Olcueih 18
1 Hoehhamnah aka tlap loh hlang a paekboe sak tih, lungming cueihnah khaw boeih a thaih thil.
A man who isolates himself pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgement.
2 Lungcuei taengah hlang ang naep pawh, tedae amah kah lungbuei hliphen ham ni lat a om.
A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.
3 Halang ha pawk vaengah nueihbu neh, yah neh kokhahnah la pai bal.
When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace.
4 Hlang ka lamkah olka tah tui dung bangla, soklong ah aka phuet cueihnah thunsih la om.
The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
5 Halang kah a hmai khueh khaw then pawh, laitloeknah aka dueng te aka phaelh ham rhung ni.
To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
6 Hlang ang kah hmuilai tah tuituknah ham ha pawk uh tih, a bohnah te a ka loh a khue.
A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.
7 Hlang ang kah a ka tah amah kah porhaknah neh a hmuilai te a hinglu ham hlaeh la om.
A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 Thet ol he didii bangla om tih, a bung khui la tluektluek kun.
The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts.
9 A bibi dongah aka uelh khaw kutpo boei kah a manuca la om.
One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.
10 BOEIPA ming tah sarhi ham rhaltoengim ni, hlang dueng tah a taengla yong tih a hoep a tlang.
The LORD’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe.
11 Hlanglen kah a boeirhaeng tah amah ham sarhi aka tak khorha la om tih, a ngaihlih vaengah vongtung tluk a sang sak.
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
12 Hlang he lungbuei aka sang taengah pocinah a lamhma pah tih, kodonah taengah thangpomnah a lamhma pah.
Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honour is humility.
13 A hnatun hlan ah ol aka thuung tah anglat ni. Amah khaw te nen te mingthae a phueih.
He who answers before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.
14 Hlang he a tlohtat vaengah a mueihla loh a cangbam dae, mueihla a rhawp te u long a khoeng eh?
A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?
15 Aka yakming kah lungbuei loh mingnah a lai tih aka cueih kah a hna loh mingnah a tlap.
The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 Hlang kah kutdoe he amah ham long a khui sak pah tih, amah te tanglue kah mikhmuh ah a mawt.
A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
17 A hui te ha pawk la ha pawk hlan tih amah a khe hlan atah, amah kah tuituknah dongah lamhma la aka dueng khaw om.
He who pleads his cause first seems right— until another comes and questions him.
18 Hohmuhnah te hmolunh loh a paa sak tih, aka tlung rhoi khaw rhak a phih.
The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.
19 Boekoek boeina tah sarhi aka tak khorha lakah olpungkacan la om tih, hohmuhnah khaw impuei thohkalh bangla om.
A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city. Disputes are like the bars of a fortress.
20 Hlang tah a laithaih lamloh a bung hah tih, a hmuilai kah a vueithaih khaw kum.
A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
21 Lai kut dongah dueknah neh hingnah om tih, amah aka lungnah long ni a thaih te a caak eh.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 Yuu aka lo long tah hnothen a dang tih, BOEIPA taengkah kolonah a dang bal.
Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favour of the LORD.
23 Khodaeng loh huithuinah neh a voek dae, hlanglen loh a tlung neh a doo.
The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
24 Hlang he a hui rhoek loh thaehuet thil cakhaw, a manuca lakah a lungnah tih aka ben khaw om van.
A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
