Awicyih 4
1 Ka capakhqi aw, pa a cawngpyinaak ce ngai unawh, zaaksimthainaak na mi taaknaak ham ngai lah uh;
Listen, sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and discover what makes sense,
2 Nami venawh ak leek soeih cawngpyinaak ka ni pekkhqi; ka cawngpyinaak koeh mangtak uh.
for what I am passing on to you is reliable. Don't reject my teachings.
3 Ka pa capa na awm nyng, Ka nu a ca, capa a lungnak soeih na awm nyng.
When I was a son with my father—a tender young boy, my mother's only child—
4 Ni cawngpyi nawh, ka venawh, “Nak kawlung ing kak awikhqi ve kym poe sei taw; kak awipekkhqi ce haana nawh hqing pyi,” ti hy.
he was the one who taught me. He told me, “Pay attention to the words I say and keep them in mind; do what I tell you and you will live.
5 Cyihnaak thlai nawh, zaaksimnaak awm thlai. Koeh hilh nawh, kam kha awhkawng ak cawn law awiyynnaakkhqi ce seetnaak lam benna koeh mang taak.
Get wisdom, find out what makes sense. Don't forget my words or reject them.
6 Koeh hawi taak nawh, nik chungkhoep kaw; lung na nawh, ni khoemdoen kaw.
Don't give up on wisdom for she will keep you safe. Love wisdom and she will protect you.
7 Cyihnaak veni a kungpyi soeih hy; cemyihna awmsaw cyihnaak ce thlai; na khawhkhamkhqi boeih ingawm cyihnaak ce thlai.
The first thing in becoming wise is to get wisdom! Whatever else you gain, gain insight.
8 Zoeksang nawh, anih ing ni zoeksang lawt kaw; na ym na lam awhtaw kqihchah kawi thlangna ning coeng sak kaw.
Treasure wisdom, and she will praise you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 Na luu-awh mikhaileek lumyk ning byng sak kawm saw, dawnaak boei lumyk ni pe kaw.
She will place on your head a wreath of grace; she will present to you a crown of glory.”
10 Ka capa, kak awi ngai nawh kym lah; Cawhtaw na hqing kum pung khqoet khqoet kaw.
Listen, my son, if you accept what I tell you, then you will live a long life.
11 Cyihnaak lamawh ni cawngpyi nyng, dyngnaak lamawh ni sawi nyng.
I have explained to you the way of wisdom; I have guided you along the right paths.
12 Na ceh huiawh nak khawkan ing zaang nawh, nang dawngawh awm am tawngtawh kawp ti.
Nothing will block your way when you walk, you won't stumble when you run.
13 Cawngpyinaak awh ak cakna tu nawh, koeh hlah; ak cakna tu, na hqingnaak ham ni.
Hold on to these instructions—don't let them go. Protect them, for they are life's foundation.
14 Thlakchekhqi cehnaak awh koeh plaa nawh, thlakhalangkhqi a cehnaak awh koeh cet.
Don't go the way of the wicked or follow the example of those who do evil.
15 Qei nawh taw, a vena koeh cet; mangtaak nawh loen taak.
Avoid that way completely. Don't go there! Turn away, and walk on.
16 Kut a mamik thlak khui taw am ip thai kawm usaw, thlang ak khanawh seetnaak a mi sai hlan khui taw mik am kuu kaw.
Evil people won't rest until they've done something wrong; they can't sleep unless they've tripped someone up.
17 Seetnaak phaipi ce ai unawh, them amak leek sainaak misurtui ce aw uhy.
For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 Thlakdyngkhqi a cehnaak lam taw khawkbee ang lakawh bee khqoet hy.
The way of life of the good is like the light of the sunrise, glowing brighter and brighter until the full light of day shines out.
19 Thlakchekhqi a cehnaak lam taw khawmthan amyihna ikawh a ming tawh am sim uhy.
But the way of life of the wicked is like complete darkness; they don't even know what they're tripping over.
20 Ka capa, kak awi ngai nawh, kak awipek awh nang haa dun lah.
My son, pay attention to what I tell you; listen to the words I'm saying.
21 Namik huh awhkawng koeh thoeng; nak kawlung khuiawh khoem.
Don't lose sight of them; think about them deeply,
22 Ak hukhqi ham hqingnaak na awm nawh, a mi pumsa ham sadingnaak na awm hy.
for they are life to anyone who finds them, and make the whole body healthy.
23 Ak chang boeih ang lakawh nak kawlung ce doen, hqingnaak ak cawnnaak ni.
Most of all, protect your mind, for everything in life flows from it.
24 Nam khaawh awihche koeh cawn sak nawh, thlang koeh thailat na.
Don't ever lie, and don't say anything dishonest.
25 Na mik ing hailam dan nawh, ak leekna na hai lam toek.
Focus on what's ahead of you; look at what's in front of you.
26 Na khaw ham lamtlak ce chei nawh, na lampyi boeih ce cak sak.
Pay attention to the path you decide to follow, and you'll be safe wherever you go.
27 Nak tang ben mai aw, nak cawng ben mai awi koeh pleng; seetnaak awhkawng na khaw ce thoeih.
Don't deviate to the right or the left, and turn away from evil.
