Proverbs 2

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

My sonne, if thou wilt receiue my wordes, and hide my commandements within thee,

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

And cause thine eares to hearken vnto wisdome, and encline thine heart to vnderstanding,

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 thou callest after knowledge, and cryest for vnderstanding:

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

If thou seekest her as siluer, and searchest for her as for treasures,

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

Then shalt thou vnderstand the feare of the Lord, and finde 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 giueth wisdome, out of his mouth commeth knowledge and vnderstanding.

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

He preserueth the state of the righteous: he is a shielde to them that walke vprightly,

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

That they may keepe the wayes of iudgement: and he preserueth the way of his Saintes)

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 shalt thou vnderstand righteousnes, and iudgement, and equitie, and euery 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.

When wisdome entreth into thine heart, and knowledge deliteth thy soule,

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 shall counsell preserue thee, and vnderstanding shall keepe thee,

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

And deliuer thee from the euill way, and from the man that speaketh froward things,

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

And from them that leaue the wayes of righteousnes to walke in the wayes of darkenes:

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

Which reioyce in doing euill, and delite in the frowardnesse of the wicked,

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

Whose wayes are crooked and they are lewde in their paths.

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.)

And it shall deliuer thee from the strange woman, euen from the stranger, which flattereth with her wordes.

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].

Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the couenant 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)

Surely her house tendeth to death, and her paths vnto the dead.

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 they that goe vnto her, returne not againe, neither take they holde of the wayes 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],

Therefore walke thou in the way of good men, and keepe the wayes 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 iust shall dwell in the land, and the vpright men shall remaine 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 shalbe cut off from ye earth, and the transgressours shalbe rooted out of it.