Proverbs 18
1 He that separateth himself [from God] seeketh his own desires: at every sound wisdom is he enraged.
Minawk hoi angkom ai kami loe, angmah koehhaih to pazui moe, minawk lok takroekhaih aek thaih kami ah oh.
2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but in laying open what is in his heart.
Kamthu loe palunghahaih nuiah anghoehaih tawn ai moe, angmah poekhaih nui khue ah ni anghoe.
3 When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with dishonorable acts, disgrace.
Kahoih ai kami angzoh naah, hnaphnaehaih to oh; ahmin sethaih oh naah, azathaih doeh oh.
4 Like deep waters are the words of a [wise] man's mouth, and a bubbling brook is the well-spring of wisdom.
Kami pakha thung hoi tacawt lok loe tuili baktiah thuk, toe palunghahaih loe tuibap baktiah puek.
5 It is not good to favor the person of the wicked, to wrest [the cause of the] righteous in judgment.
Lokcaek naah kahoih kami to sungsak hanah, kami kasae to angdoet haih han om ai.
6 The lips of the fool come with contention, and his mouth calleth for blows.
Kamthu ih pahni mah angzoehhaih to tacawtsak, anih ih pakha hoiah angbohhaih to ohsak.
7 The mouth of the fool is a destruction to himself, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
Kamthu ih pakha loe angmah amrohaih ah oh moe, anih ih pahni loe a hinghaih pakhra amanhaih dongh baktiah oh.
8 The words of a whisperer are as wounds, and they go down indeed into the innermost parts of the body.
Minawk kasaethuihaih lok loe ahmaa kana baktiah, kami ih zok thung khoek to akun tathuk.
9 He also that showeth himself slothful in his work is a brother to the destroyer.
Thasae kami loe hmuenmae tahmat thaih kami ih nawkamya ah oh.
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower, whereunto the righteous runneth, and is placed in safety.
Angraeng ih ahmin loe kacak abuephaih sipae ah oh; katoeng kami loe to imthung ah cawnh moe, to ah monghaih to hnuk.
11 The rich man's wealth is his strong town, and as a towering wall in his own conceit.
Hmuenmae hoi angraeng kami loe angmah ih angraenghaih to vangpui kacak baktih, kasang parai sipae baktiah poek.
12 Before downfall the heart of man becometh haughty, and before honor goeth humility.
Amoekhaih mah amrohaih to phaksak; toe kami tlim ah khosakhaih loe pakoehhaih loklam tuhkung ah oh.
13 When one returneth an answer before he understandeth [the question], it is folly unto him and shame.
Lok tahngai hmaloe ai ah pathim ih lok loe, amthuhaih hoi azathaih ah oh.
14 The spirit of a man will readily bear his disease; but a depressed spirit who can bear:
Kami ih palung mah ngannathaih to khaang thaih; toe palungsethaih loe kawbangmaw khaang thai tih?
15 The heart of the man of understanding will obtain knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
Khopoek thaih kami ih palung loe palunghahaih to tawnh; palungha kami ih naa mah loe palunghahaih to pakrong.
16 A man's gift maketh room for him, and before great men will it lead him.
Kami mah sin ih tangqum mah, kalen kaminawk hmaa ah caeh haih loklam to paawh pae.
17 He that is first in his cause seemeth just; but when his neighbor cometh, then will it be investigated.
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 The lot causeth disputes to cease, and it decideth between the mighty.
Tahamsae kahoih khethaih phoisa vahhaih mah lok angaekhaih to dipsak moe, lokaek thaih thacak kaminawk doeh pathlaeng thaih.
19 A brother offended is harder [to be won] than a strong town; and quarrels [among brothers] are like the bars of a castle.
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 From the fruit of a man's mouth is his body satisfied; with the product of his lips doth he satisfy himself.
Kami loe angmah ih pakha hoi tacawt thingthai to caa ueloe, zok amhah tih; a pahni hoi tacawt hmuen hoiah zok amhah tih.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it will eat its fruit.
Palai loe duekhaih hoi hinghaih tha to tawnh; palai palung kaminawk loe palai ih athaih to caa o tih.
22 Whoso hath found a wife hath found happiness, and hath obtained favor from the Lord.
Zu la kami loe kahoih hmuen to a hnuk moe, Angraeng koehhaih to a tongh.
23 The poor speaketh entreatingly; but the rich answereth roughly.
Amtang kami loe tahmenhaih hnik thaih; toe angraeng loe lok kaham hoiah minawk ih lok to pathim.
24 A man's many companions are hurtful to him; but there is many a friend that cleaveth closer than a brother.
Ampui kapop ah tawn kami loe angmah amrohaih ah oh; toe nawkamya pongah palung cak kue ampui doeh oh.
