Proverbs 4
1 Listen, sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and discover what makes sense,
Ka canaw, na pa ni na cangkhainae hah thai awh nateh, thaipanueknae hah panue hanelah na hnâpakeng awh.
2 for what I am passing on to you is reliable. Don't reject my teachings.
Bangkongtetpawiteh, cangkhainae kahawi hah na poe dawkvah, kaie kâlawk hah cettakhai hanh.
3 When I was a son with my father—a tender young boy, my mother's only child—
Apa e capa lah ka o navah, anu e capa a pahren e tawntoe e capa lah ka o.
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.
Pâtu hai na pâtu teh, na lungthin hoi ka lawknaw hah pâkuem haw. Kaie kâpoelawknaw hah tarawi nateh hring haw.
5 Get wisdom, find out what makes sense. Don't forget my words or reject them.
Lungangnae hah tawn nateh, thaipanueknae hah tawn haw. Ka pahni dawk hoi ka tâcawt e lawknaw hah pahnim laipalah, kamlang takhai hanh.
6 Don't give up on wisdom for she will keep you safe. Love wisdom and she will protect you.
Cettakhai hanh, na ring nakaima. Lungpataw haw na ngue han kaima.
7 The first thing in becoming wise is to get wisdom! Whatever else you gain, gain insight.
Lungangnae teh a lawkpui poung doeh.
8 Treasure wisdom, and she will praise you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
Talue sak haw, na tawmrasang han. Tapam haw, barinae koe na ceikhai han.
9 She will place on your head a wreath of grace; she will present to you a crown of glory.”
Na lû dawk lungmanae na kâmuk sak han, bawilennae bawilakhung hah na kâmuk sak han.
10 Listen, my son, if you accept what I tell you, then you will live a long life.
Ka capa, ka dei e hah thai nateh, dâw haw. Na hringyung a saw sak han.
11 I have explained to you the way of wisdom; I have guided you along the right paths.
Lungangnae lamthung na cangkhai teh, lamkalan dawk na hrawi.
12 Nothing will block your way when you walk, you won't stumble when you run.
Na cei navah, na khok hanelah kamthuinae awm mahoeh, na yawng navah na tâlaw mahoeh.
13 Hold on to these instructions—don't let them go. Protect them, for they are life's foundation.
Na cangkhainae hah kacaklah kuen nateh, tha laipalah pou kuen haw. Bangkongtetpawiteh, na hringnae doeh.
14 Don't go the way of the wicked or follow the example of those who do evil.
Tamikathoutnaw e lamthung dawk kâen awh hanh. Tami kahawihoehnaw e lamthung dawn hanh.
15 Avoid that way completely. Don't go there! Turn away, and walk on.
Roun nateh, khoeroe dawn hanh, kamlang takhai nateh, cettakhaih.
16 Evil people won't rest until they've done something wrong; they can't sleep unless they've tripped someone up.
Bangkongtetpawiteh, hno kathout sak hoeh pawiteh, ip thai awh hoeh niteh, tami buetbuet touh tâlaw sak hoehpawiteh, ihmu tho awh hoeh.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
Bangkongtetpawiteh, thoenae vaiyei hah a ca awh teh, rektapnae yamu hah a nei awh.
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.
Hatei, tamikalannaw e lamthung teh, kanî raeng, kanî tuengtalueng a thunnae kanî ang patetlah ao.
19 But the way of life of the wicked is like complete darkness; they don't even know what they're tripping over.
Tamikathoutnaw e lamthung teh khohmo patetlah ao teh, tâlawnae akungcing hai panuek awh hoeh.
20 My son, pay attention to what I tell you; listen to the words I'm saying.
Ka capa, ka lawk kahawicalah thai haw, ka dei e hah atangcalah pouk.
21 Don't lose sight of them; think about them deeply,
Na mit hoi kâhlat sak hanh, na lungthin dawk pâkuemh.
22 for they are life to anyone who finds them, and make the whole body healthy.
Bangkongtetpawiteh, kahmawtnaw hanelah hringnae lah ao teh, a takthai abuemlah hanelah damnae lah ao.
23 Most of all, protect your mind, for everything in life flows from it.
Hno pueng hlak hoi na lungthin hah kahawicalah ring haw. Bangkongtetpawiteh, hringnae akungtuen lah ao.
24 Don't ever lie, and don't say anything dishonest.
Dumyennae pahni hah pahnawt nateh, payonnae pahni hah ahlanae koe takhoe haw.
25 Focus on what's ahead of you; look at what's in front of you.
Na mit hoi hmalah kalan lah khen nateh, na hmalah kalan lah radoung haw.
26 Pay attention to the path you decide to follow, and you'll be safe wherever you go.
Na lamthung hah hmaloe rip nateh, na lamthung pueng hah cak sak.
27 Don't deviate to the right or the left, and turn away from evil.
Aranglah nakunghai, avoilah nakunghai phen hanh. Thoenae lamthung hah roun haw.
