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 thou wilt receive my sayings, and, my commandments, wilt treasure up by thee;
2 Pay attention to wisdom and try hard to understand it.
So that thou direct, unto wisdom, thine ear, bend thy heart, unto 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].
Yea if, for understanding, thou cry aloud, for knowledge, utter thy voice;
4 Search [eagerly] for wisdom, like you would search for silver, like you would search for a treasure that someone has hidden.
If thou seek her as silver, and, like hid treasure, thou search for her,
5 If you do that, you will understand how to revere Yahweh, and you will succeed in knowing God.
Then, shalt thou understand the reverence of Yahweh, and, the knowledge of God, shalt thou find.
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, Yahweh, giveth wisdom, out of his mouth, 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.
Yea he treasureth, for the upright, safety, A shield [is he] to them who walk in integrity,
8 He guards those who act justly/fairly [toward others], and he watches over those who are faithful/loyal [to him].
To him that observeth the paths of justice, yea, the way of his men of lovingkindness, he doth guard.
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 understand righteousness and justice, and equity—every noble course.
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 wisdom entereth thy heart, and, knowledge, to thy soul, is sweet,
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, shall watch over thee, understanding, shall preserve thee: —
12 If you are wise [PRS], you will not do what evil people do, and you will not [believe what] deceitful people say.
To rescue thee from the way of the wrongful, from the man that speaketh perverse things;
13 Deceitful people have stopped acting fairly/justly [toward others] and (walk on dark and evil paths/do what evil people do) [MET].
From them who forsake the paths of rectitude, 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].
Who rejoice to do wrong, exult in the perversities of the wrongful;
15 They (walk on crooked paths/always deceive others) and are always dishonest.
Whose paths, are twisted, and they are tortuous in their tracks:
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.)
To rescue thee, from the woman that is a stranger, from the female unknown, who with her speeches seduceth;
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 forsaketh the friend of her youth, and, the covenant of her God, hath forgotten;
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 she hath appointed, unto death, her house, and unto the shades, her courses;
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 in unto her, come back, neither attain they unto 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],
To the end that thou walk in the way of good men, and, the paths of the righteous, that thou observe.
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, shall abide on the earth, —and, the men of integrity, shall remain therein;
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 lawless, out of the earth, shall be cut off, and, traitors, shall they tear away therefrom.
