9:6

In this verse, lines 6a and 6c are parallel. Line 6b gives the result or consequence of 6a.

6a
Leave your folly behind,

6b and you will live;

6c
walk in the way of understanding.

9:6a

Leave your folly behind: The verb Leave can also mean “forsake” or “abandon.” There are two ways to interpret the phrase your folly :

(1) It refers to a pattern of behavior and means immaturity. For example:

Lay aside immaturity (New Revised Standard Version)

(2) It refers to a class of people and means immature people. For example:

Abandon the company of simpletons (Revised English Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most English versions and the LXX. For the meaning of folly, see the note on “simple” in 1:4a. This word does not refer to a simple lifestyle, as the New International Version might imply, but rather to “immaturity” (New Revised Standard Version) or being naive. Other ways to translate this meaning are:

Stop being gullible (God’s Word)
-or-
Stop being easily deceived

In languages that cannot use expressions such as “stop being immature,” you may be able to say:

Forsake the behavior of those who are immature.

9:6b

and you will live: The consequence of forsaking immature behavior is that you will live. As in other verses in Proverbs, this implies a long and good life. In some languages, it may be more natural to change the clause order. For example:

If you want to have a long life, then stop being easily deceived.

9:6c

walk in the way of understanding: This command is a figure of speech. It describes a path that leads to understanding. For example:

Start traveling the road to understanding. (God’s Word)

Some ways to translate this command without using a figure of speech are:

Make steady progress in adding to your understanding/insight.
-or-
See to it that your insight is continually added to.

walk: This word means to “go forward,” “walk straight ahead,” or “go on.”

understanding:

General Comments on 9:6a–c

In some languages, it may be more natural to reorder the lines of this verse so that the two parallel commands go together. For example:

6a Abandon the path of immaturity 6c and start walking on the road that leads to understanding 6b so that you will have a good, long life.

See also 9:6a–c (combined/reordered) in the Display.

The versions differ as to where Wisdom’s invitation ends:

(1) It ends at the end of 9:6.

(2) It continues through 9:12.

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the subject matter of 9:7–12 does not sound like an invitation. In some languages, quotation marks will adequately mark the end of Wisdom’s invitation. In other languages, it may be necessary to add a sentence such as:

⌊This is what Wisdom said in her invitation.⌋

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