To understand a proverb and a figure [of speech] or an enigma with its interpretation,
And the words of the wise and their riddles [that require reflection].

My son, hear the instruction of your father,
And do not reject the teaching of your mother.

For they are a garland of grace on your head,
And chains and ornaments [of gold] around your neck.

We will find and take all kinds of precious possessions,
We will fill our houses with spoil;

Throw in your lot with us [they insist];
We will all have one money bag [in common],”

My son, do not walk on the road with them;
Keep your foot [far] away from their path,

But [when these people set a trap for others] they lie in wait for their own blood;
They set an ambush for their own lives [and rush to their destruction].

So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain;
Greed takes away the lives of its possessors.

I also will laugh at your disaster;
I will mock when your dread and panic come,

When your dread and panic come like a storm,
And your disaster comes like a whirlwind,
When anxiety and distress come upon you [as retribution].

“But whoever listens to me (Wisdom) will live securely and in confident trust
And will be at ease, without fear or dread of evil.”

So that your ear is attentive to [skillful and godly] wisdom,
And apply your heart to understanding [seeking it conscientiously and striving for it eagerly];

Yes, if you cry out for insight,
And lift up your voice for understanding;

Then you will understand the [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome]
And discover the knowledge of God.

He stores away sound wisdom for the righteous [those who are in right standing with Him];
He is a shield to those who walk in integrity [those of honorable character and moral courage],

Then you will understand righteousness and justice [in every circumstance]
And integrity and every good path.

For [skillful and godly] wisdom will enter your heart
And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

To keep you from the way of evil and the evil man,
From the man who speaks perverse things;

Whose paths are crooked,
And who are devious in their ways;

None who go to her return again,
Nor do they regain the paths of life—

My son, do not forget my teaching,
But let your heart keep my commandments;

Do not let mercy and kindness and truth leave you [instead let these qualities define you];
Bind them [securely] around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart.

So find favor and high esteem
In the sight of God and man.

Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart
And do not rely on your own insight or understanding.

In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him,
And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].

Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord [with reverent awe and obedience] and turn [entirely] away from evil.

It will be health to your body [your marrow, your nerves, your sinews, your muscles—all your inner parts]
And refreshment (physical well-being) to your bones.

Honor the Lord with your wealth
And with the first fruits of all your crops (income);

Then your barns will be abundantly filled
And your vats will overflow with new wine.

My son, do not reject or take lightly the discipline of the Lord [learn from your mistakes and the testing that comes from His correction through discipline];
Nor despise His rebuke,

Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are riches and honor.

Her ways are highways of pleasantness and favor,
And all her paths are peace.

By His knowledge the deeps were broken up
And the clouds drip with dew.

My son, let them not escape from your sight,
But keep sound wisdom and discretion,

And they will be life to your soul (your inner self)
And a gracious adornment to your neck (your outer self).

Then you will walk on your way [of life] securely
And your foot will not stumble.

When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

Do not be afraid of sudden fear
Nor of the storm of the wicked when it comes [since you will be blameless];

For the Lord will be your confidence, firm and strong,
And will keep your foot from being caught [in a trap].

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due [its rightful recipients],
When it is in your power to do it.

Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it,”
When you have it with you.

Do not devise evil against your neighbor,
Who lives securely beside you.

For the devious are repulsive to the Lord;
But His private counsel is with the upright [those with spiritual integrity and moral courage].

He taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart hold fast my words;
Keep my commandments and live.

“She will place on your head a garland of grace;
She will present you with a crown of beauty and glory.”

Hear, my son, and accept my sayings,
And the years of your life will be many.

When you walk, your steps will not be impeded [for your path will be clear and open];
And when you run, you will not stumble.

Take hold of instruction; [actively seek it, grip it firmly and] do not let go.
Guard her, for she is your life.

For the wicked cannot sleep unless they do evil;
And they are deprived of sleep unless they make someone stumble and fall.

Do not let them escape from your sight;
Keep them in the center of your heart.

For they are life to those who find them,
And healing and health to all their flesh.

Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life.

Let your eyes look directly ahead [toward the path of moral courage]
And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you [toward the path of integrity].

Consider well and watch carefully the path of your feet,
And all your ways will be steadfast and sure.

Do not turn away to the right nor to the left [where evil may lurk];
Turn your foot from [the path of] evil.

My son, be attentive to my wisdom [godly wisdom learned by costly experience],
Incline your ear to my understanding;

That you may exercise discrimination and discretion (good judgment),
And your lips may reserve knowledge and answer wisely [to temptation].

Let your way [in life] be far from her,
And do not go near the door of her house [avoid even being near the places of temptation],

Or you will give your honor to others,
And your years to the cruel one,

And strangers will be filled with your strength
And your hard-earned wealth will go to the house of a foreigner [who does not know God];

And you will groan when your life is ending,
When your flesh and your body are consumed;

Drink water from your own cistern [of a pure marriage relationship]
And fresh running water from your own well.

Should your springs (children) be dispersed,
As streams of water in the streets?

[Confine yourself to your own wife.] Let your children be yours alone,
And not the children of strangers with you.

Let your fountain (wife) be blessed [with the rewards of fidelity],
And rejoice in the wife of your youth.

For the ways of man are directly before the eyes of the Lord,
And He carefully watches all of his paths [all of his comings and goings].

My son, if you have become surety (guaranteed a debt or obligation) for your neighbor,
If you have given your pledge for [the debt of] a stranger or another [outside your family],

If you have been snared with the words of your lips,
If you have been trapped by the speech of your mouth,

Do this now, my son, and release yourself [from the obligation];
Since you have come into the hand of your neighbor,
Go humble yourself, and plead with your neighbor [to pay his debt and release you].

Give no [unnecessary] sleep to your eyes,
Nor slumber to your eyelids;

Tear yourself away like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter
And like a bird from the hand of the fowler.

Which, having no chief,
Overseer or ruler,

How long will you lie down, O lazy one?
When will you arise from your sleep [and learn self-discipline]?

So your poverty will come like an approaching prowler who walks [slowly, but surely]
And your need [will come] like an armed man [making you helpless].

Who winks with his eyes [in mockery], who shuffles his feet [to signal],
Who points with his fingers [to give subversive instruction];

These six things the Lord hates;
Indeed, seven are repulsive to Him:

A heart that creates wicked plans,
Feet that run swiftly to evil,

My son, be guided by your father’s [God-given] commandment (instruction)
And do not reject the teaching of your mother;

Bind them continually upon your heart (in your thoughts),
And tie them around your neck.

When you walk about, they (the godly teachings of your parents) will guide you;
When you sleep, they will keep watch over you;
And when you awake, they will talk to you.

For the commandment is a lamp, and the teaching [of the law] is light,
And reproofs (rebukes) for discipline are the way of life,

Do not desire (lust after) her beauty in your heart,
Nor let her capture you with her eyelashes.

So is the one who goes in to his neighbor’s wife;
Whoever touches her will not be found innocent or go unpunished.

Keep my commandments and live,
And keep my teaching and law as the apple of your eye.

Bind them [securely] on your fingers;
Write them on the tablet of your heart.

Say to [skillful and godly] wisdom, “You are my sister,”
And regard understanding and intelligent insight as your intimate friends;

“I have peace offerings with me;
Today I have paid my vows.

“So I came out to meet you [that you might share with me the feast of my offering],
Diligently I sought your face and I have found you.

“Come, let us drink our fill of love until morning;
Let us console and delight ourselves with love.

Suddenly he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter [not knowing the outcome],
Or as one in stocks going to the correction [to be given] to a fool,

Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways,
Do not stray into her [evil, immoral] paths.

For she has cast down many [mortally] wounded;
Indeed, all who were killed by her were strong.

On the top of the heights beside the way,
Where the paths meet, wisdom takes her stand;

“All the words of my mouth are in righteousness (upright, in right standing with God);
There is nothing contrary to truth or perverted (crooked) in them.

“They are all straightforward to him who understands [with an open and willing mind],
And right to those who find knowledge and live by it.

“For wisdom is better than rubies;
And all desirable things cannot compare with her.

“Riches and honor are with me,
Enduring wealth and righteousness (right standing with God).

“I, [Wisdom, continuously] walk in the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice,

“When there were no ocean depths I was born,
When there were no fountains and springs overflowing with water.

“Before the mountains were settled,
Before the hills, I was born;