Proverbs 4
1 Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
Yaa ilmaan ko, mee gorsa abbaan namaaf kennu dhagaʼaa; qalbeeffadhaatii hubannaa argadhaa.
2 For I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my directive.
Ani barumsa gaarii isinii nan kenna; kanaafuu barsiisa koo hin dhiisinaa.
3 When I was a son to my father, tender and the only child of my mother,
Yeroo ani mucaa xinnaa taʼee mana abbaa koo turetti, yeroo ani daaʼima dhiiga taʼee haadha kootiif ilma tokkicha turetti,
4 he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands and you will live.
inni akkana jedhee na barsiise; “Garaa kee guutuudhaan dubbii koo jabeessii qabadhu; seera koo eegi; ati ni jiraattaatii.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them.
Ogummaa argadhu; hubannaas argadhu; dubbii koo hin dagatin yookaan irraa hin jalʼatin.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you.
Ogummaa hin dhiisin; isheen si eegdii; ishee jaalladhu; isheenis si tiksitii.
7 Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.
Ogummaan waan hunda caalti; kanaafuu ogummaa argadhu. Yoo isheen waan ati qabdu hunda si baasifte illee hubannaa argadhu.
8 Prize her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.
Ogummaa kabaji; inni ol si guddisaatii; isa hammadhu; innis si kabajaatii.
9 She will set a garland of grace on your head; she will present you with a crown of beauty.”
Isheen kallacha bareedaa mataa kee irra siif keessi; gonfoo miidhagaa illee siif kenniti.”
10 Listen, my son, and receive my words, and the years of your life will be many.
Yaa ilma ko dhagaʼi; waan ani jedhu illee fudhadhu; barri jireenya keetiis ni baayʼataa.
11 I will guide you in the way of wisdom; I will lead you on straight paths.
Ani karaa ogummaa irra sin qajeelcha; daandii qajeelaa irras sin buusa.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; when you run, you will not stumble.
Yeroo ati deemtu, tarkaanfiin kee hin ittifamu; yoo fiigdu illee ati hin gufattu.
13 Hold on to instruction; do not let go. Guard it, for it is your life.
Qajeelfama jabeessii qabadhu; gad hin dhiisin; waan inni jireenya kee taʼeef jabeessii eeggadhu.
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.
Daandii hamootaa irra miilla kee hin dhaabin yookaan karaa jalʼootaa irra hin deemin.
15 Avoid it; do not travel on it. Turn from it and pass on by.
Irraa fagaadhu; irras hin deemin; irraa goriitii karaa kee irra qajeeli.
16 For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.
Isaan waan hamaa hojjetan malee rafuu hin dandaʼaniitii; isaan hamma nama gufachiisanitti hirriba hin argatan.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
Isaan buddeena hamminaa nyaatu; daadhii wayinii kan dabaan argame dhugu.
18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.
Karaan qajeeltotaa akkuma ifa barii barraaqaa kan hamma saafaatti ittuma fufee ifaa deemuu ti.
19 But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble.
Karaan hamootaa garuu akkuma dukkana guddaa ti; isaan waan isaan gufachiisu hin beekan.
20 My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
Yaa ilma ko, waan ani jedhu qalbeeffadhu; dubbii kootiifis gurra kenni.
21 Do not lose sight of them; keep them within your heart.
Akka inni fuula kee duraa dhabamu hin godhin; garaa kee keessa ol kaaʼadhu;
22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body.
inni warra isa argatuuf jireenya, dhagna namaa guutuufis fayyinaatii.
23 Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.
Waan hunda caalaa qalbii kee eeggadhu; burqaan jireenyaa achii baʼaatii.
24 Put away deception from your mouth; keep your lips from perverse speech.
Dubbii jalʼinaa afaan kee keessaa balleessi; haasaa hamaas arraba kee irraa fageessi.
25 Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.
Iji kee kallattiidhaan qajeelchee haa ilaalu; atis xiyyeeffadhuu fuula kee dura ilaali.
26 Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure.
Miilla keetiif daandii wal qixxeeffadhu; karaan kee hundinuu haa jabaatu.
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.
Gara mirgaatti yookaan gara bitaatti hin gorin; miilla kee hammina irraa eeggadhu.
