Take hold of instruction do not let go Guard her, for she is your life.
When you walk, your steps will not be impeded And if you run, you will not stumble. I have directed you in the way of wisdom I have led you in upright paths. "She will place on your head a garland of grace She will present you with a crown of beauty." Hear, my son, and accept my sayings And the years of your life will be many.
"Prize her, and she will exalt you She will honor you if you embrace her. "The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom And with all your acquiring, get understanding. "Do not forsake her, and she will guard you Love her, and she will watch over you. Then he taught me and said to me, "Let your heart hold fast my words Keep my commandments and live Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth. When I was a son to my father, Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother, read more. Hear, O sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention that you may gain understanding, For I give you sound teaching Do not abandon my instruction. "And to man He said, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom And to depart from evil is understanding.'" "When He imparted weight to the wind And meted out the waters by measure, When He set a limit for the rain And a course for the thunderbolt, Then He saw it and declared it He established it and also searched it out. "For He looks to the ends of the earth And sees everything under the heavens.
"Abaddon and Death say, 'With our ears we have heard a report of it.' "God understands its way, And He knows its place. "Where then does wisdom come from? And where is the place of understanding? "Thus it is hidden from the eyes of all living And concealed from the birds of the sky. "The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, Nor can it be valued in pure gold. "Coral and crystal are not to be mentioned And the acquisition of wisdom is above that of pearls. "Gold or glass cannot equal it, Nor can it be exchanged for articles of fine gold. "It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, In precious onyx, or sapphire. "Pure gold cannot be given in exchange for it, Nor can silver be weighed as its price. "The deep says, 'It is not in me' And the sea says, 'It is not with me.' read more. "But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? "Man does not know its value, Nor is it found in the land of the living. For the upright will live in the land And the blameless will remain in it But the wicked will be cut off from the land And the treacherous will be uprooted from it. So you will walk in the way of good men And keep to the paths of the righteous. For wisdom will enter your heart And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul Discretion will guard you, Understanding will watch over you, To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness Who delight in doing evil And rejoice in the perversity of evil Whose paths are crooked, And who are devious in their ways To deliver you from the strange woman, From the adulteress who flatters with her words That leaves the companion of her youth And forgets the covenant of her God For her house sinks down to death And her tracks lead to the dead None who go to her return again, Nor do they reach the paths of life. Then you will discern righteousness and justice And equity and every good course. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, Guarding the paths of justice, And He preserves the way of His godly ones. For the LORD gives wisdom From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures Then you will discern the fear of the LORD And discover the knowledge of God. My son, if you will receive my words And treasure my commandments within you, Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding read more.