Proverbs 18
1 He who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound judgment.
Minawk hoi angkom ai kami loe, angmah koehhaih to pazui moe, minawk lok takroekhaih aek thaih kami ah oh.
2 A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions.
Kamthu loe palunghahaih nuiah anghoehaih tawn ai moe, angmah poekhaih nui khue ah ni anghoe.
3 With a wicked man comes contempt as well, and shame is accompanied by disgrace.
Kahoih ai kami angzoh naah, hnaphnaehaih to oh; ahmin sethaih oh naah, azathaih doeh oh.
4 The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
Kami pakha thung hoi tacawt lok loe tuili baktiah thuk, toe palunghahaih loe tuibap baktiah puek.
5 Showing partiality to the wicked is not good, nor is depriving the innocent of justice.
Lokcaek naah kahoih kami to sungsak hanah, kami kasae to angdoet haih han om ai.
6 A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.
Kamthu ih pahni mah angzoehhaih to tacawtsak, anih ih pakha hoiah angbohhaih to ohsak.
7 A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
Kamthu ih pakha loe angmah amrohaih ah oh moe, anih ih pahni loe a hinghaih pakhra amanhaih dongh baktiah oh.
8 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
Minawk kasaethuihaih lok loe ahmaa kana baktiah, kami ih zok thung khoek to akun tathuk.
9 Whoever is slothful in his work is brother to him who destroys.
Thasae kami loe hmuenmae tahmat thaih kami ih nawkamya ah oh.
10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
Angraeng ih ahmin loe kacak abuephaih sipae ah oh; katoeng kami loe to imthung ah cawnh moe, to ah monghaih to hnuk.
11 A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city; it is like a high wall in his imagination.
Hmuenmae hoi angraeng kami loe angmah ih angraenghaih to vangpui kacak baktih, kasang parai sipae baktiah poek.
12 Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
Amoekhaih mah amrohaih to phaksak; toe kami tlim ah khosakhaih loe pakoehhaih loklam tuhkung ah oh.
13 He who answers a matter before he hears it— this is folly and disgrace to him.
Lok tahngai hmaloe ai ah pathim ih lok loe, amthuhaih hoi azathaih ah oh.
14 The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, but who can survive a broken spirit?
Kami ih palung mah ngannathaih to khaang thaih; toe palungsethaih loe kawbangmaw khaang thai tih?
15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks it out.
Khopoek thaih kami ih palung loe palunghahaih to tawnh; palungha kami ih naa mah loe palunghahaih to pakrong.
16 A man’s gift opens doors for him, and brings him before great men.
Kami mah sin ih tangqum mah, kalen kaminawk hmaa ah caeh haih loklam to paawh pae.
17 The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.
Angmah kawng thui hmaloe kami loe katoeng kami baktiah amtueng; toe a imtaeng kami to angzoh moe, anih ih akawng to thuih naah ni, katoeng hoi katoeng ai to amtueng.
18 Casting the lot ends quarrels and separates strong opponents.
Tahamsae kahoih khethaih phoisa vahhaih mah lok angaekhaih to dipsak moe, lokaek thaih thacak kaminawk doeh pathlaeng thaih.
19 An offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city, and disputes are like the bars of a castle.
Lok angaek thaih nawkamya loe pazawk hanah kacak vangpui tuk pongah doeh rai kue; nihnik lok angaekhaih loe misatoep kami ohhaih sipae hoiah anghmong.
20 From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.
Kami loe angmah ih pakha hoi tacawt thingthai to caa ueloe, zok amhah tih; a pahni hoi tacawt hmuen hoiah zok amhah tih.
21 Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Palai loe duekhaih hoi hinghaih tha to tawnh; palai palung kaminawk loe palai ih athaih to caa o tih.
22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.
Zu la kami loe kahoih hmuen to a hnuk moe, Angraeng koehhaih to a tongh.
23 The poor man pleads for mercy, but the rich man answers harshly.
Amtang kami loe tahmenhaih hnik thaih; toe angraeng loe lok kaham hoiah minawk ih lok to pathim.
24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
Ampui kapop ah tawn kami loe angmah amrohaih ah oh; toe nawkamya pongah palung cak kue ampui doeh oh.
