The Path to Wisdom
1My son, if you accept my words
And treasure up my commandments;
2If you make your ear attentive to wisdom
And your mind open to discernment;
3If you call to understanding
And cry aloud to discernment,
4If you seek it as you do silver
And search for it as for treasures,
5Then you will understand the fear of the Lord
And attain knowledge of God.
6For the Lord grants wisdom;
Knowledge and discernment are by His decree.
7He reserves ability for the upright
And is a shield for those who live blamelessly,
8Guarding the paths of justice,
Protecting the way of those loyal to Him.
9You will then understand what is right, just,
And equitable—every good course.
10For wisdom will enter your mind
And knowledge will delight you.
11Foresight will protect you,
And discernment will guard you.
12It will save you from the way of evil men,
From men who speak duplicity,
13Who leave the paths of rectitude
To follow the ways of darkness,
14Who rejoice in doing evil
And exult in the duplicity of evil men,
15Men whose paths are crooked
And who are devious in their course.
16It will save you from the forbidden woman,
From the alien woman whose talk is smooth,
17Who forsakes the companion of her youth
And disregards the covenant of her God.
18Her house sinks down to Death,
And her course leads to the shades.
19All who go to her cannot return
And find again the paths of life.
20So follow the way of the good
And keep to the paths of the just.
21For the upright will inhabit the earth,
The blameless will remain in it.
22While the wicked will vanish from the land
And the treacherous will be rooted out of it.
We’re sorry. The Posen Library’s licensing agreements prevent this text from being printed or downloaded.
Credits
Reprinted from Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures by permission of the University of Nebraska Press. Copyright 1985 by the Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia.
Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 1.
You may also like
The Wisdom of Piety
Proverbs 3:1–12
My son, do not forget my teaching
But let your mind retain my commandments;
For they will bestow on you length of days,
Years of life and well-being.
Let fidelity and steadfastness not leave you;…
Acquire Wisdom
Proverbs 4:1–9
Sons, heed the discipline of a father;
Listen and learn discernment,
For I give you good instruction;
Do not forsake my teaching.
Once I was a son to my father,
The tender darling of my mother.…
Avoid Another Man’s Wife and Find a Wife of Your Own
Proverbs 5 (selections)
My son, listen to my wisdom;
Incline your ear to my insight,
That you may have foresight,
While your lips hold fast to knowledge.
For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey;
Her mouth is…
Adultery Kills
Proverbs 6:20–35 (selections)
My son, keep your father’s commandment;
Do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
Tie them over your heart always;
Bind them around your throat.
When you walk it will lead you;
When you lie down…
From The Proverbs of Solomon
Proverbs 17
Better a dry crust with peace
Than a house full of feasting with strife.
A capable servant will dominate an incompetent son
And share the inheritance with the brothers.
For silver—the crucible;
Fo…
The Words of the Sages: The Thirty Maxims
Proverbs 22:17–24:22
Incline your ear and listen to the words of the sages;Pay attention to my wisdom.It is good that you store them inside you,And that all of them be constantly on your lips,That you may…
Engage with this Source
Related Guide
Writings: The Third Section of the Jewish Bible
10th–2nd Century BCE
You may also like
The Wisdom of Piety
Proverbs 3:1–12
My son, do not forget my teaching
But let your mind retain my commandments;
For they will bestow on you length of days,
Years of life and well-being.
Let fidelity and steadfastness not leave you;…
Acquire Wisdom
Proverbs 4:1–9
Sons, heed the discipline of a father;
Listen and learn discernment,
For I give you good instruction;
Do not forsake my teaching.
Once I was a son to my father,
The tender darling of my mother.…
Avoid Another Man’s Wife and Find a Wife of Your Own
Proverbs 5 (selections)
My son, listen to my wisdom;
Incline your ear to my insight,
That you may have foresight,
While your lips hold fast to knowledge.
For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey;
Her mouth is…
Adultery Kills
Proverbs 6:20–35 (selections)
My son, keep your father’s commandment;
Do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
Tie them over your heart always;
Bind them around your throat.
When you walk it will lead you;
When you lie down…
From The Proverbs of Solomon
Proverbs 17
Better a dry crust with peace
Than a house full of feasting with strife.
A capable servant will dominate an incompetent son
And share the inheritance with the brothers.
For silver—the crucible;
Fo…
The Words of the Sages: The Thirty Maxims
Proverbs 22:17–24:22
Incline your ear and listen to the words of the sages;Pay attention to my wisdom.It is good that you store them inside you,And that all of them be constantly on your lips,That you may…