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, 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.
They are for achieving wisdom and instruction, and to recognize sayings that bring insight.
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].
They provide education in what makes sense, living right, judging correctly, and acting fairly.
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.
They give discernment to the immature, knowledge and discretion to the young.
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.
Wise people will listen and gain in learning, and those who have good judgment will gain skills in guidance,
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).
understanding the proverbs and puzzles, the sayings and questions 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.
Honoring the Lord is where true knowledge begins, but fools treat wisdom and good advice with contempt.
8 My son, pay attention to what [I], your father, am teaching you. And do not reject what your mother teaches you.
My son, pay attention to your father's instruction, and don't reject 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.
They are a wreath of grace to decorate your head; they are pendants for your neck.
10 My son, if sinners tempt/entice you [to do what is wrong], say “No” to them.
My son, if evil people try to tempt you, don't give into them.
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.
They may tell you, “Come with us. Let's go and hide, ready to kill someone. Let's ambush someone for fun!
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 bury them alive; let's put them in the grave while they're still healthy! (Sheol h7585)
13 And we will seize all the things that they own. We will fill our houses with these things!
We'll take from them all kinds of valuable things and fill our homes with the stuff we steal!
14 [So], come with us! Join our group! We will share with you the things that we steal.”
Come and join us and we'll all share what we get!”
15 My son, do not accompany them! Do not walk on the roads with them!
My son, don't follow their ways. Don't go in that direction with them.
16 They rush to do evil deeds! They hurry to murder [MTY] people.
For they rush to do evil; they hurry to commit violence and murder.
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].
There's no point in trying to lure birds into a net when they can see it.
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!
However, these evil people hide ready to kill others, but they themselves are the victims. They're only ambushing themselves!
19 That is what happens to people who eagerly try to get things [by violently attacking others]. They will only destroy themselves!
This is what happens to you if you try to become rich through crime—it kills you!
20 Wisdom [PRS] shouts to people in the streets, and calls out to people in the (plazas/town squares).
Wisdom calls out in the streets; she shouts aloud in the squares.
21 Wisdom calls out in noisy places, and at the entrances to cities.
She cries out at busy corners; she explains her message at the town gates:
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 will you stupid people love stupidity? How long will scornful people enjoy their mocking? How long will 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.
Pay attention to my warnings, and I'll pour out my deepest thoughts to you—I'll explain what I know 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.
For I have called you, but you refused to listen; I reached out my hand to you, but you didn't care.
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.
You ignored everything I said; you wouldn't accept any of my warnings.
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.
So I'll laugh at you when you're in trouble; I'll mock you when you're in a panic.
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 panic rains down on you like a storm, when trouble hits you like a whirlwind, when sorrow and pain 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 you'll call out to me for help, but I won't answer; you'll search hard for me, but won't find me.
29 They refused to know [what things are right], and they decided not to revere Yahweh.
Why?—because they hated knowledge, and they didn't choose to respect the Lord.
30 They would not accept my advice, and they did not pay attention when I tried to correct them.
They're not willing to accept my advice; they despise all my warnings.
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.
So they'll have to eat the fruit of their own choices, bloated by their own devious schemes.
32 Those who turn away from me are stupid/foolish; they will die because of doing that.
Stupid people are killed by their rebellion; foolish people are destroyed by their lack of concern.
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 everyone who listens to me will be kept safe, and will live without worrying about problems.”
