Proverbs 18

1 He that separateth himself seeketh [his] pleasure, he is vehement against all sound wisdom.

Ko e meʻa ʻi he holi ki ai ʻae tangata, ʻoku ne vaheʻi ia ke ne kumi mo kau ʻi he poto kotoa pē.

2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but only that his heart may reveal itself.

‌ʻOku ʻikai fiefia ʻae vale ʻi he ʻilo, ka koeʻuhi ke fakahā ʻaki ia hono loto.

3 When the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.

‌ʻOka hoko mai ʻae angahala ʻoku haʻu mo ia ʻae manukia, pea mo e ongoongo kovi mo e valokia.

4 The words of a man's mouth are deep waters, [and] the fountain of wisdom is a gushing brook.

‌ʻOku hangē ko e ngaahi vai loloto ʻae ngaahi lea mei he ngutu ʻoe tangata, pea ʻoku tatau ʻae matavai ʻoe poto mo e pā ʻae vaitafe.

5 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to wrong the righteous in judgment.

‌ʻOku ʻikai lelei ia ke fili ki he tangata ʻoku angahala, kae fakahinga ai ʻae māʻoniʻoni ʻi he fakamaau.

6 A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for stripes.

‌ʻOku kau ʻae loungutu ʻoe vale ʻi he kē, pea ʻoku ui mai hono ngutu ke taaʻi ia.

7 A fool's mouth is destruction to him, and his lips are a snare to his soul.

Ko e ʻauhaʻanga ʻoe vale ʻa hono ngutu, pea ko e tauhele ki hono laumālie ʻa hono loungutu.

8 The words of a talebearer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

Ko e ngaahi lea ʻae tangata faʻa fafana ʻoku hangē ia ko e ngaahi makafokafo, pea ʻoku ʻasi mai ia ki he kakano ʻoe loto.

9 He also who is indolent in his work is brother of the destroyer.

Ko ia ʻoku fakapikopiko ʻi heʻene ngāue, ko e tokoua ia ʻoʻona ʻoku faʻa maumau meʻa.

10 The name of Jehovah is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

Ko e fale māʻolunga mo mālohi ʻae huafa ʻo Sihova: ʻoku hola ki ai ʻae māʻoniʻoni, ʻo ne moʻui ai.

11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as a high wall in his own imagination.

Ko e kolo mālohi ʻae tangata koloaʻia ko ʻene koloa, pea ʻoku tatau ia ʻi heʻene mahalo ʻaʻana mo e fuʻu ʻā māʻolunga.

12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty; and before honour [goeth] humility.

‌ʻOku muʻomuʻa ʻi he fakaʻauha ʻae fielahi ʻi he loto ʻae tangata, pea ʻoku muʻomuʻa ʻae angavaivai ʻi he hakeakiʻi.

13 He that giveth answer before he heareth, it is folly and shame unto him.

Ko ia ʻoku kau ke lea ʻi ha meʻa ʻi he teʻeki te ne fanongo ki ai, ko e vale mo e fakamā ia kiate ia;

14 The spirit of a man sustaineth his infirmity; but a broken spirit who can bear?

‌ʻE faʻa kātakiʻi ʻe he laumālie ʻoe tangata haʻane vaivai; ka ko hai ʻoku faʻa kātakiʻi ʻae laumālie kuo lavea?

15 The heart of an intelligent [man] getteth knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

‌ʻOku maʻu ʻe he loto ʻoe fakamākukanga ʻae poto: pea ʻoku kumi ki he ʻilo ʻe he telinga ʻoe poto.

16 A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.

‌ʻOku fakaʻataʻatā ʻae hala ʻoe tangata ʻoku faʻa foaki, pea ʻoku ʻomi ai ia ki he ʻao ʻoe houʻeiki.

17 He that is first in his own cause [seemeth] just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.

Ko ia ʻoku muʻomuʻa ʻi heʻene meʻa ʻaʻana ʻoku matamata totonu: ka ʻi he haʻu ʻa hono kaungāʻapi ʻoku ne ʻahiʻahiʻi ia.

18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.

‌ʻOku fakangatangata ʻi he fai ʻoe talotalo ʻae fakakikihi, ʻo ne vahevahe ki he kakai mālohi.

19 A brother offended is [harder to be won] than a strong city; and contentions are as the bars of a palace.

‌ʻOka koviʻia ʻae loto ʻoe tokoua ʻo ha taha, ʻoku faingataʻa lahi hake ia ʻi ha kolo ʻoku mālohi: pea ko ʻena fekeʻikeʻi ʻoku hangē ia ko e ngaahi songo ʻoe kolo.

20 A man's belly is satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; with the increase of his lips is he satisfied.

‌ʻE fakamākona ʻae kete ʻoe tangata ʻaki ʻae fua ʻo hono ngutu: pea ʻe fakafonu ia ʻaki ʻaia ʻoku tupu mei hono loungutu.

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

‌ʻOku ʻi he ʻelelo ʻae pule ki he mate mo e moʻui: pea ko kinautolu ʻoku ʻofa ki ai te nau kai ʻa hono fua.

22 Whoso hath found a wife hath found a good thing, and hath obtained favour from Jehovah.

Ko e tangata ʻoku ne maʻu hono uaifi ʻoku maʻu ʻe ia ʻae lelei, ʻoku ne maʻu ai ʻae lelei ʻi he ʻao ʻo Sihova.

23 He that is poor speaketh with supplications, but the rich answereth roughly.

‌ʻOku fakakolekole ʻe he masiva; ka ʻoku tali fakamālohi ʻe he koloaʻia.

24 A man of [many] friends will come to ruin but there is a friend [that] sticketh closer than a brother.

Ko e tangata ʻoku ai hono ngaahi kāinga ʻoku ngali ke ne fai fakakāinga ʻe ia; pea ʻoku ai ʻae tākanga ʻoku pikitai mālohi hake ʻi ha tokoua.