Cingthuilawk 23
1 Khobawinaw hoi rawca rei na ca toteh, na hmalah apimaw ka tahung tie kahawicalah pouk.
When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you;
2 Na kâso e lah na awm pawiteh, tahloi hoi na lawkron hah nue haw.
put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite.
3 Atuinae dueng pouk hanh, bangkongtetpawiteh dumyennae rawca doeh.
Don’t be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food.
4 Tawnta hanelah kâcai hanh, na panuenae kâuep hanh.
Don’t weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.
5 Ka coung thai hoeh e hah na ngaihawi kawi namaw. Tawntanae ni amahmawk rathei a sak teh mataw patetlah kahlun lah koung a kamleng.
Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
6 Utsinnaw e rawca cat pouh hanh, ahnie rawcanaw hai nôe pouh hanh.
Don’t eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, and don’t crave his delicacies,
7 Bangkongtetpawiteh, a lung hoi a pouk e patetlah doeh ao, cat nateh net ati nakunghai a lungthin teh nang koe awm mahoeh.
for as he thinks about the cost, so he is. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
8 Na ca e hai na palo vaiteh, na oupnae hai a hrawnghrang lah ao han.
You will vomit up the morsel which you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.
9 Tamipathu thainae koe lawk dei hanh, bangkongtetpawiteh na lungangnae lawk hah banglahai noutna mahoeh.
Don’t speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
10 Ayan e khori hai takhoe hanh, naranaw e ram hai lawm hanh.
Don’t move the ancient boundary stone. Don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11 Bangkongtetpawiteh, ahnimouh ratangkung teh a tha ao, ahnimouh koelah kampang lahoi na taran payon vaih.
for their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you.
12 Cangkhainae koelah na lungthin poe nateh, panuenae lawk thainae koe na hnâpakeng haw.
Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge.
13 Camo hah yue laipalah awm hanh, hem yawkaw dout mahoeh.
Don’t withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
Punish him with the rod, and save his soul from Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
15 Ka capa na lungang pawiteh, ka lung ahawi katang han.
My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, even mine.
16 Bokheiyah, na pahni ni lawk kalan dei pawiteh, ka lung ahawi katang han.
Yes, my heart will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
17 Na lungthin ni tamikayon nôe hanh naseh, hatei kanîruirui BAWIPA takinae tawn haw.
Don’t let your heart envy sinners, but rather fear the LORD all day long.
18 Bangkongtetpawiteh, apoutnae teh ka phat han, na ngaihawi e teh ahrawnghrang lah awm mahoeh.
Indeed surely there is a future hope, and your hope will not be cut off.
19 Ka capa thai nateh lungang haw, na lungthin teh lamkalan dawk tat haw.
Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path!
20 Misurtui kâsonaw hah kamyawngkhai hanh, moi kâsonaw hai kamyawngkhai hanh.
Don’t be amongst ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat;
21 Bangkongtetpawiteh, yamuhri hoi moi kâso e teh a mathoe han, iparuinae ni tami napon a kâkhusak.
for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
22 Kakhekung na pa e lawk hah ngâi nateh, na matawng toteh na manu dudam hanh.
Listen to your father who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
23 Lawkkatang hah ran nateh yawt hanh, lungangnae hai, cangkhainae hai, thaipanueknae hai a sak.
Buy the truth, and don’t sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
24 Tamikalan ni a na pa puenghoi a lunghawisak, capa lungkaang ka khe e hai a lunghawi katang han.
The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
25 Na manu hoi na pa teh lunghawi hoi awm awh naseh, kakhekung hai lunghawi naseh.
Let your father and your mother be glad! Let her who bore you rejoice!
26 Ka capa na lungthin na poe haw, na mit ni ka onae nuen khen naseh.
My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways.
27 Kâyawt e teh kadung poung e tangkom doeh, kahlong lae napui hai kabueng e tuikhu doeh.
For a prostitute is a deep pit; and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
28 A man thai e naw hah ouk a pawp, tongpa naw koe yuemkamcuhoehnae ouk a pungsak
Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful amongst men.
29 Apimaw a lung ka mathout, apimaw kângaikâthung, apimaw ayâ hoi kâyue, apimaw ka phuenang, apimaw a khuekhaw awm laipalah hmâ ka cat, apimaw a mit ka paling tetpawiteh,
Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Yamu koe pou kaawm niteh, yamu aphunphun ouk kalawt e taminaw doeh.
Those who stay long at the wine; those who go to seek out mixed wine.
31 Ka paling e yamu hah khen hanh, manang dawk kamlaw niteh, kamcu e yamu hah khen lah boehai khen hanh.
Don’t look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.
32 Apoutnae koe tahrun patetlah na khuek vaiteh, hrunthok patetlah na khue han.
In the end, it bites like a snake, and poisons like a viper.
33 Na mit ni napuinaw kathoute hmawt vaiteh, na lungthin ni lawk longkawi a dei han.
Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will imagine confusing things.
34 Bokheiyah, talî dawk ka ip e patetlah na awm vaiteh, long dawk yap e hni van ka ip e patetlah doeh na awm ti.
Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the middle of the sea, or as he who lies on top of the rigging:
35 Na hem awh teh pataw hoeh, na tam awh ei ka panuek hoeh, nâtuek vaimoe ka kâhlaw vaiteh bout ka parui han vai na ti han doeh.
“They hit me, and I was not hurt! They beat me, and I don’t feel it! When will I wake up? I can do it again. I will look for more.”
