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 proverbs 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; to discern the words of understanding;
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 receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, 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 prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young man—
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.
that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel;
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).
to understand a proverb and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.
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 knowledge, but the foolish 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, listen to your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching;
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.
for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck.
10 My son, if sinners tempt/entice you [to do what is wrong], say “No” to them.
My son, if sinners entice you, don’t consent.
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 say, “Come with us. Let’s lie in wait for blood. Let’s lurk secretly 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’s swallow them up alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go 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’ll find all valuable wealth. We’ll fill our houses with plunder.
14 [So], come with us! Join our group! We will share with you the things that we steal.”
You shall cast your lot amongst us. We’ll all have one purse”—
15 My son, do not accompany them! Do not walk on the roads with them!
my son, don’t walk on the path with them. Keep your foot from their path,
16 They rush to do evil deeds! They hurry to murder [MTY] people.
for their feet run to evil. 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].
For the net is spread in vain in the sight of any bird;
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!
but these lay in wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.
19 That is what happens to people who eagerly try to get things [by violently attacking others]. They will only destroy themselves!
So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.
20 Wisdom [PRS] shouts to people in the streets, and calls out to people in the (plazas/town squares).
Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.
21 Wisdom calls out in noisy places, and at the entrances to cities.
She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:
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]?
“How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools 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 at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known 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.
Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;
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.
but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof;
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 at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes 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 calamity overtakes you like a storm, when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come on 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 on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me,
29 They refused to know [what things are right], and they decided not to revere Yahweh.
because they hated knowledge, and didn’t choose 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 wanted none of my counsel. They 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 will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes.
32 Those who turn away from me are stupid/foolish; they will die because of doing that.
For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will 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 whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”
