Proverbs 2

1 My son, listen to what I say, and [consider my instructions to be as valuable as] [MET] a treasure.

My son, if you accept my words and hide my commandments within you,

2 Pay attention to wisdom and try hard to understand it.

if you incline your ear to wisdom and direct your heart to understanding,

3 Call out [to God] to get insight; plead with him to help you to understand more [of what he wants you to know].

if you truly call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding,

4 Search [eagerly] for wisdom, like you would search for silver, like you would search for a treasure that someone has hidden.

if you seek it like silver and search it out like hidden treasure,

5 If you do that, you will understand how to revere Yahweh, and you will succeed in knowing God.

then you will discern the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God.

6 Yahweh is the one who gives us wisdom. He is the one who tells us things that we need to know and understand.

For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

7 He gives good advice to those who conduct their lives as they should. He protects [MET] those who do what is right.

He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk with integrity,

8 He guards those who act justly/fairly [toward others], and he watches over those who are faithful/loyal [to him].

to guard the paths of justice and protect the way of His saints.

9 [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,

Then you will discern righteousness and justice and equity—every good path.

10 because you will be wise in your inner being; and knowing [what God wants you to know] will cause you to be joyful.

For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will delight your soul.

11 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.

Discretion will watch over you, and understanding will guard you,

12 If you are wise [PRS], you will not do what evil people do, and you will not [believe what] deceitful people say.

to deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perversity,

13 Deceitful people have stopped acting fairly/justly [toward others] and (walk on dark and evil paths/do what evil people do) [MET].

from those who leave the straight paths to walk in the ways of darkness,

14 They enjoy doing what is wrong; they like to do what is evil and to deceive [people].

from those who enjoy doing evil and rejoice in the twistedness of evil,

15 They (walk on crooked paths/always deceive others) and are always dishonest.

whose paths are crooked and whose ways are devious.

16 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.)

It will rescue you from the forbidden woman, from the stranger with seductive words

17 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].

who abandons the partner of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God.

18 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)

For her house sinks down to death, and her tracks to the departed spirits.

19 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.

None who go to her return or negotiate the paths of life.

20 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],

So you will follow in the ways of the good, and keep to the paths of the righteous.

21 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].

For the upright will inhabit the land, and the blameless will remain in it;

22 Wicked [people] will be expelled from this land, and [people] who are not trustworthy will be thrown {God will throw them} out of it.

but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the unfaithful will be uprooted.