Olcueih 26
1 Khohal kah vuelsong neh cangah vaengkah khotlan baghui la, thangpomnah khaw hlang ang neh rhoeprhui tangloeng pawh.
Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not fitting for a fool.
2 Vaa a rhaehba bangla, pumpil a ding bangla, rhunkhuennah he lunglilungla la a thoeng moenih.
Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn’t come to rest.
3 Marhang ham rhuihet, laak ham kamrhui, aka ang rhoek kah a nam ham cungcik om.
A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools!
4 Hlang ang kah a anglat te doo boeh, namah khaw anih bangla na om ve.
Don’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.
5 Hlang ang te a anglat bangla a doo dae, a mikhmuh ah hlang cueih la om hae mahpawh.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
6 Hlang ang kut ah ol aka pat tah a kho a kuet tih kuthlahnah aka mam la om.
One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence.
7 Aka khaem kah a kho sut a bat banghui la, hlang ang rhoek ka kah thuidoeknah he khaw om.
Like the legs of the lame that hang loose, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 Hlang ang taengah thangpomnah paek he, payai dongah lungto mop banghui la om tangloeng.
As one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honour to a fool.
9 Hlang ang ka kah thuidoeknah he khaw yurhui kut dongah aka pha mutlo hling bangla om.
Like a thorn bush that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 Hlang ang aka paang boeih khaw aka cetpaitai a paang tih lithen a poeih banghui la om.
As an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool or he who hires those who pass by.
11 Ui loh a lok a paan banghui la hlang ang loh a anglat te a khoep.
As a dog that returns to his vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.
12 Hlang he amah mikhmuh ah tah aka cueih la na hmuh. Anih lakah hlang ang ham ngaiuepnah om ta.
Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 Kolhnaw loh, “Longpuei ah sathueng ca, toltung ah sathueng om,” a ti.
The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets!”
14 thohkhaih loh thohrhui dongah a tinghil bangla, kolhnaw khaw amah thingkong dongah suvaih.
As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed.
15 Kolhnaw loh bael dongah a kut a puei te, a ka dongla koep a khuen ham pataenga ngak.
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
16 Kolhnaw he amah mikhmuh ah tah, omih neh aka thuung hlang parhih lakah aka cueih la ngaiuh.
The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer with discretion.
17 Amah hut pawt ah tuituknah khuiah aka kun khaw, aka cetpaitai loh ui hna a doek banghui la om.
Like one who grabs a dog’s ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 Thaltang neh dueknah hmaipom aka dong loh hlang a khah bangla,
Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,
19 A hui aka phok hlang van loh, “Ka luem mailai moenih a?,” a ti.
is the man who deceives his neighbour and says, “Am I not joking?”
20 Thing a tlum atah hmai a thi bangla a thet pawt daengah ni olpungkacan a paa.
For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.
21 Hmai-alh dongah hmaisa-aek, hmai dongah thing a pup vanbangla, hohmuhnah neh olpungkacan aka saii hlang loh tuituknah a puek sak.
As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife.
22 Thet ol he didii tih bungko khui la suntla.
The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, they go down into the innermost parts.
23 Lungbuei thae neh a lai hmai la aka alh tah, paikaek dongkah cakhli a ben banghui ni.
Like silver dross on an earthen vessel are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.
24 A hmuilai dongkah a hmuhuet te a ka dongah loha coeng dae, a khui kah hlangthai palat te a thuh bal pueng.
A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbours evil in his heart.
25 A ol tah rhen koemboei la om dae, anih te tangnah boeh. A lungbuei ah tueilaehkoi parhih om.
When his speech is charming, don’t believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 hmuhuetnah te thailainah neh dah cakhaw, hlangping taengah a boethae ni a. yan eh.
His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Vaam aka vuet khaw amah loh a cungku thil vetih, lungto aka palet khaw amah soah koep mael ni.
Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
28 Laithae ol loh amah aka hnaep aka hnap te a hmuhuet tih, a ka aka hnal khaw a ponah ni a. saii.
A lying tongue hates those it hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin.
