Proverbs 4
1 My children, listen to what I am teaching you. If you pay attention, you will understand what is wise.
Ry zanaka, henoy ny anatry ny ray, Ary tandremo mba hahazoanareo ny fahalalana tsara.
2 What I am teaching you is good, so do not turn away from it.
Fa anatra tsara no omeko anareo; Aza mahafoy ny lalàko.
3 When I was a young boy, loved by my mother,
Fa zanak’ ikaky aho, Sady tiana no hany malala teo imason’ ineny.
4 my father told me, “Remember my words; if you obey my commandments, you will live [a long time].
Ary nampianatra ahy izy ka nanao tamiko hoe: Aoka ny fonao hitana ny teniko; Tandremo ny didiko, dia ho velona ianao.
5 Obtain wisdom and understanding, and (do not abandon/hold fast to) [LIT] what I have taught you.
Mahazoa fahendrena, mahazoa fahalalana; Fa aza hadinoina na ihemorana ny teny aloaky ny vavako.
6 Do not turn away from wisdom, because if you are wise, you will be protected [from all evil/danger]. If you love wisdom, wisdom [PRS] will guard you.
Aza mahafoy azy, fa hiaro anao izy; Tiavo izy, dia hitandrina anao.
7 The most important thing that you can do is to get wisdom. Even if you obtain many other things, the best thing is to know what things are wise.
Ny voaloham-pahendrena dia izao: Mahazoa fahendrena; Eny, lanio ny fanananao rehetra hamidy fahalalana tsara.
8 If you consider being wise to be very valuable, [people] will think very highly of you. If you cling to wisdom [like you would cling to a woman you love], [many people] will honor you.
Asandrato izy, dia hanandratra anao kosa Eny, hanome voninahitra anao izy, raha tananao.
9 If you become wise, that will for you be [like] a beautiful wreath that is put {someone puts} on your head; it will be [like] a king’s glorious crown.” [That is what my father told me].
Dia hasiany fehiloha mahafinaritra ny lohanao; Eny, satro-boninahitra tsara tarehy no homeny anao.
10 [So now I say], “My son, heed what I say. If you do that, you will live a [good] long life.
Anaka, mihainoa, ka raiso ny teniko; Dia hihamaro ny taona hiainanao.
11 I am teaching you the way to live wisely; I am showing you how to act justly [toward others].
Làlam-pahendrena no atoroko anao: Eny, mitarika anao amin’ ny lalana mahitsy aho.
12 If you live wisely, when you decide to do something, you will succeed [LIT].
Raha mandeha ianao, dia tsy ho etỳ ny lalanao; Ary raha mihazakazaka ianao, dia tsy ho tafintohina.
13 Hold fast to the things I have taught you to do, and do not let them go. Guard them, because they [will be the source of a good] life.
Tano mafy ny fananarana, ka aza avela hiala; Hazony izy, fa ainao.
14 Do not do the things that wicked people do; [do not behave like they do]; do not even walk on the roads that evil [people] walk on [MET].
Aza mankany amin’ ny alehan’ ny ratsy fanahy, Ary aza mizotra amin’ ny lalan’ ny ratsy.
15 Stay away from those roads; turn aside and walk on other roads;
Manalavira azy; aza mandalo eo akory; Mivilia azy, ka mizora.
16 because evil people cannot sleep if they have not done some evil deed [on that day]. They cannot rest if they have not harmed someone.
Fa tsy matory ireny, raha tsy efa nanao ratsy; Ary tsy mahita torimaso izy, raha tsy efa nanafintohina ny sasany.
17 What they eat and what they drink are things that they have obtained by acting wickedly and violently.”
Fa mihinana ny mofon’ ny faharatsiana izy, Sy misotro ny divain’ ny fahalozàna.
18 The behavior of good/righteous [people] is like the light [that begins to shine] at dawn and then [continues to] shine brighter until the brightest time of day.
Fa ny lalan’ ny marina dia toy ny fipoak’ andro maraina, Izay mihamazava mandra-pitataovovonan’ ny andro.
19 [But] the behavior of wicked [people] is like deep/thick darkness. [Because it is very dark], they cannot see the things that cause them to stumble.
Ny alehan’ ny ratsy fanahy dia toy ny aizim-pito; Tsy fantany akory izay manafintohina azy.
20 My son, pay attention to what I am saying. Listen to my words carefully.
Anaka, tandremo ny teniko; Atongilano ny sofinao hihaino ny filazako.
21 Keep them close to you; let them penetrate your inner being,
Aza avela hiala eo imasonao izy, Fa raketo ao am-ponao.
22 because you will have [PRS] [a good] life and [good] health if you [search for them and] find them.
Fa aina ho an’ ny mahazo azy izy Ary fahasalamana ho an’ ny nofony rehetra.
23 It is very important that you be careful about what you think, because what you think controls [MET] the things that you do.
Tandremo ny fonao mihoatra noho izay rehetra tokony hotandremana; Fa avy ao aminy no ihavian’ ny aina.
24 Do not say anything that deceives [others] and never say what is not true.
Esory aminao ny vava mandainga, Ary ampanalaviro anao ny molotra mamitaka.
25 Keep looking straight ahead toward the events that are before you, and do not turn aside.
Aoka ny masonao hijery mahitsy, Ary ny hodimasonao hibanjina eo anoloanao.
26 Plan carefully where you will go and what you will do, and then stay on that road. Then what you do will be right.
Ataovy marina ny alehan’ ny tongotrao, Dia ho voalamina ny alehanao rehetra;
27 Do not leave the straight road by turning to the left or to the right. [Do only what is right] and keep yourself from [doing what is] evil.
Aza mivily, na ho amin’ ny ankavanana, na ho amin’ ny ankavia; Esory amin’ ny ratsy ny tongotrao.
