1 ARST My child, accept what I say. Consider what I command{ you} to be precious. BSB BSB: My son, if you accept my words and hide my commandments within you,
2 ARST { Do this by} listening attentively to what is wise,{ and by} thinking seriously about what you should understand. BSB BSB: if you incline your ear to wisdom and direct your heart to understanding,
3 ARST Yes, cry out to learn what you should understand. Cry loudly to learn what you should perceive! BSB BSB: if you truly call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding,
4 ARST Try to learn what is wise, like you would try to find silver. Indeed, look eagerly for it, like you would look for a treasure that someone has hidden. BSB BSB: if you seek it like silver and search it out like hidden treasure,
5 ARST { If you do those things,} then you will understand how to reverently fear Yahweh. You will even succeed in knowing God. BSB BSB: then you will discern the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God.
6 ARST { This is} because Yahweh provides people with what is wise. He tells them what they should know and understand. BSB BSB: For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 ARST He gives what is truly wise to upright people. He protects people who behave honestly. BSB BSB: He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk with integrity,
8 ARST { He does these things} in order to guard those people who live justly. Indeed, he keeps safe those people who are faithful to him. BSB BSB: to guard the paths of justice and protect the way of His saints.
9 ARST { If you listen to me,} then you will understand what is righteous, just, and honest,{ even} the best way to behave. BSB BSB: Then you will discern righteousness and justice and equity—every good path.
10 ARST { This is because} you will truly know what is wise, and knowing what you should know will please you. BSB BSB: For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will delight your soul.
11 ARST Being discreet will make you safe. Indeed, being insightful will make you secure. BSB BSB: Discretion will watch over you, and understanding will guard you,
12 ARST { Being like this will protect you} in order to save you from people who behave wickedly{ and save you} from people who speak perversely. BSB BSB: to deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perversity,
13 ARST Those people refuse to behave righteously in order to behave wickedly. BSB BSB: from those who leave the straight paths to walk in the ways of darkness,
14 ARST They gladly do evil things. They enjoy evil and perverse acts. BSB BSB: from those who enjoy doing evil and rejoice in the twistedness of evil,
15 ARST They behave deceptively. Indeed, they act deviously. BSB BSB: whose paths are crooked and whose ways are devious.
16 ARST { Being discreet and insightful will protect you also} in order to save you from adulterous women,{ and to save you} from immoral women who speak{ to you} seductively. BSB BSB: It will rescue you from the forbidden woman, from the stranger with seductive words
17 ARST Those women left the husbands they married when they were young. They even forgot what they had promised to God{ when they married}. BSB BSB: who abandons the partner of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God.
18 ARST { Being discreet and insightful will rescue you} because{ going to} such a woman’ s house will result in you dying. Indeed, going with her will result in you going to the place where the spirits of dead people are. BSB BSB: For her house sinks down to death, and her tracks to the departed spirits.
19 ARST No one who acts adulterously with her will live again. They will never become alive again! BSB BSB: None who go to her return or negotiate the paths of life.
20 ARST Therefore, behave like a good person. Indeed, conduct yourself like a righteous person. BSB BSB: So you will follow in the ways of the good, and keep to the paths of the righteous.
21 ARST Ultimately, people who live uprightly will live in our land, Indeed, people whom Yahweh does not blame{ for acting wickedly} will stay in this land for a long time. BSB BSB: For the upright will inhabit the land, and the blameless will remain in it;
22 ARST By contrast, Yahweh will remove people who act wickedly from our land. Yahweh will completely remove people who act treacherously from this land! BSB BSB: but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the unfaithful will be uprooted.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.