Proverbs 4
1 Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;
Yaa ilmaan ko, mee gorsa abbaan namaaf kennu dhagaʼaa; qalbeeffadhaatii hubannaa argadhaa.
2 for I give you sound learning. Don’t forsake my law.
Ani barumsa gaarii isinii nan kenna; kanaafuu barsiisa koo hin dhiisinaa.
3 For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.
Yeroo ani mucaa xinnaa taʼee mana abbaa koo turetti, yeroo ani daaʼima dhiiga taʼee haadha kootiif ilma tokkicha turetti,
4 He taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.
inni akkana jedhee na barsiise; “Garaa kee guutuudhaan dubbii koo jabeessii qabadhu; seera koo eegi; ati ni jiraattaatii.
5 Get wisdom. Get understanding. Don’t forget, and don’t deviate from the words of my mouth.
Ogummaa argadhu; hubannaas argadhu; dubbii koo hin dagatin yookaan irraa hin jalʼatin.
6 Don’t forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.
Ogummaa hin dhiisin; isheen si eegdii; ishee jaalladhu; isheenis si tiksitii.
7 Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
Ogummaan waan hunda caalti; kanaafuu ogummaa argadhu. Yoo isheen waan ati qabdu hunda si baasifte illee hubannaa argadhu.
8 Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honour when you embrace her.
Ogummaa kabaji; inni ol si guddisaatii; isa hammadhu; innis si kabajaatii.
9 She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendour to you.”
Isheen kallacha bareedaa mataa kee irra siif keessi; gonfoo miidhagaa illee siif kenniti.”
10 Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.
Yaa ilma ko dhagaʼi; waan ani jedhu illee fudhadhu; barri jireenya keetiis ni baayʼataa.
11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.
Ani karaa ogummaa irra sin qajeelcha; daandii qajeelaa irras sin buusa.
12 When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.
Yeroo ati deemtu, tarkaanfiin kee hin ittifamu; yoo fiigdu illee ati hin gufattu.
13 Take firm hold of instruction. Don’t let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.
Qajeelfama jabeessii qabadhu; gad hin dhiisin; waan inni jireenya kee taʼeef jabeessii eeggadhu.
14 Don’t enter into the path of the wicked. Don’t walk in the way of evil men.
Daandii hamootaa irra miilla kee hin dhaabin yookaan karaa jalʼootaa irra hin deemin.
15 Avoid it, and don’t pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
Irraa fagaadhu; irras hin deemin; irraa goriitii karaa kee irra qajeeli.
16 For they don’t sleep unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.
Isaan waan hamaa hojjetan malee rafuu hin dandaʼaniitii; isaan hamma nama gufachiisanitti hirriba hin argatan.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
Isaan buddeena hamminaa nyaatu; daadhii wayinii kan dabaan argame dhugu.
18 But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light that shines more and more until the perfect day.
Karaan qajeeltotaa akkuma ifa barii barraaqaa kan hamma saafaatti ittuma fufee ifaa deemuu ti.
19 The way of the wicked is like darkness. They don’t know what they stumble over.
Karaan hamootaa garuu akkuma dukkana guddaa ti; isaan waan isaan gufachiisu hin beekan.
20 My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.
Yaa ilma ko, waan ani jedhu qalbeeffadhu; dubbii kootiifis gurra kenni.
21 Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the centre of your heart.
Akka inni fuula kee duraa dhabamu hin godhin; garaa kee keessa ol kaaʼadhu;
22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to their whole body.
inni warra isa argatuuf jireenya, dhagna namaa guutuufis fayyinaatii.
23 Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
Waan hunda caalaa qalbii kee eeggadhu; burqaan jireenyaa achii baʼaatii.
24 Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.
Dubbii jalʼinaa afaan kee keessaa balleessi; haasaa hamaas arraba kee irraa fageessi.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.
Iji kee kallattiidhaan qajeelchee haa ilaalu; atis xiyyeeffadhuu fuula kee dura ilaali.
26 Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.
Miilla keetiif daandii wal qixxeeffadhu; karaan kee hundinuu haa jabaatu.
27 Don’t turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.
Gara mirgaatti yookaan gara bitaatti hin gorin; miilla kee hammina irraa eeggadhu.
