Proverbs 18

1 For the desire thereof hee will separate himselfe to seeke it, and occupie himselfe in all wisdome.

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 foole hath no delite in vnderstanding: but that his heart may be discouered.

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

3 When the wicked commeth, then commeth contempt, and with the vile man reproch.

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

4 The words of a mans mouth are like deepe waters, and the welspring of wisdome is like a flowing riuer.

‌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 cause ye righteous to fall in iudgement.

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

6 A fooles lips come with strife, 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 fooles mouth is his owne destruction, and his lips are a snare for his soule.

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

8 The wordes of a tale bearer are as flatterings, and they goe downe into the bowels 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 that is slouthfull in his worke, is euen the brother of him that is a great waster.

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

10 The Name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth vnto it, and is exalted.

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

11 The rich mans riches are his strong citie: and as an hie wall in his 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 a man is hautie, and before glory goeth lowlines.

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

13 He that answereth a matter before hee heare it, it is folly and shame vnto 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 will susteine his infirmitie: but a wounded spirit who can beare it?

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

15 A wise heart getteth knowledge, and the eare of the wise seeketh learning.

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

16 A mans gift enlargeth him, and leadeth 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 owne cause, is iust: then commeth his neighbour, and maketh inquirie of 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 maketh a partition among the mightie.

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

19 A brother offended is harder to winne then a strong citie, and their contentions are like the barre 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 With the fruite of a mans mouth shall his belly be satisfied, and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.

‌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 ye tongue, and they that loue it, shall eate the fruite 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 He that findeth a wife, findeth a good thing, and receiueth fauour of the Lord.

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 The poore speaketh with prayers: but the rich answereth roughly.

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

24 A man that hath friends, ought to shew him selfe friendly: for a friend is neerer then 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.