2:1   My child, you must follow and treasure my teachings and my instructions.

2:2   Keep in tune with wisdom and think what it means to have common sense.

2:3   Beg as loud as you can for good common sense.

2:4   Search for wisdom as you would search for silver or hidden treasure.

2:5   Then you will understand what it means to respect and to know the LORD God.

2:6   All wisdom comes from the LORD, and so do common sense and understanding.

2:7   God gives helpful advice to everyone who obeys him and protects all of those who live as they should.

2:8   God sees that justice is done, and he watches over everyone who is faithful to him.

2:9   With wisdom you will learn what is right and honest and fair.

2:10   Wisdom will control your mind, and you will be pleased with knowledge.

2:11   Sound judgment and good sense will watch over you.

2:12   Wisdom will protect you from evil schemes and from those liars

2:13   who turned from doing good to live in the darkness.

2:14   Most of all they enjoy being mean and deceitful.

2:15   They are dishonest themselves, and all they do is crooked.

2:16   Wisdom will protect you from the smooth talk of a sinful woman,

2:17   who breaks her wedding vows and leaves the man she married when she was young.

2:18   The road to her house leads down to the dark world of the dead.

2:19   Visit her, and you will never find the road to life again.

2:20   Follow the example of good people and live an honest life.

2:21   If you are honest and innocent, you will keep your land;

2:22   if you do wrong and can never be trusted, you will be rooted out.