Study Desk

My son,^(a) if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,

turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding^(b)—

indeed, if you call out for insight^(c) and cry aloud for understanding,

and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,^(d)

then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.^(e)

For the Lord gives wisdom;^(f) from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.^(g)

He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield^(h) to those whose walk is blameless,⁽ⁱ⁾

for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.^(j)

Then you will understand^(k) what is right and just and fair—every good path.

For wisdom will enter your heart,^(l) and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.^(m)

Wisdom will save⁽ⁿ⁾ you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse,

who have left the straight paths to walk in dark ways,^(o)

who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,^(p)

whose paths are crooked^(q) and who are devious in their ways.^(r)

Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman,^(s) from the wayward woman with her seductive words,

who has left the partner of her youth and ignored the covenant she made before God.^[a](t)

Surely her house leads down to death and her paths to the spirits of the dead.^(u)

None who go to her return or attain the paths of life.^(v)

Thus you will walk in the ways of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous.

For the upright will live in the land,^(w) and the blameless will remain in it;

but the wicked^(x) will be cut off from the land,^(y) and the unfaithful will be torn from it.^(z)

My son,^(a) do not forget my teaching,^(b) but keep my commands in your heart,

for they will prolong your life many years^(c) and bring you peace and prosperity.^(d)

Let love and faithfulness^(e) never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.^(f)

Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.^(g)

Trust in the Lord ^(h) with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths⁽ⁱ⁾ straight.^[a](j)

Do not be wise in your own eyes;^(k) fear the Lord ^(l) and shun evil.^(m)

This will bring health to your body⁽ⁿ⁾ and nourishment to your bones.^(o)

Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits^(p) of all your crops;

then your barns will be filled^(q) to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.^(r)

My son,^(s) do not despise the Lord 's discipline,^(t) and do not resent his rebuke,

because the Lord disciplines those he loves,^(u) as a father the son he delights in.^[b](v)

Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding,

for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.^(w)

She is more precious than rubies;^(x) nothing you desire can compare with her.^(y)

Long life is in her right hand;^(z) in her left hand are riches and honor.^(aa)

Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.^(ab)

She is a tree of life^(ac) to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.^(ad)

By wisdom^(ae) the Lord laid the earth's foundations,^(af) by understanding he set the heavens^(ag) in place;

by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.

My son,^(ah) do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,^(ai) preserve sound judgment and discretion;

they will be life for you,^(aj) an ornament to grace your neck.^(ak)

Then you will go on your way in safety,^(al) and your foot will not stumble.^(am)

When you lie down,^(an) you will not be afraid;^(ao) when you lie down, your sleep^(ap) will be sweet.

Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,

for the Lord will be at your side^(aq) and will keep your foot^(ar) from being snared.^(as)

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.

Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back tomorrow and I'll give it to you"— when you already have it with you.^(at)

Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you.^(au)

Do not accuse anyone for no reason— when they have done you no harm.

Do not envy^(av) the violent or choose any of their ways.

For the Lord detests the perverse^(aw) but takes the upright into his confidence.^(ax)

The Lord 's curse^(ay) is on the house of the wicked,^(az) but he blesses the home of the righteous.^(ba)

He mocks^(bb) proud mockers^(bc) but shows favor to the humble^(bd) and oppressed.

The wise inherit honor, but fools get only shame.

Listen, my sons,^(a) to a father's instruction;^(b) pay attention and gain understanding.^(c)

I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching.

For I too was a son to my father, still tender, and cherished by my mother.

Then he taught me, and he said to me, "Take hold^(d) of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live.^(e)

Get wisdom,^(f) get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them.

Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;^(g) love her, and she will watch over you.^(h)

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get^[a] wisdom. Though it cost all⁽ⁱ⁾ you have,^[b] get understanding.^(j)

Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.^(k)

She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown.^(l)"

Listen, my son,^(m) accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many.⁽ⁿ⁾

I instruct^(o) you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.^(p)

When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.^(q)

Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.^(r)

Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.^(s)

Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.

For they cannot rest until they do evil;^(t) they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.

They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.^(u)

The path of the righteous^(v) is like the morning sun,^(w) shining ever brighter till the full light of day.^(x)

But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;^(y) they do not know what makes them stumble.^(z)

My son,^(aa) pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.^(ab)

Do not let them out of your sight,^(ac) keep them within your heart;

for they are life to those who find them and health to one's whole body.^(ad)

Above all else, guard^(ae) your heart, for everything you do flows from it.^(af)

Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

Let your eyes^(ag) look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.

Give careful thought to the^[c] paths for your feet^(ah) and be steadfast in all your ways.

Do not turn to the right or the left;^(ai) keep your foot from evil.