That people may understand a proverb and a figure of speech or an enigma with its interpretation, and the words of the wise and their dark sayings or riddles.

If they say, Come with us; let us lie in wait [to shed] blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause [and show that his piety is in vain];

Let us swallow them up alive as does Sheol (the place of the dead), and whole, as those who go down into the pit [of the dead];

We shall find and take all kinds of precious goods [when our victims are put out of the way], we shall fill our houses with plunder;

Throw in your lot with us [they insist] and be a sworn brother and comrade; let us all have one purse in common—

My son, do not walk in the way with them; restrain your foot from their path;

Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way and be satiated with their own devices.

But whoso hearkens to me [Wisdom] shall dwell securely and in confident trust and shall be quiet, without fear or dread of evil.

My son, if you will receive my words and treasure up my commandments within you,

He hides away sound and godly Wisdom and stores it for the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with Him); He is a shield to those who walk uprightly and in integrity,

[Discretion shall watch over you, understanding shall keep you] to deliver you from the alien woman, from the outsider with her flattering words,

So may you walk in the way of good men, and keep to the paths of the [consistently] righteous (the upright, in right standing with God).

My son, forget not my law or teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;

Let not mercy and kindness [shutting out all hatred and selfishness] and truth [shutting out all deliberate hypocrisy or falsehood] forsake you; bind them about your neck, write them upon the tablet of your heart.

Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.

Honor the Lord with your capital and sufficiency [from righteous labors] and with the firstfruits of all your income;

So shall your storage places be filled with plenty, and your vats shall be overflowing with new wine.

My son, let them not escape from your sight, but keep sound and godly Wisdom and discretion,

Withhold not good from those to whom it is due [its rightful owners], when it is in the power of your hand to do it.

Do not say to your neighbor, Go, and come again; and tomorrow I will give it—when you have it with you.

Contend not with a man for no reason—when he has done you no wrong.

For the perverse are an abomination [extremely disgusting and detestable] to the Lord; but His confidential communion and secret counsel are with the [uncompromisingly] righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with Him).

The curse of the Lord is in and on the house of the wicked, but He declares blessed (joyful and favored with blessings) the home of the just and consistently righteous.

When I [Solomon] was a son with my father [David], tender and the only son in the sight of my mother [Bathsheba],

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