Proverbs 2:10-20

10 Wisdom will come into your heart. Knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

11 Foresight will protect you. Understanding will guard you.

12 [Wisdom will] save you from the way of evil, from the person who speaks devious things,

13 from those who abandon the paths of righteousness to walk the ways of darkness,

14 from those who enjoy doing evil, from those who find joy in the deviousness of evil.

15 Their paths are crooked. Their ways are devious.

16 [Wisdom will] also save you from an adulterous woman, from a loose woman with her smooth talk,

17 who leaves [her husband,] the closest friend of her youth, and forgets her marriage vows to her God.

18 Her house sinks down to death. Her ways lead to the souls of the dead.

19 None who have sex with her come back. Nor do they ever reach the paths of life.

20 So walk in the way of good people and stay on the paths of righteous people.

Proverbs 2:10-20 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PROVERBS 2

This chapter directs to the means of attaining to the knowledge of divine things, and shows the profit and advantage arising from thence. The means are, embracing the doctrines of the Gospel, and retaining in memory and affection the ordinances of it, Pr 2:1; and an inclination of the ear and an application of the heart to the knowledge of these things, Pr 2:2. An earnest and importunate desire, expressed by prayer, after the same, Pr 2:3; and a diligent and unwearied search for them, as for silver and hid treasure, Pr 2:4. The advantages are, that such shall attain to the fear and knowledge of God; which may be concluded from these being the gift of God to his people, and from their being laid up for them, whom he carefully keeps and preserves, Pr 2:5-8; and not only so, but such learn to do that which is just and right among men, Pr 2:9. And, besides, such is the nature of divine wisdom, that, when it has once got a place in the heart and in the affections, it will be a means of preserving both from the ways of evil men, Pr 2:10-12; who are described, Pr 2:13-15. And from the evil woman, whose character is given, Pr 2:16,17; whose vicious course of life, and the ways she leads persons into, are represented as very dangerous, Pr 2:18,19. And, on the contrary, such is the usefulness of true wisdom, that it leads into the way of good men, who will be happy and safe, when the wicked shall be destroyed, Pr 2:20-22.