Cingthuilawk 18
1 Amadueng kaawm e ni ama ngainae dueng a tawng teh, lungangnae pueng hai a taran.
He who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound judgment.
2 Tamipathu ni thaipanueknae dawk konawmnae tawn laipalah a mae lungthin dueng a kamnue sak.
A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions.
3 Tamikathout a tho toteh dudamnae ao, yeiraiponae hoi yuenae hai hmawi ao van.
With a wicked man comes contempt as well, and shame is accompanied by disgrace.
4 Tami e pahni dawk hoi ka tâcawt e lawk teh kadung e tui patetlah ao teh, lungangnae tuikhu teh ka lawng e palang patetlah ao.
The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5 Tamikathout e minhmai khet lahoi tamikalan sung sak nahanlah lawkceng e heh hawihoeh.
Showing partiality to the wicked is not good, nor is depriving the innocent of justice.
6 Tamipathu e pahni dawk hoi kâyuenae lawk a tâco teh a lawk ni hemnae hah a tâcosak.
A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.
7 Tamipathu e pahni teh ama rawknae lah ao teh, a pahni teh ama hanelah karap lah ao.
A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 Tamcueklawk teh katuipounge rawca patetlah ao teh, von thung a thung totouh a kâen.
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
9 A thaw dawk ka pangak e teh karaphoekung e hmaunawngha lah ao.
Whoever is slothful in his work is brother to him who destroys.
10 BAWIPA e min teh kacake imrasang lah ao, tamikalan ni a kâen teh roumnae a hmu.
The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
11 Tami katawntanaw e tawntanae teh, amamouh pouknae dawkvah, kacake khopui, karasang e rapan lah a o.
A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city; it is like a high wall in his imagination.
12 Rawknae kâhmo hoehnahlan tami lungpouk a rasang teh, barinae ao hoehnahlan kârahnoumnae ouk ao.
Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
13 Thai hoehnahlan lawk pathung e teh pathunae hoi yeiraiponae doeh.
He who answers a matter before he hears it— this is folly and disgrace to him.
14 Tami e muitha ni a patawnae hah a khang thai, hatei muitha rek e teh apinimaw a khang thai han.
The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, but who can survive a broken spirit?
15 Kho ka pouk e lungthin ni panuenae hah a pang teh, tamilungkaang e hnâ ni panuenae hah a tawng.
The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks it out.
16 Poehno poe e ni lam a kâko sak teh, kacuenaw hmalah na phakhai.
A man’s gift opens doors for him, and brings him before great men.
17 Amahoima hmaloe ka kâdei e teh tamikalan lah pouk e lah ao eiteh, a imri ni akung ouk a khei.
The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.
18 Cungpam rayunae ni kâounnae a roum sak teh athakaawmnaw hah a roum sak.
Casting the lot ends quarrels and separates strong opponents.
19 Hmaunawngha lungkuep sak hoeh e teh khopui tâ e hlak aruhnawn, lawk kâounnae teh sum hoi kâtaren e patetlah ao.
An offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city, and disputes are like the bars of a castle.
20 A pahni dawk hoi ka tâcawt e a paw hoi a von a paha vaiteh, a pahni paw hoi a lung a kuep han.
From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.
21 Hringnae hoi duenae teh lai bahu dawk ao teh, lai ka lungpataw e ni laipaw a ca han.
Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 Yu kahmawt e ni hnokahawi a hmu teh, BAWIPA koehoi ngaikhainae ka pang e tami doeh.
He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.
23 Tamimathoe ni teh a kâhei, hatei ka tawnta e niteh lawk kahram lah ouk a dei.
The poor man pleads for mercy, but the rich man answers harshly.
24 Hui kapap ka tawn e teh hui kahawi lah ao van hanelah ao, hatei hmaunawngha hlak kahnai e huiko hai ao.
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
