Proverbs 2
1 My son, if thou wouldst but accept my words, and treasure up my commandments with thee;
My son, listen to what I say, and [consider my instructions to be as valuable as] [MET] a treasure.
2 To let thy ear listen unto wisdom: [if] thou wouldst incline thy heart to understanding.
Pay attention to wisdom and try hard to understand it.
3 For if thou wilt call after intelligence; if after understanding thou wilt lift up thy voice;
Call out [to God] to get insight; plead with him to help you to understand more [of what he wants you to know].
4 If thou wilt seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures:
Search [eagerly] for wisdom, like you would search for silver, like you would search for a treasure that someone has hidden.
5 Then wilt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and the knowledge of God wilt thou find.
If you do that, you will understand how to revere Yahweh, and you will succeed in knowing God.
6 For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth [come] knowledge and understanding.
Yahweh is the one who gives us wisdom. He is the one who tells us things that we need to know and understand.
7 He treasureth up sound wisdom for the righteous, as a shield to those that walk in integrity:
He gives good advice to those who conduct their lives as they should. He protects [MET] those who do what is right.
8 That men may keep the paths of justice; and the way of his pious servants doth he guard.
He guards those who act justly/fairly [toward others], and he watches over those who are faithful/loyal [to him].
9 Then wilt thou understand righteousness, and justice, and equity: yea, every track of goodness.
[If you ask God for wisdom], you will understand what is right and just [DOU] [to do], and [you will know] the right way to conduct your life,
10 For wisdom will enter thy heart, and knowledge will be pleasant unto thy soul;
because you will be wise in your inner being; and knowing [what God wants you to know] will cause you to be joyful.
11 Discretion will watch over thee, understanding will keep thee;
If you know [PRS] how to choose what is right to do and if you understand [what God wants] you to do, God will protect you and guard you and keep you safe.
12 To deliver thee from the way of the bad, from the man that speaketh perverse things;
If you are wise [PRS], you will not do what evil people do, and you will not [believe what] deceitful people say.
13 [From those] who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;
Deceitful people have stopped acting fairly/justly [toward others] and (walk on dark and evil paths/do what evil people do) [MET].
14 Who rejoice to do evil, who are delighted in the perverseness of the bad;
They enjoy doing what is wrong; they like to do what is evil and to deceive [people].
15 Who as regardeth their paths are crooked, and froward in their tracks.
They (walk on crooked paths/always deceive others) and are always dishonest.
16 To deliver thee from the adulteress, from the alien woman that useth flattering speeches;
If you are wise [PRS], you will [also] be saved from (immoral women/prostitutes); you will not pay attention when adulterous women try to (seduce/entice you by what they say.)
17 That forsaketh the friend of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.
Those women have left the husbands whom they married when they were young; they have disregarded the solemn promise they made to God [not to commit adultery].
18 For she sinketh unto death—her house, and unto the departed [lead] her tracks.
If you go into houses of women who are like that, you will die [when you are still young]; the road [to their houses] leads to hell. (questioned)
19 All that come unto her return not again, and they will not reach the paths of life.
No man who (visits/sleeps with) a woman like that will again [live harmoniously with his family]. He will never have a [happy] life again.
20 In order that thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and observe the paths of the righteous.
If [you are wise], you should behave like good men behave. You should (stay on the paths that righteous [people] walk on/do what godly people do) [MET],
21 For the upright will dwell on the earth, and the perfect will be left remaining on it.
because only godly people will live in this land [and receive God’s blessings]; [only] those who have not done wrong will stay here [for a long time].
22 But the wicked will be cut off from the earth, and the treacherous shall be plucked up therefrom.
Wicked [people] will be expelled from this land, and [people] who are not trustworthy will be thrown {God will throw them} out of it.
