithfulness^(AE) never leave you;
    bind them around your neck,
    write them on the tablet of your heart.^(AF)
4 Then you will win favor and a good name
    in the sight of God and man.^(AG)

⁵ Trust in the Lord^(AH) with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths^(AI) straight.^[b](AJ)

⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes;^(AK)
    fear the Lord^(AL) and shun evil.^(AM)
8 This will bring health to your body^(AN)
    and nourishment to your bones.^(AO)

⁹ Honor the Lord with your wealth,
    with the firstfruits^(AP) of all your crops;
¹⁰ then your barns will be filled^(AQ) to overflowing,
    and your vats will brim over with new wine.^(AR)

¹¹ My son,^(AS) do not despise the Lord’s discipline,^(AT)
    and do not resent his rebuke,
¹² because the Lord disciplines those he loves,^(AU)
    as a father the son he delights in.^[c](AV)

¹³ Blessed are those who find wisdom,
    those who gain understanding,
¹⁴ for she is more profitable than silver
    and yields better returns than gold.^(AW)
15 She is more precious than rubies;^(AX)
    nothing you desire can compare with her.^(AY)
16 Long life is in her right hand;^(AZ)
    in her left hand are riches and honor.^(BA)
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
    and all her paths are peace.^(BB)
18 She is a tree of life^(BC) to those who take hold of her;
    those who hold her fast will be blessed.^(BD)

¹⁹ By wisdom^(BE) the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,^(BF)
    by understanding he set the heavens^(BG) in place;
²⁰ by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
    and the clouds let drop the dew.