Proverbs 18
1 A man who wishes to separate from friends seeks excuses; but at all times he will be liable to reproach.
Minawk hoi angkom ai kami loe, angmah koehhaih to pazui moe, minawk lok takroekhaih aek thaih kami ah oh.
2 A senseless man feels no need of wisdom, for he is rather led by folly.
Kamthu loe palunghahaih nuiah anghoehaih tawn ai moe, angmah poekhaih nui khue ah ni anghoe.
3 When an ungodly man comes into a depth of evils, he despises [them]; but dishonor and reproach come upon him.
Kahoih ai kami angzoh naah, hnaphnaehaih to oh; ahmin sethaih oh naah, azathaih doeh oh.
4 A word in the heart of a man is a deep water, and a river and fountain of life spring forth.
Kami pakha thung hoi tacawt lok loe tuili baktiah thuk, toe palunghahaih loe tuibap baktiah puek.
5 [It is] not good to accept the person of the ungodly, nor [is it] holy to pervert justice in judgment.
Lokcaek naah kahoih kami to sungsak hanah, kami kasae to angdoet haih han om ai.
6 The lips of a fool bring [him] into troubles, and his bold mouth calls for death.
Kamthu ih pahni mah angzoehhaih to tacawtsak, anih ih pakha hoiah angbohhaih to ohsak.
7 A fool's mouth is ruin to him, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
Kamthu ih pakha loe angmah amrohaih ah oh moe, anih ih pahni loe a hinghaih pakhra amanhaih dongh baktiah oh.
8 Fear casts down the slothful; and the souls of the effeminate shall hunger.
Minawk kasaethuihaih lok loe ahmaa kana baktiah, kami ih zok thung khoek to akun tathuk.
9 A man who helps not himself by his labor is brother of him that ruins himself.
Thasae kami loe hmuenmae tahmat thaih kami ih nawkamya ah oh.
10 The name of the Lord is of great strength; and the righteous running to it are exalted.
Angraeng ih ahmin loe kacak abuephaih sipae ah oh; katoeng kami loe to imthung ah cawnh moe, to ah monghaih to hnuk.
11 The wealth of a rich man is a strong city; and its glory casts a broad shadow.
Hmuenmae hoi angraeng kami loe angmah ih angraenghaih to vangpui kacak baktih, kasang parai sipae baktiah poek.
12 Before ruin a man's heart is exalted, and before honor it is humble.
Amoekhaih mah amrohaih to phaksak; toe kami tlim ah khosakhaih loe pakoehhaih loklam tuhkung ah oh.
13 Whoso answers a word before he hears [a cause], it is folly and reproach to him.
Lok tahngai hmaloe ai ah pathim ih lok loe, amthuhaih hoi azathaih ah oh.
14 A wise servant calms a man's anger; but who can endure a faint-hearted man?
Kami ih palung mah ngannathaih to khaang thaih; toe palungsethaih loe kawbangmaw khaang thai tih?
15 The heart of the sensible [man] purchases discretion; and the ears of the wise seek understanding.
Khopoek thaih kami ih palung loe palunghahaih to tawnh; palungha kami ih naa mah loe palunghahaih to pakrong.
16 A man's gift enlarges him, and seats him among princes.
Kami mah sin ih tangqum mah, kalen kaminawk hmaa ah caeh haih loklam to paawh pae.
17 A righteous man accuses himself at the beginning of his speech, but when he has entered upon the attack, the adversary is reproved.
Angmah kawng thui hmaloe kami loe katoeng kami baktiah amtueng; toe a imtaeng kami to angzoh moe, anih ih akawng to thuih naah ni, katoeng hoi katoeng ai to amtueng.
18 A silent [man] quells strifes, and determines between great powers.
Tahamsae kahoih khethaih phoisa vahhaih mah lok angaekhaih to dipsak moe, lokaek thaih thacak kaminawk doeh pathlaeng thaih.
19 A brother helped by a brother is as a strong and high city; and is [as] strong as a [well]-founded palace.
Lok angaek thaih nawkamya loe pazawk hanah kacak vangpui tuk pongah doeh rai kue; nihnik lok angaekhaih loe misatoep kami ohhaih sipae hoiah anghmong.
20 A man fills his belly with the fruits of his mouth; and he shall be satisfied with the fruits of his lips.
Kami loe angmah ih pakha hoi tacawt thingthai to caa ueloe, zok amhah tih; a pahni hoi tacawt hmuen hoiah zok amhah tih.
21 Life and death are in the power of the tongue; and they that rule it shall eat the fruits thereof.
Palai loe duekhaih hoi hinghaih tha to tawnh; palai palung kaminawk loe palai ih athaih to caa o tih.
22 He that has found a good wife has found favours, and has received gladness from God. [He that puts away a good wife, puts away a good thing, and he that keeps an adulteress is foolish and ungodly.]
Zu la kami loe kahoih hmuen to a hnuk moe, Angraeng koehhaih to a tongh.
Amtang kami loe tahmenhaih hnik thaih; toe angraeng loe lok kaham hoiah minawk ih lok to pathim.
Ampui kapop ah tawn kami loe angmah amrohaih ah oh; toe nawkamya pongah palung cak kue ampui doeh oh.
