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 accept what I say and value my instructions,

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

if you pay attention to wisdom and really try to understand;

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

if you cry out for insight and call loudly for help in understanding;

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

if you look for it as if it were silver and search for it as if it were hidden treasure;

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

then you will understand how to relate to the Lord and discover the truth about 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.

The Lord is the source of wisdom; what he says provides knowledge that makes sense.

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

He gives good judgment to those who live right; he defends those who have good sense.

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

He supports those who act fairly and protects those who trust in him.

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 will be able to recognize what is right and just and fair, in fact all that is good in the way you should live.

10 because you will be wise in your inner being; and knowing [what God wants you to know] will cause you to be joyful.

For wisdom will fill your mind, and knowledge will make you happy.

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.

Good decisions will keep you on track; thinking logically will keep you safe.

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

Doing this will save you from the ways of evil, from men who tell twisted lies,

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

who turn away from following what is right to walk down paths of darkness.

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

They happily do wrong; they love how twisted evil is.

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

They live crooked lives doing deceitful things.

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.)

Doing this will also save you from a woman who acts immorally, from a woman who like a prostitute tries to seduce you with flattering words.

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].

Such a woman has left her husband she married when she was young, forgetting the promises she made before 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)

What happens in her house leads to death; following her way leads to the grave.

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.

No one who goes to her comes back; they don't ever find the way back to life again.

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 you should follow the way of the good, and make sure you stay on the paths of those who do right.

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 only people who live right will live in the land; only honest people will remain there.

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 will be thrown out of the land; those who are untrustworthy will be pulled out by the roots.