Proverbs 4
1 Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;
Ry zanaka, henoy ny anatry ny ray, Ary tandremo mba hahazoanareo ny fahalalana tsara.
2 for I give you sound learning. Don’t forsake my law.
Fa anatra tsara no omeko anareo; Aza mahafoy ny lalàko.
3 For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.
Fa zanak’ ikaky aho, Sady tiana no hany malala teo imason’ ineny.
4 He taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.
Ary nampianatra ahy izy ka nanao tamiko hoe: Aoka ny fonao hitana ny teniko; Tandremo ny didiko, dia ho velona ianao.
5 Get wisdom. Get understanding. Don’t forget, and don’t deviate from the words of my mouth.
Mahazoa fahendrena, mahazoa fahalalana; Fa aza hadinoina na ihemorana ny teny aloaky ny vavako.
6 Don’t forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.
Aza mahafoy azy, fa hiaro anao izy; Tiavo izy, dia hitandrina anao.
7 Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
Ny voaloham-pahendrena dia izao: Mahazoa fahendrena; Eny, lanio ny fanananao rehetra hamidy fahalalana tsara.
8 Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honour when you embrace her.
Asandrato izy, dia hanandratra anao kosa Eny, hanome voninahitra anao izy, raha tananao.
9 She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendour to you.”
Dia hasiany fehiloha mahafinaritra ny lohanao; Eny, satro-boninahitra tsara tarehy no homeny anao.
10 Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.
Anaka, mihainoa, ka raiso ny teniko; Dia hihamaro ny taona hiainanao.
11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.
Làlam-pahendrena no atoroko anao: Eny, mitarika anao amin’ ny lalana mahitsy aho.
12 When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.
Raha mandeha ianao, dia tsy ho etỳ ny lalanao; Ary raha mihazakazaka ianao, dia tsy ho tafintohina.
13 Take firm hold of instruction. Don’t let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.
Tano mafy ny fananarana, ka aza avela hiala; Hazony izy, fa ainao.
14 Don’t enter into the path of the wicked. Don’t walk in the way of evil men.
Aza mankany amin’ ny alehan’ ny ratsy fanahy, Ary aza mizotra amin’ ny lalan’ ny ratsy.
15 Avoid it, and don’t pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
Manalavira azy; aza mandalo eo akory; Mivilia azy, ka mizora.
16 For they don’t sleep unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.
Fa tsy matory ireny, raha tsy efa nanao ratsy; Ary tsy mahita torimaso izy, raha tsy efa nanafintohina ny sasany.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
Fa mihinana ny mofon’ ny faharatsiana izy, Sy misotro ny divain’ ny fahalozàna.
18 But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light that shines more and more until the perfect day.
Fa ny lalan’ ny marina dia toy ny fipoak’ andro maraina, Izay mihamazava mandra-pitataovovonan’ ny andro.
19 The way of the wicked is like darkness. They don’t know what they stumble over.
Ny alehan’ ny ratsy fanahy dia toy ny aizim-pito; Tsy fantany akory izay manafintohina azy.
20 My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.
Anaka, tandremo ny teniko; Atongilano ny sofinao hihaino ny filazako.
21 Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the centre of your heart.
Aza avela hiala eo imasonao izy, Fa raketo ao am-ponao.
22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to their whole body.
Fa aina ho an’ ny mahazo azy izy Ary fahasalamana ho an’ ny nofony rehetra.
23 Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
Tandremo ny fonao mihoatra noho izay rehetra tokony hotandremana; Fa avy ao aminy no ihavian’ ny aina.
24 Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.
Esory aminao ny vava mandainga, Ary ampanalaviro anao ny molotra mamitaka.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.
Aoka ny masonao hijery mahitsy, Ary ny hodimasonao hibanjina eo anoloanao.
26 Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.
Ataovy marina ny alehan’ ny tongotrao, Dia ho voalamina ny alehanao rehetra;
27 Don’t turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.
Aza mivily, na ho amin’ ny ankavanana, na ho amin’ ny ankavia; Esory amin’ ny ratsy ny tongotrao.
