< Proverbiorum 2 >

1 Fili mi, si susceperis sermones meos, et mandata mea absconderis penes te:
My son, listen to what I say, and [consider my instructions to be as valuable as] [MET] a treasure.
2 ut audiat sapientiam auris tua, inclina cor tuum ad cognoscendam prudentiam.
Pay attention to wisdom and try hard to understand it.
3 Si enim sapientiam invocaveris, et inclinaveris cor tuum prudentiæ;
Call out [to God] to get insight; plead with him to help you to understand more [of what he wants you to know].
4 si quæsieris eam quasi pecuniam, et sicut thesauros effoderis illam:
Search [eagerly] for wisdom, like you would search for silver, like you would search for a treasure that someone has hidden.
5 tunc intelliges timorem Domini, et scientiam Dei invenies,
If you do that, you will understand how to revere Yahweh, and you will succeed in knowing God.
6 quia Dominus dat sapientiam, et ex ore ejus prudentia et scientia.
Yahweh is the one who gives us wisdom. He is the one who tells us things that we need to know and understand.
7 Custodiet rectorum salutem, et proteget gradientes simpliciter,
He gives good advice to those who conduct their lives as they should. He protects [MET] those who do what is right.
8 servans semitas justitiæ, et vias sanctorum custodiens.
He guards those who act justly/fairly [toward others], and he watches over those who are faithful/loyal [to him].
9 Tunc intelliges justitiam, et judicium, et æquitatem, et omnem semitam bonam.
[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,
10 Si intraverit sapientia cor tuum, et scientia animæ tuæ placuerit,
because you will be wise in your inner being; and knowing [what God wants you to know] will cause you to be joyful.
11 consilium custodiet te, et prudentia servabit te:
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.
12 ut eruaris a via mala, et ab homine qui perversa loquitur;
If you are wise [PRS], you will not do what evil people do, and you will not [believe what] deceitful people say.
13 qui relinquunt iter rectum, et ambulant per vias tenebrosas;
Deceitful people have stopped acting fairly/justly [toward others] and (walk on dark and evil paths/do what evil people do) [MET].
14 qui lætantur cum malefecerint, et exsultant in rebus pessimis;
They enjoy doing what is wrong; they like to do what is evil and to deceive [people].
15 quorum viæ perversæ sunt, et infames gressus eorum.
They (walk on crooked paths/always deceive others) and are always dishonest.
16 Ut eruaris a muliere aliena, et ab extranea quæ mollit sermones suos,
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.)
17 et relinquit ducem pubertatis suæ,
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].
18 et pacti Dei sui oblita est. Inclinata est enim ad mortem domus ejus, et ad inferos semitæ ipsius. (questioned)
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)
19 Omnes qui ingrediuntur ad eam non revertentur, nec apprehendent semitas vitæ.
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.
20 Ut ambules in via bona, et calles justorum custodias:
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],
21 qui enim recti sunt habitabunt in terra, et simplices permanebunt in ea;
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].
22 impii vero de terra perdentur, et qui inique agunt auferentur ex ea.
Wicked [people] will be expelled from this land, and [people] who are not trustworthy will be thrown {God will throw them} out of it.

< Proverbiorum 2 >