Proverbs 4
1 Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;
Tsanoño ry anake, ty fanoroan-drae, itsendreño hahazoa’ areo hilala;
2 for I give you sound learning. Don’t forsake my law.
fa nanolorako fiohan-tsoa: aa le ko apo’ areo ty Fañòhako
3 For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.
Izaho anadahin-draeko, nitrotrotrotro, bako tokañe ampahaisahan-dreneko,
4 He taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.
le nanareñe ahy ty hoe: ampifaharo an-tro’o ao o entakoo; tambozoro o lilikoo hiveloma’o
5 Get wisdom. Get understanding. Don’t forget, and don’t deviate from the words of my mouth.
Manaña hihitse; mitohà hilala: ko mañaliño, vaho ko miamboho amo volam-bavakoo;
6 Don’t forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.
Ko apo’o, le harova’e; ikokò, le hambena’e.
7 Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
Hihitse ty lohà’e, aa le manàña hihitse, eka, mangalà hilala amy ze hene famoria’o.
8 Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honor when you embrace her.
Onjono re le honjone’e irehe; hiasia’e te fihine’o.
9 She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendor to you.”
Hampihamine’e voñe vinanditse an-doha’o, ho tolora’e sabaka fanjàka.
10 Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.
Mitsanoña ahy, anake, vaho iantofo o entakoo, hañamaroañe ty taon-kavelo’o.
11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.
Fa nitalifirako mb’an-dalan-kihitse; naho nitehafeko mb’amo lalan-kavantañañeo.
12 When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.
Ie mitsontike, tsy ho sebañeñe o lia’oo; ihe milay, tsy hitsikapy.
13 Take firm hold of instruction. Don’t let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.
Vontitiro ty anatse le ko apo’o, ambeno amy t’ie ro havelo’o.
14 Don’t enter into the path of the wicked. Don’t walk in the way of evil men.
Ko mitsile mb’añ’oloñolo’ o lo-tserekeo vaho ko andenà’o ty lala’ o tsivokatseo.
15 Avoid it, and don’t pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
Ihankaño, ko miary eo, iholiaro vaho mihelaña.
16 For they don’t sleep unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.
Ie tsy miroro hey naho tsy mandilatse; tinavañ’ am’iereo ty firotse ampara’ te mitsikapy.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
Fihina’ iereo ty lintsen-karatiañe vaho genohe’ iereo ty divain-kasiahañe.
18 But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light that shines more and more until the perfect day.
Manahake ty hazavà’ i manjirik’ àndroy ty lala’ o vantañeo, ie mihamazava erike ampara’ te mipisañe.
19 The way of the wicked is like darkness. They don’t know what they stumble over.
Hoe fimoromoroñañe ty lala’ o lo-tserekeo, ie tsy maharendreke te mahatsikapy.
20 My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.
O anake, tsendreño o fivolakoo; anokilaño sofy o lañonakoo.
21 Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the center of your heart.
Ko enga’o hihake amo maso’oo; f’ie ahajao an-tro’o ao.
22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to their whole body.
Amy t’ie haveloñe amo maharendrekeo, toe fijanganañe ho an-tsandri’iareo iaby.
23 Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
Ambeno am-pilozohañe ty tro’o, fa boak’ama’e o fanganahanan-dranon-kaveloñeo.
24 Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.
Asioro ama’o ty vava mengoke, vaho ihankaño o soñy mikelokeo.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.
Ampañenteo mahity o maso’oo, vaho ampivantaño mañaolo o holi-maso’oo.
26 Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.
Jilovo ty fombàn-tombo’o, le hijadoñe soa o lia’oo.
27 Don’t turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.
Ko mivio mb’an-kavana ndra mb’ankavia; fa ampandifiho ty raty o tombo’oo.
