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 would accept my words, and conceal my commandments within you,

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

so that your ears may listen to wisdom, then bend your heart in order to know prudence.

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

For if you would call upon wisdom and bend your heart to prudence,

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

if you will seek her like money, and dig for her as if for treasure,

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

then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and you will 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 bestows wisdom, and out of his mouth, prudence and knowledge.

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

He will preserve the salvation of the righteous, and he will protect those who walk in simplicity:

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

serving the paths of justice, and guarding the ways of sanctity.

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 shall understand justice and judgment, and equity, and 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.

If wisdom is to enter into your heart, and if knowledge is to become pleasing to 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.

then counsel must guard you, and prudence must serve you,

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

so that you may be rescued from the evil way, and from the man who speaks perversities,

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 path to walk in dark ways,

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

who rejoice when they have done evil, and who exult in the most wicked things.

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

Their ways are perverse, and their steps are infamous.

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.)

So may you be rescued from the foreign woman, and from the outsider, who softens her speech,

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].

and who leaves behind the Guide of her youth,

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)

and who has forgotten the covenant of her God. For her household inclines toward death, and her paths toward Hell. (questioned)

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.

All those who enter to her will not return again, nor will they take hold of 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 may you walk in the good way, and keep to the difficult paths of the just.

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 those who are upright shall live upon the earth, and the simple shall continue upon 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.

Yet truly, the impious shall perish from the earth, and those who act unjustly shall be taken away from it.