Proverbs 1
1 These are the (proverbs/wise sayings) that come from Solomon, the King of Israel, who was the son of [King] David.
The parables of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel,
2 (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.
in order to know wisdom and discipline,
3 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].
to understand words of prudence, and to accept the instruction of doctrine, justice and judgment, and equity,
4 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.
so as to give discernment to little ones, knowledge and understanding to adolescents.
5 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.
By listening, the wise shall become wiser and the intelligent shall possess governments.
6 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).
He shall turn his soul to a parable and to its interpretation, to the words of the wise and their enigmas.
7 If [you want to be] wise, you must begin by revering Yahweh. [Only] foolish people despise wisdom and good advice/discipline.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The foolish despise wisdom as well as doctrine.
8 My son, pay attention to what [I], your father, am teaching you. And do not reject what your mother teaches you.
Listen, my son, to the discipline of your father, and forsake not the law of your mother,
9 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.
so that grace may be added to your head and a collar to your neck.
10 My son, if sinners tempt/entice you [to do what is wrong], say “No” to them.
My son, if sinners should entice you, do not consent to them.
11 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.
If they should say: “Come with us. We will lie in wait for blood. We will lay traps against the innocent, without cause.
12 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)
Let us swallow him alive, like Hell, and whole, like one descending into the pit. (Sheol h7585)
13 And we will seize all the things that they own. We will fill our houses with these things!
We will discover every precious substance. We will fill our houses with spoils.
14 [So], come with us! Join our group! We will share with you the things that we steal.”
Cast your lot with us. One purse will be for us all.”
15 My son, do not accompany them! Do not walk on the roads with them!
My son, do not walk with them. Preclude your feet from their paths.
16 They rush to do evil deeds! They hurry to murder [MTY] people.
For their feet rush to evil, and they hurry to shed blood.
17 It is useless to put out a (trap/net to catch a bird) because when a bird sees it, [it stays away from it].
But a net is thrown in vain before the eyes of those who have wings.
18 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!
Likewise, they lie in ambush against their own blood, and they undertake deceits against their own souls.
19 That is what happens to people who eagerly try to get things [by violently attacking others]. They will only destroy themselves!
Thus, the ways of all those who are greedy seize the souls of those who possess.
20 Wisdom [PRS] shouts to people in the streets, and calls out to people in the (plazas/town squares).
Wisdom forewarns far and wide; she bestows her voice in the streets.
21 Wisdom calls out in noisy places, and at the entrances to cities.
She cries out at the head of crowds; at the entrance of the gates of the city, she offers her words, saying:
22 [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]?
“Little ones, how long will you choose to be childish, and how long will the foolish desire what is harmful to themselves, and how long will the imprudent hate knowledge?
23 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.
Be converted by my correction. Lo, I will offer my spirit to you, and I will reveal my words to you.
24 But when I called to you, you refused to listen. I beckoned to you to come to me, but you ignored me.
For I called, and you refused. I extended my hand, and there was no one who watched.
25 I tried to advise you, but you refused to listen to me. I tried to correct you, but you rejected what I told you.
You have despised all my counsels, and you have neglected my rebukes.
26 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.
Similarly, I will ridicule you at your demise, and I will mock you, when that which you feared shall overcome you.
27 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!]
When sudden calamity rushes upon you, and your demise advances like a tempest, when tribulation and anguish overcome you,
28 [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.
then they will call to me, and I will not heed, they will arise in the morning, and not find me.
29 They refused to know [what things are right], and they decided not to revere Yahweh.
For they held hatred for discipline, and they would not accept the fear of the Lord;
30 They would not accept my advice, and they did not pay attention when I tried to correct them.
they would not consent to my counsel, but they detracted from all of my corrections.
31 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.
Therefore, they shall eat the fruit of their way, and they shall have their fill of their own counsels.
32 Those who turn away from me are stupid/foolish; they will die because of doing that.
The loathing of the little ones shall destroy them, and the prosperity of the foolish shall perish them.
33 But those who pay attention to me will live peacefully and safely, and they will not be afraid that something will harm them.”
But whoever will listen to me shall rest without terror, and shall have full enjoyment of abundance, without fear of evils.”
