⁵ May the Lord bless you from Zion;^(J)
    may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem^(K)
    all the days of your life.
⁶ May you live to see your children’s children—^(L)
    peace be on Israel.^(M)

⁷ The fear of the Lord^(A) is the beginning of knowledge,
    but fools^[a] despise wisdom^(B) and instruction.^(C)

⁹ Then you will understand^(K) what is right and just
    and fair—every good path.
¹⁰ For wisdom will enter your heart,^(L)
    and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
¹¹ Discretion will protect you,
    and understanding will guard you.^(M)

¹² Wisdom will save^(N) you from the ways of wicked men,
    from men whose words are perverse,
¹³ who have left the straight paths
    to walk in dark ways,^(O)
14 who delight in doing wrong
    and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,^(P)
15 whose paths are crooked^(Q)
    and who are devious in their ways.^(R)

¹⁶ Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman,^(S)
    from the wayward woman with her seductive words,
¹⁷ who has left the partner of her youth
    and ignored the covenant she made before God.^[a](T)
18 Surely her house leads down to death
    and her paths to the spirits of the dead.^(U)
19 None who go to her return
    or attain the paths of life.^(V)

²⁰ Thus you will walk in the ways of the good
    and keep to the paths of the righteous.

⁴ I sought the Lord,^(G) and he answered me;
    he delivered^(H) me from all my fears.
⁵ Those who look to him are radiant;^(I)
    their faces are never covered with shame.^(J)
6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
    he saved him out of all his troubles.^(K)
7 The angel of the Lord^(L) encamps around those who fear him,
    and he delivers^(M) them.

⁸ Taste and see that the Lord is good;^(N)
    blessed is the one who takes refuge^(O) in him.