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Read Proverbs 2 in modern English — World English Bible (22 verses)

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1 My son, if you will receive my words, and store up my commandments within you;

2 So as to turn your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding;

3 Yes, if you call out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding;

4 If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures:

5 then you will understand the fear of Yahweh, and find the knowledge of God.

6 For Yahweh gives wisdom. Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

7 He lays up sound wisdom for the upright. He is a shield to those who walk in integrity;

8 that he may guard the paths of justice, and preserve the way of his saints.

9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path.

10 For wisdom will enter into your heart. Knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

11 Discretion will watch over you. Understanding will keep you,

12 to deliver you from the way of evil, from the men who speak perverse things;

13 who forsake the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;

14 who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the perverseness of evil;

15 who are crooked in their ways, and wayward in their paths:

16 To deliver you from the strange woman, even from the foreigner who flatters with her words;

17 who forsakes the friend of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God:

18 for her house leads down to death, her paths to the departed spirits.

19 None who go to her return again, neither do they attain to the paths of life:

20 that you may walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.

21 For the upright will dwell in the land. The perfect will remain in it.

22 But the wicked will be cut off from the land. The treacherous will be rooted out of it.

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Study tools for Proverbs 2

Cross-references, Hebrew word study, and what the Early Church wrote about Proverbs 2. Tap any section to expand — or right-click any verse for the full interactive study panel.

Proverbs 2 study resources: word-by-word Hebrew interlinear with Strong's numbers, 6 cross-references, 5 Early-Church citations.

Cross-references in Proverbs 2 (6)

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Hebrew interlinear — Proverbs 2:1–22 (142 words)
1
  1. בְּ֭נִיbĕnîben: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including...H1121
  2. אִםʾimim: (used very widely as demonstrative) lo!; (interrogatively) whether?H518
  3. תִּקַּ֣חtiqqaḥlaqach: to take (in the widest variety of applications)H3947
  4. אֲמָרָ֑יʾămārāyemer: something saidH561
  5. וּ֝מִצְוֹתַ֗יûmiṣwōtaymitsvah: a command, whether human or divine (collectively, the Law)H4687
  6. תִּצְפֹּ֥ןtiṣpōntsaphan: to hide (by covering over); (by implication) to hoard or reserveH6845
  7. אִתָּֽךְ׃ʾittāketh: (properly) nearness; (used only as a preposition or an adverb) nearH854
2
  1. לְהַקְשִׁ֣יבlĕhaqšîbqashab: to prick up the ears, i.e. hearkenH7181
  2. לַֽחָכְמָ֣הlaḥokmâchokmah: wisdom (in a good sense)H2451
  3. אָזְנֶ֑ךָʾoznekāozen: broadness; (concretely) the ear (from its form in man)H241
  4. תַּטֶּ֥הtaṭṭenatah: to stretch or spread out; (by implication) to bend away (including moral deflection)H5186
  5. לִ֝בְּךָ֗libbĕkāleb: the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellectH3820
  6. לַתְּבוּנָֽה׃lattĕbûnâtabuwn: intelligence; (by implication) an argumentH8394
3
  1. כִּ֤יkîkiy: (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below)H3588
  2. אִ֣םʾimim: (used very widely as demonstrative) lo!; (interrogatively) whether?H518
  3. לַבִּינָ֣הlabbînâbiynah: understandingH998
  4. תִקְרָ֑אtiqrāʾqara': to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)H7121
  5. לַ֝תְּבוּנָ֗הlattĕbûnâtabuwn: intelligence; (by implication) an argumentH8394
  6. תִּתֵּ֥ןtittēnnathan: to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)H5414
  7. קוֹלֶֽךָ׃qôlekāqowl: a voice or soundH6963
4
  1. אִםʾimim: (used very widely as demonstrative) lo!; (interrogatively) whether?H518
  2. תְּבַקְשֶׁ֥נָּהtĕbaqšennâbaqash: to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer)H1245
  3. כַכָּ֑סֶףkakkāsepkeceph: silver (from its pale color); (by implication) moneyH3701
  4. וְֽכַמַּטְמוֹנִ֥יםwĕkammaṭmônîmmatmown: a secret storehouse; (hence) a secreted valuable (buried)H4301
  5. תַּחְפְּשֶֽׂנָּה׃taḥpĕśennâchaphas: to seek; causatively, to conceal oneself (i.e. let be sought), or maskH2664
5
  1. אָ֗זʾāzaz: at that time or place; (as a conjunction) thereforeH227
  2. תָּ֭בִיןtābînbiyn: to separate mentally (or distinguish); (generally) understandH995
  3. יִרְאַ֣תyirʾatyir'ah: fear (also used as infinitive); morally, reverenceH3374
  4. יְהוָ֑הyĕhwâYhovah: (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodH3068
  5. וְדַ֖עַתwĕdaʿatda`ath: knowledgeH1847
  6. אֱלֹהִ֣יםʾĕlōhîmelohiym: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the...H430
  7. תִּמְצָֽא׃timṣāʾmatsa': (properly) to come forth to, i.e. appear or existH4672
6
  1. כִּֽיkîkiy: (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below)H3588
  2. יְ֭הוָהyĕhwâYhovah: (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodH3068
  3. יִתֵּ֣ןyittēnnathan: to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)H5414
  4. חָכְמָ֑הḥokmâchokmah: wisdom (in a good sense)H2451
  5. מִ֝פִּ֗יוmippîwpeh: the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech)H6310
  6. דַּ֣עַתdaʿatda`ath: knowledgeH1847
  7. וּתְבוּנָֽה׃ûtĕbûnâtabuwn: intelligence; (by implication) an argumentH8394
7
  1. וִצְפֹּ֣ןwiṣpōntsaphan: to hide (by covering over); (by implication) to hoard or reserveH6845
  2. לַ֭יְשָׁרִיםlayšārîmyashar: straightH3477
  3. תּוּשִׁיָּ֑הtûšiyyâtuwshiyah: support; (by implication) abilityH8454
  4. מָ֝גֵ֗ןmāgēnmagen: a shield (i.e. the small one or buckler)H4043
  5. לְהֹ֣לְכֵיlĕhōlĕkêhalak: a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)H1980
  6. תֹֽם׃tōmtom: completeness; (figuratively) prosperityH8537
8
  1. לִ֭נְצֹרlinṣōrnatsar: to guard, in a good sense (to protect, maintain, obey, etc.) or a bad one (to conceal, etc.)H5341
  2. אָרְח֣וֹתʾorḥôtorach: (literally or figuratively) a well-trodden roadH734
  3. מִשְׁפָּ֑טmišpāṭmishpat: (properly) a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree...H4941
  4. וְדֶ֖רֶךְwĕderekderek: a road (as trodden); (figuratively) a course of life or mode of action, often adverbH1870
  5. חֲסִידָ֣וḥăsîdāwchaciyd: (properly) kind, i.e. (religiously) pious (a saint)H2623
  6. יִשְׁמֹֽר׃yišmōrshamar: (properly) to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guardH8104
9
  1. אָ֗זʾāzaz: at that time or place; (as a conjunction) thereforeH227
  2. תָּ֭בִיןtābînbiyn: to separate mentally (or distinguish); (generally) understandH995
  3. צֶ֣דֶקṣedeqtsedeq: the right (natural, moral or legal); (abstractly) equityH6664
  4. וּמִשְׁפָּ֑טûmišpāṭmishpat: (properly) a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree...H4941
  5. וּ֝מֵישָׁרִ֗יםûmêšārîmmeyshar: evenness, i.e. (figuratively) prosperity or concordH4339
  6. כָּלkālkol: (properly) the whole; (hence) all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)H3605
  7. מַעְגַּלmaʿgalma`gal: a track (literally or figuratively); also a rampart (as circular)H4570
  8. טֽוֹב׃ṭôbtowb: good (as an adjective) in the widest senseH2896
10
  1. כִּֽיkîkiy: (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below)H3588
  2. תָב֣וֹאtābôʾbow': to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)H935
  3. חָכְמָ֣הḥokmâchokmah: wisdom (in a good sense)H2451
  4. בְלִבֶּ֑ךָbĕlibbekāleb: the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellectH3820
  5. וְ֝דַ֗עַתwĕdaʿatda`ath: knowledgeH1847
  6. לְֽנַפְשְׁךָ֥lĕnapšĕkānephesh: (properly) a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitalityH5315
  7. יִנְעָֽם׃yinʿāmna`em: to be agreeable (literally or figuratively)H5276
11
  1. מְ֭זִמָּהmĕzimmâmzimmah: a plan, usually evil (machination), sometimes good (sagacity)H4209
  2. תִּשְׁמֹ֥רtišmōrshamar: (properly) to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guardH8104
  3. עָלֶ֗יךָʿālêkā`al: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of...H5921
  4. תְּבוּנָ֥הtĕbûnâtabuwn: intelligence; (by implication) an argumentH8394
  5. תִנְצְרֶֽכָּה׃tinṣĕrekkânatsar: to guard, in a good sense (to protect, maintain, obey, etc.) or a bad one (to conceal, etc.)H5341
12
  1. לְ֭הַצִּ֣ילְךָlĕhaṣṣîlĕkānatsal: to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad senseH5337
  2. מִדֶּ֣רֶךְmidderekderek: a road (as trodden); (figuratively) a course of life or mode of action, often adverbH1870
  3. רָ֑עrāʿra`: bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)H7451
  4. מֵ֝אִ֗ישׁmēʾîšiysh: a man as an individual or a male personH376
  5. מְדַבֵּ֥רmĕdabbērdabar: perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speakH1696
  6. תַּהְפֻּכֽוֹת׃tahpukôttahpukah: a perversity or fraudH8419
13
  1. הַ֭עֹ֣זְבִיםhaʿōzĕbîm`azab: to loosen, i.e. relinquish, permit, etcH5800
  2. אָרְח֣וֹתʾorḥôtorach: (literally or figuratively) a well-trodden roadH734
  3. יֹ֑שֶׁרyōšeryosher: the rightH3476
  4. לָ֝לֶ֗כֶתlālekethalak: a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)H1980
  5. בְּדַרְכֵיbĕdarkêderek: a road (as trodden); (figuratively) a course of life or mode of action, often adverbH1870
  6. חֹֽשֶׁךְ׃ḥōšekchoshek: the dark; hence (literally) darknessH2822
14
  1. הַ֭שְּׂמֵחִיםhaśśĕmēḥîmsameach: blithe or gleefulH8056
  2. לַעֲשׂ֥וֹתlaʿăśôt`asah: to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application (as follows)H6213
  3. רָ֑עrāʿra`: bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)H7451
  4. יָ֝גִ֗ילוּyāgîlûgiyl: (properly) to spin round (under the influence of any violent emotion), i.e. usually rejoice, or (as cringing) fearH1523
  5. בְּֽתַהְפֻּכ֥וֹתbĕtahpukôttahpukah: a perversity or fraudH8419
  6. רָֽע׃rāʿra`: bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)H7451
15
  1. אֲשֶׁ֣רʾăšeraher: who, which, what, that; (as adverb) when, where, howH834
  2. אָרְחֹתֵיהֶ֣םʾorḥōtêhemorach: (literally or figuratively) a well-trodden roadH734
  3. עִקְּשִׁ֑יםʿiqqĕšîm`iqqesh: distorted; (hence) falseH6141
  4. וּ֝נְלוֹזִ֗יםûnĕlôzîmluwz: to turn aside, i.e. (literally) to depart, (figuratively) be perverseH3868
  5. בְּמַעְגְּלוֹתָֽם׃bĕmaʿgĕlôtāmma`gal: a track (literally or figuratively); also a rampart (as circular)H4570
16
  1. לְ֭הַצִּ֣ילְךָlĕhaṣṣîlĕkānatsal: to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad senseH5337
  2. מֵאִשָּׁ֣הmēʾiššâishshah: irregular plural, nashiym {naw-sheem'}; a woman (used in the same wide sense as H0582)H802
  3. זָרָ֑הzārâzuwr: to turn aside (especially for lodging); hence to be a foreigner, strange, profaneH2114
  4. מִ֝נָּכְרִיָּ֗הminnokriyyânokriy: strange, in a variety of degrees and applications (foreign, non-relative, adulterous, different, wonderful)H5237
  5. אֲמָרֶ֥יהָʾămārêhāemer: something saidH561
  6. הֶחֱלִֽיקָה׃heḥĕlîqâchalaq: to be smooth (figuratively); (by implication) (as smooth stones were used for lots) to apportion or separateH2505
17
  1. הַ֭עֹזֶבֶתhaʿōzebet`azab: to loosen, i.e. relinquish, permit, etcH5800
  2. אַלּ֣וּףʾallûpalluwph: familiar; a friend, also gentleH441
  3. נְעוּרֶ֑יהָnĕʿûrêhāna`uwr: (only in plural collectively or emphatic form) youth, the state (juvenility) or the persons (young people)H5271
  4. וְאֶתwĕʾeteth: (properly) self; (generally) used to point out the object of a verb (or preposition) more definitelyH853
  5. בְּרִ֖יתbĕrîtbriyth: a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh)H1285
  6. אֱלֹהֶ֣יהָʾĕlōhêhāelohiym: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the...H430
  7. שָׁכֵֽחָה׃šākēḥâshakach: to mislay, i.e. to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attentionH7911
18
  1. כִּ֤יkîkiy: (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below)H3588
  2. שָׁ֣חָהšāḥâshuwach: to sink, literally or figurativelyH7743
  3. אֶלʾelel: (properly) denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or amongH413
  4. מָ֣וֶתmāwetmaveth: death (natural or violent); (concretely) the dead, their place or state (hades)H4194
  5. בֵּיתָ֑הּbêtāhbayith: a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)H1004
  6. וְאֶלwĕʾelel: (properly) denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or amongH413
  7. רְ֝פָאִ֗יםrĕpāʾîmrapha': (properly) lax, i.e. (figuratively) a ghost (as deadH7496
  8. מַעְגְּלֹתֶֽיהָ׃maʿgĕlōtêhāma`gal: a track (literally or figuratively); also a rampart (as circular)H4570
19
  1. כָּלkālkol: (properly) the whole; (hence) all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)H3605
  2. בָּ֭אֶיהָbāʾêhābow': to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)H935
  3. לֹ֣אlōʾlo': (the simple or absolute negation) not; (by implication) noH3808
  4. יְשׁוּב֑וּןyĕšûbûnshuwb: to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the...H7725
  5. וְלֹֽאwĕlōʾlo': (the simple or absolute negation) not; (by implication) noH3808
  6. יַ֝שִּׂ֗יגוּyaśśîgûnasag: to reach (literally or figuratively)H5381
  7. אָרְח֥וֹתʾorḥôtorach: (literally or figuratively) a well-trodden roadH734
  8. חַיִּֽים׃ḥayyîmchay: alive; (hence) raw (flesh)H2416
20
  1. לְמַ֗עַןlĕmaʿanma`an: (properly) heed, i.e. purposeH4616
  2. תֵּ֭לֵךְtēlēkhalak: a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)H1980
  3. בְּדֶ֣רֶךְbĕderekderek: a road (as trodden); (figuratively) a course of life or mode of action, often adverbH1870
  4. טוֹבִ֑יםṭôbîmtowb: good (as an adjective) in the widest senseH2896
  5. וְאָרְח֖וֹתwĕʾorḥôtorach: (literally or figuratively) a well-trodden roadH734
  6. צַדִּיקִ֣יםṣaddîqîmtsaddiyq: justH6662
  7. תִּשְׁמֹֽר׃tišmōrshamar: (properly) to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guardH8104
21
  1. כִּֽיkîkiy: (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below)H3588
  2. יְשָׁרִ֥יםyĕšārîmyashar: straightH3477
  3. יִשְׁכְּנוּyiškĕnûshakan: to reside or permanently stay (literally or figuratively)H7931
  4. אָ֑רֶץʾāreṣerets: the earth (at large, or partitively a land)H776
  5. וּ֝תְמִימִ֗יםûtĕmîmîmtamiym: (literally, figuratively or morally) entireH8549
  6. יִוָּ֥תְרוּyiwwātĕrûyathar: to jut over or exceed; (by implication) to excelH3498
22
  1. וּ֭רְשָׁעִיםûrĕšāʿîmrasha`: morally wrong; (concretely) an (actively) bad personH7563
  2. מֵאֶ֣רֶץmēʾereṣerets: the earth (at large, or partitively a land)H776
  3. יִכָּרֵ֑תוּyikkārētûkarath: to cut (off, down or asunder); (by implication) to destroy or consumeH3772
  4. וּ֝בוֹגְדִ֗יםûbôgĕdîmbagad: to cover (with a garment); (figuratively) to act covertlyH898
  5. יִסְּח֥וּyissĕḥûnacach: to tear awayH5255
  6. מִמֶּֽנָּה׃mimmennâmin: (properly) a part of; (hence, prepositionally) from or out of (in many senses)H4480

View the full Hebrew interlinear for Proverbs 2 →

Strong's words in Proverbs 2 (6)
Strong's H734 — אָרְח֣וֹת (ʾorḥôt)
orach (o'-rakh) n-m. 1. (literally or figuratively) a well-trodden road 2. (also) a caravan [from H732] KJV: manner, path, race, rank, traveller, troop, (by-, high-)way. Root(s): H732. Appears 5 times in Proverbs 2.
Strong's H1870 — וְדֶ֖רֶךְ (wĕderek)
derek (deh'-rek) n-m. 1. a road (as trodden) 2. (figuratively) a course of life or mode of action, often adverb [from H1869] KJV: along, away, because of, + by, conversation, custom, (east-)ward, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-)way(-side), whither(-soever). Root(s): H1869. Appears 4 times in Proverbs 2.
Strong's H8394 — לַתְּבוּנָֽה׃ (lattĕbûnâ)
tabuwn (taw-boon') (and (feminine) tbuwnah {teb-oo-naw'} or towbunah {to-boo-naw'};) n-m. 1. intelligence 2. (by implication) an argument 3. (by extension) caprice, a sudden, impulsive change of mind [from H995] KJV: discretion, reason, skilfulness, understanding, wisdom. Root(s): H995. Appears 4 times in Proverbs 2.
Strong's H1847 — וְדַ֖עַת (wĕdaʿat)
da`ath (dah'-ath) n-e. 1. knowledge [from H3045] KJV: cunning, (ig-)norantly, know(-ledge), (un-)awares (wittingly). Root(s): H3045. Appears 3 times in Proverbs 2.
Strong's H1980 — לְהֹ֣לְכֵי (lĕhōlĕkê)
halak (haw-lak') v. 1. a primitive root 2. to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively) [akin to H3212] KJV: (all) along, apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be c. Appears 3 times in Proverbs 2.
Strong's H2451 — לַֽחָכְמָ֣ה (laḥokmâ)
chokmah (khok-maw') n-f. 1. wisdom (in a good sense) [from H2449] KJV: skilful, wisdom, wisely, wit. Root(s): H2449. Appears 3 times in Proverbs 2.

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“The kind-hearted shall inhabit the land, and the guiltless shall be left upon it, but transgressors shall be destroyed from off the face of it.”

What the Early Church wrote about Proverbs 2 (4)

  • “Anyway, Solomon says, “My son, if you accept my words of instruction and keep them deep within you, your ear will listen to wisdom.” This means that the word is sown and kept deep in the soul of the learner as if in the ground. This is spiritual growth.”

  • ““For if you call for practical wisdom and perception at the top of your voice, if you seek it as you would a treasure of silver, and if you track it down ardently, then you will realize the meaning of reverence for God and you will grasp the perception of God.” The prophet spo...”

  • “Solomon says, “You will find a divine sense.” For he knew that there were in us two kinds of senses, the one being mortal, corruptible and human, and the other immortal and intellectual, which here he calls “divine.” By this divine sense, therefore, not of the eyes but of a pu...”

  • “Abstain from fleshly and worldly lusts.”

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