Proverbs 4
1 Listen, sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and discover what makes sense,
Ka capakhqi aw, pa a cawngpyinaak ce ngai unawh, zaaksimthainaak na mi taaknaak ham ngai lah uh;
2 for what I am passing on to you is reliable. Don't reject my teachings.
Nami venawh ak leek soeih cawngpyinaak ka ni pekkhqi; ka cawngpyinaak koeh mangtak uh.
3 When I was a son with my father—a tender young boy, my mother's only child—
Ka pa capa na awm nyng, Ka nu a ca, capa a lungnak soeih na awm nyng.
4 he was the one who taught me. He told me, “Pay attention to the words I say and keep them in mind; do what I tell you and you will live.
Ni cawngpyi nawh, ka venawh, “Nak kawlung ing kak awikhqi ve kym poe sei taw; kak awipekkhqi ce haana nawh hqing pyi,” ti hy.
5 Get wisdom, find out what makes sense. Don't forget my words or reject them.
Cyihnaak thlai nawh, zaaksimnaak awm thlai. Koeh hilh nawh, kam kha awhkawng ak cawn law awiyynnaakkhqi ce seetnaak lam benna koeh mang taak.
6 Don't give up on wisdom for she will keep you safe. Love wisdom and she will protect you.
Koeh hawi taak nawh, nik chungkhoep kaw; lung na nawh, ni khoemdoen kaw.
7 The first thing in becoming wise is to get wisdom! Whatever else you gain, gain insight.
Cyihnaak veni a kungpyi soeih hy; cemyihna awmsaw cyihnaak ce thlai; na khawhkhamkhqi boeih ingawm cyihnaak ce thlai.
8 Treasure wisdom, and she will praise you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
Zoeksang nawh, anih ing ni zoeksang lawt kaw; na ym na lam awhtaw kqihchah kawi thlangna ning coeng sak kaw.
9 She will place on your head a wreath of grace; she will present to you a crown of glory.”
Na luu-awh mikhaileek lumyk ning byng sak kawm saw, dawnaak boei lumyk ni pe kaw.
10 Listen, my son, if you accept what I tell you, then you will live a long life.
Ka capa, kak awi ngai nawh kym lah; Cawhtaw na hqing kum pung khqoet khqoet kaw.
11 I have explained to you the way of wisdom; I have guided you along the right paths.
Cyihnaak lamawh ni cawngpyi nyng, dyngnaak lamawh ni sawi nyng.
12 Nothing will block your way when you walk, you won't stumble when you run.
Na ceh huiawh nak khawkan ing zaang nawh, nang dawngawh awm am tawngtawh kawp ti.
13 Hold on to these instructions—don't let them go. Protect them, for they are life's foundation.
Cawngpyinaak awh ak cakna tu nawh, koeh hlah; ak cakna tu, na hqingnaak ham ni.
14 Don't go the way of the wicked or follow the example of those who do evil.
Thlakchekhqi cehnaak awh koeh plaa nawh, thlakhalangkhqi a cehnaak awh koeh cet.
15 Avoid that way completely. Don't go there! Turn away, and walk on.
Qei nawh taw, a vena koeh cet; mangtaak nawh loen taak.
16 Evil people won't rest until they've done something wrong; they can't sleep unless they've tripped someone up.
Kut a mamik thlak khui taw am ip thai kawm usaw, thlang ak khanawh seetnaak a mi sai hlan khui taw mik am kuu kaw.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
Seetnaak phaipi ce ai unawh, them amak leek sainaak misurtui ce aw uhy.
18 The way of life of the good is like the light of the sunrise, glowing brighter and brighter until the full light of day shines out.
Thlakdyngkhqi a cehnaak lam taw khawkbee ang lakawh bee khqoet hy.
19 But the way of life of the wicked is like complete darkness; they don't even know what they're tripping over.
Thlakchekhqi a cehnaak lam taw khawmthan amyihna ikawh a ming tawh am sim uhy.
20 My son, pay attention to what I tell you; listen to the words I'm saying.
Ka capa, kak awi ngai nawh, kak awipek awh nang haa dun lah.
21 Don't lose sight of them; think about them deeply,
Namik huh awhkawng koeh thoeng; nak kawlung khuiawh khoem.
22 for they are life to anyone who finds them, and make the whole body healthy.
Ak hukhqi ham hqingnaak na awm nawh, a mi pumsa ham sadingnaak na awm hy.
23 Most of all, protect your mind, for everything in life flows from it.
Ak chang boeih ang lakawh nak kawlung ce doen, hqingnaak ak cawnnaak ni.
24 Don't ever lie, and don't say anything dishonest.
Nam khaawh awihche koeh cawn sak nawh, thlang koeh thailat na.
25 Focus on what's ahead of you; look at what's in front of you.
Na mik ing hailam dan nawh, ak leekna na hai lam toek.
26 Pay attention to the path you decide to follow, and you'll be safe wherever you go.
Na khaw ham lamtlak ce chei nawh, na lampyi boeih ce cak sak.
27 Don't deviate to the right or the left, and turn away from evil.
Nak tang ben mai aw, nak cawng ben mai awi koeh pleng; seetnaak awhkawng na khaw ce thoeih.
