What does Proverbs 2:9 mean?

The context of chapter 2 is virtuous living, meaning an all-encompassing pursuit of certain godly traits. The underlying ideas of this passage include four virtues— wisdom, courage, integrity, and justice—which are not completely individual traits. They are not meant to be built in sequence on top of each other. Instead, they all exist proportionately to one another.

In the first section of chapter 2 we are encouraged to increase in wisdom. The second section discusses our reasons for confidence in pursuing God's truth, resulting in an increase in our courage. This verse represents the second "then" statement of chapter 2, an explanation of how we can increase in justice.

Three words are used here to describe the subject of this section: "righteousness and justice and equity." Righteousness describes a natural or moral rightness. Justice—or judgment—is the legal pronouncement of a judicial verdict. Equity is an attitude of agreement or rectitude. These three terms reinforce one another, giving us a fuller description of what justice truly is. Justice, as a virtue, is all three of these in unity (Deuteronomy 16:20).