Proverbs 17
1 Better is a piece of dry bread, and quiet therewith, than a house full of the sacrifices of contention.
Hàmake ty pilipito’e maike am-pianjiñañe, ta ty anjomba lifo-takataka mitraoke falaiñañe.
2 An intelligent servant will have rule over a son that bringeth shame, and among the brothers will he have part of the inheritance.
Ty ondevo mitoloñ’ an-kahiti’e ty hifehe ty anake mahasalatse, ie hifanjara lova aman-droahalahy.
3 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but the Lord probeth the hearts.
Tranaheñe an-tsinihara ty volafoty naho an-daforo ty volamena, vaho Iehovà ro mpitsòk’ arofo.
4 An evil-doer listeneth to unjust lips: falsehood giveth ear to a tongue that bringeth destruction.
Mañaon-tsoñin-tsereheñe ty lo-tsereke, tsatsihe’ i remborake ty lela manivetive.
5 Whoso mocketh the poor blasphemeth his Maker: he that is glad at calamities will not remain unpunished.
Mañìnje i Andrianamboatse aze t’ie mañinje o rarakeo; tsy ho po-lafa ty mitohàke ami’ty hankàñe.
6 The crown of old men are children's children; and the ornament of children are their fathers.
Sabakan-engen-droanjia o afe’eo, vaho enge’ o anakeo o rae’eo.
7 High-toned language is not seemly to a worthless fool: and yet much less the language of falsehood to a noble.
Tsy mañeva i dagola ty enta-soa-fehe; lombolombo izay ty soñy vìlañe an-droandriañe.
8 As a precious stone appeareth a bribe in the eyes of him that obtaineth it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
Vatosoa am-pihainom-pahazo aze ty falalàñe, mampitombo mb’atia mb’aroa.
9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth confident friends.
Mpipay hatea ty mpanaroñe fiolàñe, fe mampiria rañetse te mamereñ’ indroe.
10 A reproof penetrateth more deeply into a wise man, than a hundred stripes into a fool.
Laleke ty itrofaha’ ty endake ami’ty mahihitse, ta ty lafa zato ami’ty dagola.
11 Only rebellion doth a bad man seek: therefore a cruel messenger will be sent out against him.
Mipay fiodiañe avao ty mpiola, aa le hañitrifañe irake masiake.
12 A man may meet a she-bear robbed of her whelps, but not a fool in his folly.
Hàmake hifanampe ami’ty lambon’ala nalàeñ-anake, te ami’ty dagola aman-kagegea’e.
13 Whoso bestoweth evil in return for good—evil shall not depart from his house.
Tsy ho po-hekoheko ty akiba’ ty mamereñe raty ami’ty soa.
14 As one letteth loose [a stream] of water, so is the beginning of strife: therefore before it be enkindled, leave off the contest.
Hoe mampipororoake rano ty fifotoram-pifandierañe, aa le apoho i lietsey tsy hiforehetse ho aly.
15 He that declareth the wicked innocent, and he that condemneth the righteous, yea, both of them are equally an abomination to the Lord.
Songa tiva am’ Iehovà ty mañatò ty lo-tsereke naho ty mamàtse ty vantañe.
16 Wherefore is the purchase-money in the hand of a fool to acquire wisdom, seeing he hath no sense?
Aia ty dagola te hinday drala an-taña’e hikaloa’e hihitse kanao tsy an-tro’e ao ty hilala.
17 A friend loveth at all times, and as a brother is he born for [the time of] distress.
Mikoko nainai’e ty rañetse, fe nasamake ho an-tsam-poheke ty rahalahy.
18 A man void of sense pledgeth his hand, and becometh surety for his friend.
Miroe-rano ty manò-taña hiantofa’e ty songon-drañetse.
19 He loveth transgression that loveth quarrel; and he that maketh high his door seeketh destruction.
Mpitea fiolàñe ty mpikoko lietse, vaho mikai-rotsake ty mandranjy lalambey abo.
20 He that hath a froward heart will not find happiness; and he that hath a perverse tongue will fall into evil.
Tsy mahatrea hasoa ty mengok’ an-troke; vaho mihotrak’ an-kaloviloviañe ao ty aman-dela mamañahy.
21 He that begetteth a fool [doth it] to his sorrow; and the father of a worthless fool cannot have any joy.
Ho aman’anahelo ty misamake ty minè; vaho tsy aman-kaehake ty rae’ i gegey.
22 A merry heart causeth a healthy appearance of the countenance, but a depressed spirit drieth up the bones.
Aoly soa ty arofo mifale, fe mahamain-taolañe ty hafola-po.
23 A wicked man taketh a bribe out of the bosom, to pervert the paths of justice.
Mandrambe vokañe boak’am-pisafoa ty lahiaga, hampikelokeloke ty lalam-bantañe.
24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are at the ends of the earth.
Añatrefa’ ty mahatsikarake ty hihitse, fe mihilohilo mb’añ’olo-tane añe ty maso’ i dagola.
25 A foolish son is a vexation to his father, and bitterness to her that hath born him.
Mañembetse an-drae ty hagegean’ana-dahy, vaho hafairañe amy nitoly azey.
26 To punish the just with a fine even is not good, nor to strike the noble [-hearted] for [their] equity.
Tsy mahasoa te liloveñe ty malio-tahiñe, naho ty andafañe roandriañe ty amy havañona’ey.
27 He that holdeth back his speeches hath knowledge; and he that is sparing of his spirit is a man of understanding.
Malea fisaontsy ty mahilala, mahalie-troke t’indaty maharendreke.
28 Even a fool, when he keepeth silence, is counted wise: he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
Ndra i seretsey ro atao mahihitse naho mahafianjiñe, mbore atao hendre t’ie mahatan-tsoñy.
