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, the 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.
To know wisdom, and instruction:
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 the words of prudence: and to receive 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.
To give subtilty to little ones, to the young man knowledge and understanding.
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.
A wise man shall hear and shall be wiser: and he that understandeth, 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 understand a parable, and the interpretation, the words of the wise, and their mysterious sayings.
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. Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
8 My son, pay attention to what [I], your father, am teaching you. And do not reject what your mother teaches you.
My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy 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.
That grace may be added to thy head, and a chain of gold to thy neck.
10 My son, if sinners tempt/entice you [to do what is wrong], say “No” to them.
My son, if sinners shall entice thee, consent not 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 shall say: Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us hide snares for 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 up alive like hell, and whole as one that goeth down 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 shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoils.
14 [So], come with us! Join our group! We will share with you the things that we steal.”
Cast in thy lot with us, let us all have one purse.
15 My son, do not accompany them! Do not walk on the roads with them!
My son, walk not thou with them, restrain thy foot from their paths.
16 They rush to do evil deeds! They hurry to murder [MTY] people.
For their feet run to evil, and make haste 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 spread in vain before the eyes of them that 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!
And they themselves lie in wait for their own blood, and practise 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!
So the wage of every covetous man destroy the souls of the possessors.
20 Wisdom [PRS] shouts to people in the streets, and calls out to people in the (plazas/town squares).
Wisdom preacheth abroad, she uttereth her voice in the streets:
21 Wisdom calls out in noisy places, and at the entrances to cities.
At the head of multitudes she crieth out, in the entrance of the gates of the city she uttereth 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]?
O children, how long will you love childishness, and fools covet those things which are hurtful to themselves, and the unwise 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.
Turn ye at my reproof: behold I will utter my spirit to you, and will shew you my words.
24 But when I called to you, you refused to listen. I beckoned to you to come to me, but you ignored me.
Because I called, and you refused: I stretched out my hand, and there was none that regarded.
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 counsel, and have neglected my reprehensions.
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.
I also will laugh in your destruction, and will mock when that shall come to you which you feared.
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 shall fall on you, and destruction, as a tempest, shall be at hand: when tribulation and distress shall come upon 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 shall they call upon me, and I will not hear: they shall rise in the morning and shall not find me:
29 They refused to know [what things are right], and they decided not to revere Yahweh.
Because they have hated instruction and received not the fear of the Lord,
30 They would not accept my advice, and they did not pay attention when I tried to correct them.
Nor consented to my counsel, but despised all my reproof.
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 own way, and shall be filled with their own devices.
32 Those who turn away from me are stupid/foolish; they will die because of doing that.
The turning away of little ones shall kill them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy 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 he that shall hear me, shall rest without terror, and shall enjoy abundance, without fear of evils.
