Proverbs 4
1 Hear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.
Ry zanaka, henoy ny anatry ny ray, Ary tandremo mba hahazoanareo ny fahalalana tsara.
2 For good learning I have given to you, My law forsake not.
Fa anatra tsara no omeko anareo; Aza mahafoy ny lalàko.
3 For, a son I have been to my father — tender, And an only one before my mother.
Fa zanak’ ikaky aho, Sady tiana no hany malala teo imason’ ineny.
4 And he directeth me, and he saith to me: 'Let thy heart retain my words, Keep my commands, 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, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth.
Mahazoa fahendrena, mahazoa fahalalana; Fa aza hadinoina na ihemorana ny teny aloaky ny vavako.
6 Forsake her not, and she doth preserve thee, Love her, and she doth keep thee.
Aza mahafoy azy, fa hiaro anao izy; Tiavo izy, dia hitandrina anao.
7 The first thing [is] wisdom — get wisdom, And with all thy getting get understanding.
Ny voaloham-pahendrena dia izao: Mahazoa fahendrena; Eny, lanio ny fanananao rehetra hamidy fahalalana tsara.
8 Exalt her, and she doth lift thee up, She honoureth thee, when thou dost embrace her.
Asandrato izy, dia hanandratra anao kosa Eny, hanome voninahitra anao izy, raha tananao.
9 She giveth to thy head a wreath of grace, A crown of beauty she doth give thee freely.
Dia hasiany fehiloha mahafinaritra ny lohanao; Eny, satro-boninahitra tsara tarehy no homeny anao.
10 Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life [are] multiplied to thee.
Anaka, mihainoa, ka raiso ny teniko; Dia hihamaro ny taona hiainanao.
11 In a way of wisdom I have directed thee, I have caused thee to tread in paths of uprightness.
Làlam-pahendrena no atoroko anao: Eny, mitarika anao amin’ ny lalana mahitsy aho.
12 In thy walking thy step is not straitened, And if thou runnest, thou stumblest not.
Raha mandeha ianao, dia tsy ho etỳ ny lalanao; Ary raha mihazakazaka ianao, dia tsy ho tafintohina.
13 Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she [is] thy life.
Tano mafy ny fananarana, ka aza avela hiala; Hazony izy, fa ainao.
14 Into the path of the wicked enter not, And be not happy in a way of evil doers.
Aza mankany amin’ ny alehan’ ny ratsy fanahy, Ary aza mizotra amin’ ny lalan’ ny ratsy.
15 Avoid it, pass not over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on.
Manalavira azy; aza mandalo eo akory; Mivilia azy, ka mizora.
16 For they sleep not if they do not evil, And their sleep hath been taken violently away, If they cause not [some] to stumble.
Fa tsy matory ireny, raha tsy efa nanao ratsy; Ary tsy mahita torimaso izy, raha tsy efa nanafintohina ny sasany.
17 For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And wine of violence they drink.
Fa mihinana ny mofon’ ny faharatsiana izy, Sy misotro ny divain’ ny fahalozàna.
18 And the path of the righteous [is] as a shining light, Going and brightening till the day is established,
Fa ny lalan’ ny marina dia toy ny fipoak’ andro maraina, Izay mihamazava mandra-pitataovovonan’ ny andro.
19 The way of the wicked [is] as darkness, They have not known at what they stumble.
Ny alehan’ ny ratsy fanahy dia toy ny aizim-pito; Tsy fantany akory izay manafintohina azy.
20 My son, to my words give attention, To my sayings incline thine ear,
Anaka, tandremo ny teniko; Atongilano ny sofinao hihaino ny filazako.
21 Let them not turn aside from thine eyes, Preserve them in the midst of thy heart.
Aza avela hiala eo imasonao izy, Fa raketo ao am-ponao.
22 For life they [are] to those finding them, And to all their flesh healing.
Fa aina ho an’ ny mahazo azy izy Ary fahasalamana ho an’ ny nofony rehetra.
23 Above every charge keep thy heart, For out of it [are] the outgoings of life.
Tandremo ny fonao mihoatra noho izay rehetra tokony hotandremana; Fa avy ao aminy no ihavian’ ny aina.
24 Turn aside from thee a froward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee,
Esory aminao ny vava mandainga, Ary ampanalaviro anao ny molotra mamitaka.
25 Thine eyes do look straightforward, And thine eyelids look straight before thee.
Aoka ny masonao hijery mahitsy, Ary ny hodimasonao hibanjina eo anoloanao.
26 Ponder thou the path of thy feet, And all thy ways [are] established.
Ataovy marina ny alehan’ ny tongotrao, Dia ho voalamina ny alehanao rehetra;
27 Incline not [to] the right or to the left, Turn aside thy foot from evil!
Aza mivily, na ho amin’ ny ankavanana, na ho amin’ ny ankavia; Esory amin’ ny ratsy ny tongotrao.
