Proverbs 2

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 My son, if you receive my words and treasure my commands,	1 My son, if you receive my words and treasure my commands,
2 Turning your ear to wisdom, inclining your heart to understanding;	2 Turning your ear to wisdom, inclining your heart to understanding;
3 Yes, if you call to intelligence, and to understanding raise your voice;	3 Yes, if you call to intelligence, and to understanding raise your voice;
4 If you seek her like silver, and like hidden treasures search her out:	4 If you seek her like silver, and like hidden treasures search her out:
5 Then will you understand the fear of the LORD; the knowledge of God you will find;	5 Then will you understand the fear of the LORD; the knowledge of God you will find;
6 For the LORD gives wisdom, from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;	6 For the LORD gives wisdom, from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
7 He has counsel in store for the upright, he is the shield of those who walk honestly,	7 He has counsel in store for the upright, he is the shield of those who walk honestly,
8 Guarding the paths of justice, protecting the way of his pious ones.	8 Guarding the paths of justice, protecting the way of his pious ones.
9 Then you will understand rectitude and justice, honesty, every good path;	9 Then you will understand rectitude and justice, honesty, every good path;
10 For wisdom will enter your heart, knowledge will please your soul,	10 For wisdom will enter your heart, knowledge will please your soul,
11 Discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you;	11 Discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you;
12 Saving you from the way of evil men, from men of perverse speech,	12 Saving you from the way of evil men, from men of perverse speech,
13 Who leave the straight paths to walk in the way of darkness,	13 Who leave the straight paths to walk in the way of darkness,
14 Who delight in doing evil, rejoice in perversity;	14 Who delight in doing evil, rejoice in perversity;
15 Whose ways are crooked, and devious their paths;	15 Whose ways are crooked, and devious their paths;
16 Saving you from the wife of another, from the adulteress with her smooth words,	16 Saving you from the wife of another, from the adulteress with her smooth words,
17 Who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the pact with her God;	17 Who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the pact with her God;
18 For her path sinks down to death, and her footsteps lead to the shades;	18 For her path sinks down to death, and her footsteps lead to the shades;
19 None who enter thereon come back again, or gain the paths of life.	19 None who enter thereon come back again, or gain the paths of life.
20 Thus you may walk in the way of good men, and keep to the paths of the just.	20 Thus you may walk in the way of good men, and keep to the paths of the just.
21 For the upright will dwell in the land, the honest will remain in it;	21 For the upright will dwell in the land, the honest will remain in it;
22 But the wicked will be cut off from the land, the faithless will be rooted out of it.	22 But the wicked will be cut off from the land, the faithless will be rooted out of it.