⁷ Wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord,
    but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

2 My son, accept my words
    and store up my commands.
² Turn your ear toward wisdom,
    and stretch your mind toward understanding.
³ Call out for insight,
    and cry aloud for understanding.
⁴ Seek it like silver;
    search for it like hidden treasure.
⁵ Then you will understand the fear of the Lord,
    and discover the knowledge of God.

⁷ Don’t consider yourself wise.
    Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
⁸ Then your body^[a] will be healthy
    and your bones strengthened.

¹⁰ The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord;
    the knowledge of the holy one is understanding.

²⁷ The fear of the Lord increases one’s life,
    but the years of the wicked will be cut short.