Proverbs 4
1 Listen, sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and discover what makes sense,
Yaa ilmaan ko, mee gorsa abbaan namaaf kennu dhagaʼaa; qalbeeffadhaatii hubannaa argadhaa.
2 for what I am passing on to you is reliable. Don't reject my teachings.
Ani barumsa gaarii isinii nan kenna; kanaafuu barsiisa koo hin dhiisinaa.
3 When I was a son with my father—a tender young boy, my mother's only child—
Yeroo ani mucaa xinnaa taʼee mana abbaa koo turetti, yeroo ani daaʼima dhiiga taʼee haadha kootiif ilma tokkicha turetti,
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.
inni akkana jedhee na barsiise; “Garaa kee guutuudhaan dubbii koo jabeessii qabadhu; seera koo eegi; ati ni jiraattaatii.
5 Get wisdom, find out what makes sense. Don't forget my words or reject them.
Ogummaa argadhu; hubannaas argadhu; dubbii koo hin dagatin yookaan irraa hin jalʼatin.
6 Don't give up on wisdom for she will keep you safe. Love wisdom and she will protect you.
Ogummaa hin dhiisin; isheen si eegdii; ishee jaalladhu; isheenis si tiksitii.
7 The first thing in becoming wise is to get wisdom! Whatever else you gain, gain insight.
Ogummaan waan hunda caalti; kanaafuu ogummaa argadhu. Yoo isheen waan ati qabdu hunda si baasifte illee hubannaa argadhu.
8 Treasure wisdom, and she will praise you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
Ogummaa kabaji; inni ol si guddisaatii; isa hammadhu; innis si kabajaatii.
9 She will place on your head a wreath of grace; she will present to you a crown of glory.”
Isheen kallacha bareedaa mataa kee irra siif keessi; gonfoo miidhagaa illee siif kenniti.”
10 Listen, my son, if you accept what I tell you, then you will live a long life.
Yaa ilma ko dhagaʼi; waan ani jedhu illee fudhadhu; barri jireenya keetiis ni baayʼataa.
11 I have explained to you the way of wisdom; I have guided you along the right paths.
Ani karaa ogummaa irra sin qajeelcha; daandii qajeelaa irras sin buusa.
12 Nothing will block your way when you walk, you won't stumble when you run.
Yeroo ati deemtu, tarkaanfiin kee hin ittifamu; yoo fiigdu illee ati hin gufattu.
13 Hold on to these instructions—don't let them go. Protect them, for they are life's foundation.
Qajeelfama jabeessii qabadhu; gad hin dhiisin; waan inni jireenya kee taʼeef jabeessii eeggadhu.
14 Don't go the way of the wicked or follow the example of those who do evil.
Daandii hamootaa irra miilla kee hin dhaabin yookaan karaa jalʼootaa irra hin deemin.
15 Avoid that way completely. Don't go there! Turn away, and walk on.
Irraa fagaadhu; irras hin deemin; irraa goriitii karaa kee irra qajeeli.
16 Evil people won't rest until they've done something wrong; they can't sleep unless they've tripped someone up.
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 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.
Karaan qajeeltotaa akkuma ifa barii barraaqaa kan hamma saafaatti ittuma fufee ifaa deemuu ti.
19 But the way of life of the wicked is like complete darkness; they don't even know what they're tripping over.
Karaan hamootaa garuu akkuma dukkana guddaa ti; isaan waan isaan gufachiisu hin beekan.
20 My son, pay attention to what I tell you; listen to the words I'm saying.
Yaa ilma ko, waan ani jedhu qalbeeffadhu; dubbii kootiifis gurra kenni.
21 Don't lose sight of them; think about them deeply,
Akka inni fuula kee duraa dhabamu hin godhin; garaa kee keessa ol kaaʼadhu;
22 for they are life to anyone who finds them, and make the whole body healthy.
inni warra isa argatuuf jireenya, dhagna namaa guutuufis fayyinaatii.
23 Most of all, protect your mind, for everything in life flows from it.
Waan hunda caalaa qalbii kee eeggadhu; burqaan jireenyaa achii baʼaatii.
24 Don't ever lie, and don't say anything dishonest.
Dubbii jalʼinaa afaan kee keessaa balleessi; haasaa hamaas arraba kee irraa fageessi.
25 Focus on what's ahead of you; look at what's in front of you.
Iji kee kallattiidhaan qajeelchee haa ilaalu; atis xiyyeeffadhuu fuula kee dura ilaali.
26 Pay attention to the path you decide to follow, and you'll be safe wherever you go.
Miilla keetiif daandii wal qixxeeffadhu; karaan kee hundinuu haa jabaatu.
27 Don't deviate to the right or the left, and turn away from evil.
Gara mirgaatti yookaan gara bitaatti hin gorin; miilla kee hammina irraa eeggadhu.
