Proverbs 1
1 These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel,
These are the (proverbs/wise sayings) that come from Solomon, the King of Israel, who was the son of [King] David.
2 for gaining wisdom and discipline, for comprehending words of insight,
(These proverbs [PRS] can teach people/By studying these proverbs, people can learn) how to be wise and how to obey what these proverbs teach them. They will [also] help people to understand which teachings are wise.
3 and for receiving instruction in wise living and in righteousness, justice, and equity.
These proverbs [PRS] will teach you how to discipline/control yourselves, how to conduct your lives, and how to do what is right and just [DOU].
4 To impart prudence to the simple and knowledge and discretion to the young,
They will show [people] who do not [yet] know much how to do things that are smart. They will show young people how to become wise and how to make good plans/decisions.
5 let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel
Those who are wise should also pay attention [to these proverbs], in order to become more wise, and those who understand [these teachings] will receive good advice/guidance.
6 by understanding the proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.
Then they will be able to understand the meaning of proverbs and parables/metaphors, these wise sayings and (riddles/sayings that are difficult to understand).
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
If [you want to be] wise, you must begin by revering Yahweh. [Only] foolish people despise wisdom and good advice/discipline.
8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.
My son, pay attention to what [I], your father, am teaching you. And do not reject what your mother teaches you.
9 For they are a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck.
What we teach you [will make you respected like having] a lovely turban around your head and [like] a [beautiful] necklace to put around your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them.
My son, if sinners tempt/entice you [to do what is wrong], say “No” to them.
11 If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause,
They may say, “Come with us! Join us! We will hide and then kill [MTY] someone [who passes by]. We will ambush some helpless/innocent people.
12 let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit. (Sheol h7585)
We will kill them [HYP] and get rid of them completely, [just] like [people who are buried in] graves are gone forever. While they are in good health, we will send them to the place where dead people are. (Sheol h7585)
13 We will find all manner of precious goods; we will fill our houses with plunder.
And we will seize all the things that they own. We will fill our houses with these things!
14 Throw in your lot with us; let us all share one purse”—
[So], come with us! Join our group! We will share with you the things that we steal.”
15 my son, do not walk the road with them or set foot upon their path.
My son, do not accompany them! Do not walk on the roads with them!
16 For their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed blood.
They rush to do evil deeds! They hurry to murder [MTY] people.
17 How futile it is to spread the net where any bird can see it!
It is useless to put out a (trap/net to catch a bird) because when a bird sees it, [it stays away from it].
18 But they lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush their own lives.
But those wicked people are not like the birds, [because they do not realize] that when they prepare to ambush someone to kill him, they will be killed themselves!
19 Such is the fate of all who are greedy, whose unjust gain takes the lives of its possessors.
That is what happens to people who eagerly try to get things [by violently attacking others]. They will only destroy themselves!
20 Wisdom calls out in the street, she lifts her voice in the square;
Wisdom [PRS] shouts to people in the streets, and calls out to people in the (plazas/town squares).
21 in the main concourse she cries aloud, at the city gates she makes her speech:
Wisdom calls out in noisy places, and at the entrances to cities.
22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in their scorn and fools hate knowledge?
[Wisdom says], “How long will you stupid people continue to enjoy doing foolish things [RHQ]? How long will you people who ridicule God enjoy doing that [RHQ]? How long will you foolish people refuse to know [what things are right] [RHQ]?
23 If you had repented at my rebuke, then surely I would have poured out my spirit on you; I would have made my words known to you.
If you pay attention to me when I rebuke you, I will tell you what I am thinking in my inner being; I will give you some good advice.
24 Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand,
But when I called to you, you refused to listen. I beckoned to you to come to me, but you ignored me.
25 because you neglected all my counsel, and wanted none of my correction,
I tried to advise you, but you refused to listen to me. I tried to correct you, but you rejected what I told you.
26 in turn I will mock your calamity; I will sneer when terror strikes you,
So [now], when you are experiencing troubles/disasters, I will laugh at you. When things happen that cause you to be afraid, I will make fun of you.
27 when your dread comes like a storm, and your destruction like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish overwhelm you.
When calamities strike you like a big storm, when disasters hit you like a violent wind, when [all kinds of things] distress you and give you trouble, [I will ridicule you!]
28 Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will earnestly seek me, but will not find me.
[Wisdom also says], “When foolish people call to me [to help them], I will not answer them. They will search for me diligently/everywhere, but they will not find me.
29 For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD.
They refused to know [what things are right], and they decided not to revere Yahweh.
30 They accepted none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof.
They would not accept my advice, and they did not pay attention when I tried to correct them.
31 So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
So they will endure what will result [MET, DOU] from the evil way they have lived/behaved and the evil things they have planned to do.
32 For the waywardness of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
Those who turn away from me are stupid/foolish; they will die because of doing that.
33 But whoever listens to me will dwell in safety, secure from the fear of evil.”
But those who pay attention to me will live peacefully and safely, and they will not be afraid that something will harm them.”
